Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

I knew the day was finally going to come when Glen would have to go back to work and I would be on my own. One of his team members suggested the Arboretum and I liked the idea.

There were lots of trails with many different kinds of plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. Everything was labeled. Thankfully all the trails were labeled as well and with my trusty map, I didn't have to worry about getting lost in the woods.

Sometimes I felt totally alone on that vast property. Outside enjoying nature. Just me...and nature.

In the areas closer to the visitor center I didn't feel so isolated. I had to view this area from a distance because the workers were paving the walkways.

I found the Sculpture Garden up on Memorial Grove High Point.

Everything was so pleasing to the eye. I love the placement of the trees and bushes that provide such a variety of colors for the eye to behold. I noticed the leaves were starting to change colors.

In the hedge area, there was a maze garden.  

This is water. The whole forefront of the picture is water covered with a bright green film of something occurring in nature.

I saw a waterfall.

Artist Craig Mitchell Smith had his "Nature in Glass" creations on exhibit all throughout the Aboretum. There were 32 of them placed strategically to enhance the natural scenery around them.

He sold some of his glass work in the gift shop. A small glass angel ornament sells for $75. A 12-inch glass flower has a price tag over $300. Just imagine how much each one of his sculptures costs.

The birds are fake--made out of glass.

The hosta glade was my absolute most favorite part of the whole Arboretum. That is where the shade-tolerant, ornamental foliage plants were growing. I sat on a bench for a long time in that area just admiring the beauty. 

I definitely didn't think it needed the fake green-leaf glass sculpture (sitting on the pedestal in the right-hand corner of the photo) to enhance the scenery.

More of the hosta glade with the fall leaves making their appearance.

No fake glass flowers in this scene. I loved the beauty of this hanging flower display in front of the lattice fencing.

Out in front of the visitor center there were more glass creations on display.

Even though I had enjoyed my day immensely all by myself, I was super happy when Glen finished work and we could be together again. Here is my delicious dinner at Good Earth.

After dinner we took a walk on the pathways that wound all around and behind the hotel. We came upon this little lake or pond. Excuse my photographer who once again got his hand in the picture.

We found more water. It was so beautiful as it got later in the day and we could see the moon in the sky.

We walked around what felt like forever trying to find our way back to the hotel. This was a beautiful sight to behold when we finally spotted it and were able to make our way back.

What another beautiful day in Minneapolis. Loved it!!!

Minneapolis -- Biking Chain of Lakes

We were so happy we had another day of good weather on Labor Day. We wanted to see some of the 10,000 lakes Minnesota is so proud of. When we saw rental bikes, we thought that would be a great way to see more than we could just walking.

There were wonderful pedestrian and bike paths all around the lakes we visited and also connecting paths from lake to lake.

We started out at Lake Calhoun.

Then we biked around Lake Harriet.

After consulting the map at Lake Harriet, we set off to find Lake Nokomis. It was a lot of riding and we stopped to consult another map to make sure we were on the right path. The red "You are here" arrow shows we were about halfway there. Glen then wanted to go beyond that lake to the other red mark to the falls.

We were so surprised when we came upon Cottontail on the Trail. It looked so out of place there. It would blend in better back at the Sculpture Garden.

An older gentleman stopped right then and asked if we would like to get a picture of both of us by the massive bunny.

I am dutifully standing there with a smile plastered on my face thinking to myself, "Of all the beautiful places we had been that morning, why couldn't we have been asked to be photographed together somewhere other than beside this ridiculous rabbit?!??!!??

The man took 27 pictures of us with Mr. Cottontail. I am not exaggerating. I deleted 26 others. His main goal was to try and center Glen and me exactly in the center of the picture. In most of them he cut off the statue's hind legs.

Seriously??!!?? The bunny is definitely what grabs your attention. He could have at least tried to get all three of us centered in the photo.

We made it to Lake Nokomis and Glen rewarded himself with a popcorn treat.

 On we rode to Minnehaha Falls.

There was a concert going on in the park by the Falls. And there was some kind of dog competition going on so we saw lots and lots of dogs that day.

We caught a glimpse of Lake Hiawatha as we turned around to make our way back to where we started.

We could have used that man offering to take our picture together in this beautiful scene.

Passing by the outdoor theater at Lake Harriet.

Back at Lake Calhoun where we began our bike journey.

Believe me when I say we definitely worked up an appetite for dinner at Houlihan's.

I think I could have qualified to earn the Boy Scout cycling merit badge with all that biking in one day!!

Quotes of the Week

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life." 

-- Harvey Fierstein 

"Never place a period where God has placed a comma." 

 -- Gracie Allen 

"If you're gonna make a change... operate from a new belief that says life happens not to me but for me." 

 -- Tony Robbins 

"It makes no sense to worry about things you have no control over because there's nothing you can do about them, and why worry about things you do control? The activity of worrying keeps you immobilized." 

 -- Wayne Dyer