Yep. I’ve been mowing all day long and then some weirdo drives by and takes my picture. 
Two gentlemen taking a break from mowing their rural Wisconsin lawns on Father’s Day. I am certain the conversation included weather, field conditions and perhaps some spirited jabs regarding ones orange tiger and the others red snapper.
Been mowing long?
Backyard view from deck
Cyndie and I are on our second season of creation and construction of the backyard oasis. This project has been extensive – lots of dirt and rock moved; all by hand. No single master plan existed when we started. There were many small plans that have come together on paper, in our minds and dreams. Much work was completed last year and even more continues this year. It is a labor of love creating a peaceful backyard oasis where you can relax over your lunch break, kick back after a long day at work or spend the better park of a Saturday lounging around listening to the stream, smelling the blooms and watching the wildlife.
As I post this and am looking at the pano-view above I see so many changes that happened yesterday immediately following the picture. It is amazing what can be accomplished in a single day. You cannot fully appreciate all that has transpired without seeing the before (coming soon), but I’ll take you around the space with a quick photo-tour.
Leaving the backdoor into the yard from the deck [completed last year]:
Up the path towards the pond patio [completed last year]:
The pond, stream and four waterfalls [completed last year]:
Right side flower garden [completed last year]:
Wiener Run (stairway to Wiener Trail) [completed last year]:
Wiener Trail [completed last year]:
Upper vegetable garden (carrots, spinach, dill, beans, cantaloupe, watermelon, dumpling squash, strawberries and blueberries [new this year]:
Hammock patio [new this year]:
View from Hammock patio [main patio and pergola completed last year]:
Left side flower garden [partially completed last year] and “the pit” (foreground). The pit has functioned as our plant staging place, bin and potting container collection site and home of “chippy” which Audrey is hunting currently. Still formulating a plan in my mind for the pit area:
Backyard entrance – flower pallet [new this year]:
Lower vegetable garden [completed last year]:
Side herb garden [new this year]:
*All rock for walls were picked by hand and hauled by car and set to rest manually in the yard. Good times
Cans only you say eh?
Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs|
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Apparently, no, people cannot read the signs. Are people that dense or are they just too lazy? I spotted this prime example of stupidity, laziness, etc. at a 2 day meeting for work.
Finally some palatable weather. I never tire of the blue skies and puffy clouds.
Nicer weather means getting back into the yard and finishing some things up…or getting them closer to completion. A freshly installed spigot on the front side of the house will open up new opportunities in the front yard no doubt. The backyard is getting closer to completion as well. Cyndie has all the photos of or work wrangled together. It has been quite the transformation. I look forward to seeing them altogether in the near future. In the meantime, here are my shots from this last week. All are from my weekday commutes as I have been very busy in the yard; in fact, I am headed out to do some more work in the yard. Enjoy the beautiful day everyone!
Birch Coulee was the site of the Battle of Birch Coulee, one of the deadliest battles of the Dakota War of 1862. It is now preserved at Birch Coulee State Memorial Park one mile north of Morton, Minnesota and has self-guided trails and markers about the battle from both sides. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The Friendly Indian Monument recognizes the six Dakota Indians who befriended and protected government employees, immigrant settlers, missionaries, or aided soldiers during the United States – Dakota Conflict of 1862, most often at the risk of their own lives. Even though only 6 names are listed on the monument, many more aided those of white descent who are not listed there.
Southwest MN series [#1 The To and From] [#2 Gibbon, MN] [#3 Pipestone National Monument] [#4 Blue Mound State Park] [#5 Morton, MN Monuments]
On a hill overlooking the beautiful Minnesota River Valley and the city of Morton, stand two 52-foot tall granite monuments. These monuments are known as the Birch Coulee and Friendly Indian Monuments. The Birch Coulee Monument was erected in 1894 for the soldiers who fought at the Battle of Birch Coulee on September 2, 1862. The Loyal Indian Monument was erected in 1899 to honor 6 Dakota who saved lives of whites during the U.S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862.
From Pipestone, MN we traveled South 30 minutes to Blue Mound State Park. This is another fine example of the wild beauty that nature has provided for us. Situated minutes North of Luverne, MN in Rock County, Blue Mound State Park is touted in local folklore as the mound that was used as a buffalo jump before European settlements – no archaeological evidence exist however. That would be quite the sight.
The “mound” definitely sticks out of the landscape with cliffs up to 100 feet high. The Sioux Quartzite bedrock can been seen from quite a distance; even though it is pink in color, it appeared to early settlers as a blueish mound – hence the name. There are well maintained trails all about the park, but be sure to wear suitable shoes – seems like common sense, I know – however we ran out of that when we pulled into the park. The excitement to get out and see the huge rock formation had us on a 5+ mile hike with no water and I with dead batteries in one of the two cameras I was lugging along for the excursion. We should have turned back and dropped my one camera off and acquired some portable H2O, but that didn’t happen (my fault). It didn’t seem like the hike was going to be that far until it was….ever been there? Beware of a small creek crossing on the South end of the park on Bur Oak Trail. The big hunk of wood in the middle of the stream that appears to be a worthy stepping stone is an invitation to get acquainted with the muddy banks of this innocent looking creek crossing. Thankfully the interpretive center, on the opposite end of the park from where we parked, was not far. It was a welcomed oasis. Some water to wet your parched whistle was just the ticket.
The lower path provides nice views of cliffs where the upper provides sweeping views from atop the mound to the surrounding farm land. There were lots of Western Prickly Pear and some Prairie Smoke, but with the odd Spring weather we had, it was still pretty early and nothing much was in bloom. There were plenty of birds, butterflies and other critters to hold our interest. We spied a very interesting bird; it looked like it had a yellow helmet on. I have never encountered anything like that before. If anyone knows what it is please comment below. We saw the buffalo heard on the way in close to the road, however, when we were done with our hike they were way off away from any photo opportunity. Oh well, perhaps another time.
Cyn and I very much enjoyed this wonderful state park despite being prepared to really enjoy it. Next time there will need to be more time, comfortable footwear and plenty of aqua. We are very lucky in Minnesota to have so many great state parks. Get out there and explore a state park near you! You may be surprised with what you find and maybe stumble upon other interesting things in between.
Southwest MN series [#1 The To and From] [#2 Gibbon, MN] [#3 Pipestone National Monument] [#4 Blue Mound State Park] [#5 Morton, MN Monuments]
We had wonderful weather for our exploration of Pipestone National Monument in Pipestone, MN. It is amazing to see these quarries and see the amount of Sioux Quartzite rock that was removed by hand with only hand tools to expose the pipestone. We were not fortunate enough to witness the actual mining of the pipestone, but did speak with the artisans inside that were carving pipestone and working with sumac to form the pipe stems.
I won’t ramble on with the complete history of this very interesting place. Just let you imagination wonder while viewing the photos of what it must have been like in a different time. If you want to know more, visit Pipestone, MN and see it first-hand. The National Park Services has a wonderful website about all things in Pipestone, MN.
Southwest MN series [#1 The To and From] [#2 Gibbon, MN] [#3 Pipestone National Monument] [#4 Blue Mound State Park] [#5 Morton, MN Monuments]
Catlinite (also called pipestone or pipeclay) is a type of argillite, usually brownish-red in color, which occurs in a matrix of Sioux quartzite. Because it is fine-grained and easily worked, it is prized by Native Americans for use in making sacred pipes such as calumets (Fr: “hollow reed”) and chanunpas. Pipestone quarries are located and preserved in Pipestone National Monument outside of Pipestone, Minnesota, in Pipestone County, Minnesota, and at the Pipestone River in Ontario, Canada. ~Wikipedia
