Monthly Archives: October 2011

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Hugo, MN to Grantsburg, WI


A cloudy day with a 30% chance of precipitation; destination, Grantsburg, WI and the Love Tree Farmstead – Pizza by the Pond.

Hwy 61 North and County Hwy 4 to the East still had plenty of color and some nice barns.  I eventually made my way over to 95, which is one of my most favorite stretches of road to travel.  All kinds of Fall color around still.

On up through Taylor’s Falls, over into Wisconsin, and heading North on 87 provided several photo opps.  More barns, color, swans, and a ton of Sandhill Cranes in and around the area called the Grettum Flowage in Burnett County, WI.  After a lengthy stay in the area shooting cranes like mad it was time to move onward and closer to the destination.   Love Tree Farmstead is actually located a bit South of Grantsburg on Co. Rd. Z.

Love Tree’s wood-fired stone pizza oven and surrounding structure is still under construction.  The tire retaining wall will be coated in plaster when complete.  Can’t wait to see it when it is all done.  With the pizza ordered it was time to look around the farm; the word was that there were puppies in the barn.  Love Tree utilizes Spanish Ranch Mastiffs to guard their sheep herd from the undesirable predators that prowl the countryside.

The Savory pizza was great; I highly recommend.  Portobello mushrooms, sautéed onions, pears, cottage bacon and herbed goat cheese!  Sorry, no photo of pizza as it was consumed too rapidly for photography.

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Collischan Road


Collischan Road was once part of the old Hwy 61 path coming in from the North side of Red Wing.  The road is accessed from Cannon Bottoms Road (46) just North of the Cannon River.  It was part of the historic Mendota to Wabasha military road in the 1850′s.  In 1931 the old road was bypassed by the construction of the first modern road; aligned to the path of which is still followed by U.S. 61 today.  I took a leisurely drive out to Collischan’s end, not far from Lock and Dam #3 and Buffalo and Pickerel Sloughs.  This area is usually a lush wetland area, but it looked a bit dryer than usual, but I managed to find a few reflections to capture.

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Great River Bluffs State Park


Oh my…if you’ve never been, I highly recommend a visit to Great River Bluffs State Park. I was here earlier in the Fall color season, but was met with 30 mph winds and side-ways rain. If you like beautiful panoramas of some gorgeous Mississippi River scenery this is a must see destination. If you take a look at the park map – I hiked out to the Hill of Many Timbers, North and South Overlook (by campground), and took a shot from the overlook right off the road. I ran a bit short on time (I saw the sun setting in the distance and realized I was nowhere close to a good vantage point) and did not get out to Kings Bluffs, but I am sure that location is equally as picturesque…another time perhaps. I raced back towards Winona, Wabasha, and Lake City in hopes of shooting some of the sunset; I was somewhat successful.

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Pregnancy and Infant Loss Memorial


The Pregnancy & Infant Loss Memorial Service was held October 15th, 2011 in Red Wing’s Central Park.  This event honored babies lost during or shortly after pregnancy. Including but not limited to miscarriage, stillbirth, early infant loss, and babies lost to abortion.  Many gathered to participate in the Worldwide Wave of Light Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day to honor these heavenly babies, and the families that remember them.

(Balloon release – Levee Park, also in Red Wing)

Red Wing Photo Club participated in the event through photography.

 

 

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Como Park Conservatory & Zoo


There are plenty of things to photograph at the Como Park Conservatory & Zoo.  My eyes were drawn to its architecture first, plants second, and the animals third – evident by the number of shots on my camera.  lines, textures, and color captivate you before you even get in the door.

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Lilydale


Just up river from Raspberry Island is Pickerel Lake.  This expansive area along Lilydale Road is all part of the Harriet Island Regional Park system.  When I pulled into the parking lot lake-side, waterfowl exited the area in droves; given the season, I probably would have too.  Geese and Wood Ducks a plenty.  This area is part of a 3000 mile bike trail the runs along the Mississippi through 10 states.  The scenery is fantastic.

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Raspberry Island – Wabasha Street – St. Paul, MN


I decided to start my morning early at a location I’ve been watching for a long time now.  I see it everyday on my commute to work through all the season.  The Wabasha Street bridge, the wonderfully constructed expanse between the levee to the South and downtown St. Paul to the North, is one of my new favorite sunrise locations.  Beautiful light and plenty of interesting scenes to work with.  Here are a few of the gorgeous sights I witnessed Saturday morning before the RWPC‘s trip to Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.