Cypripedium candidum (White Lady's Slipper)

from flickr user aeranthes
The photographer says: This photo shows what I take to be the typical color of the flowers in this colony.

These photos are from an enormous colony of these plants in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, near the Minnesota River. I, a selected set of my students, and other interested parties have been observing them for many years now.

Soldiers at rest The Landing Shakopee Minnesota 2011

from flickr user Todd J. Hein
Taken this past weekend at historic site The Landing in Shakopee with civil war-era costumed soldiers recreating life in the 1800s.

Soundset 2011 Canterbury Park

from flickr user Amanda Lauren
Atmosphere performing at Soundset 2011 at Shakopee, MN's Canterbury Park on Sunday.

Courage

from flickr user karenmeyere
On this Memorial day let us remember and honor those who fought for our freedom.

Road Closed!

from flickr user djsime
Either the woodchuck in the background has a lot of winged friends looking out for him, or they are getting ready to run a race to see who can get to him first. Or perhaps the state park is employing turkey vultures now!

Rainbow Over Alden 5/22/11

from flickr user djsime
On a day full of Minnesota storms, Alden was blessed with a rainbow.

North Minneapolis Minnesota Tornado Damage

from flickr user Minneapolisian


from flickr user urbancn
A tree lies on top of a truck after a tornado struck northern Minneapolis Sunday, May 22, 2011, causing extensive property damage, killing at least one person and injuring at least 18 others


from flickr user urbancn
A garage collapsed after a tornado struck parts of north Minneapolis uprooting trees, damaging cars, and causing extensive property damage in Minneapolis, Sunday, May 22, 2011.


from flickr user urbancn
This aerial view shows tornado damage to residences in north Minneapolis, Sunday, May 22, 2011. At least one person died when the tornado barreled through the residential portion of Minneapolis on Sunday, damaging at least 100 homes, toppling hundreds of trees and injuring at least 29 people. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Brewster)


from flickr user urbancn
This aerial view shows tornado damage to residences in north Minneapolis, Sunday, May 22, 2011. At least one person died when the tornado barreled through the residential portion of Minneapolis on Sunday, damaging at least 100 homes, toppling hundreds of trees and injuring at least 29 people. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Brewster)

North Minneapolis Storm Damage

from flickr user Tony Webster
The aftermath of severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado touchdown in North Minneapolis. Even though we dodged the Rapture yesterday, the severe weather is always going to be present during a Minnesota spring.

The Crane Lake Voyager

from flickr user AndyHillHome
Nowhere near as famous as Paul Bunyan or even the giant ball of twine in Darwin, MN, the Crane Lake Voyager resides in the north woods of Voyageurs National Park and the city of Crane Lake, MN is home to Voyageur Days -- an annual celebration held over Labor Day weekend each September.

Light up the night

from flickr user waiting line (Ren)
The photographer says: Hosted a photowalk on the Stone Arch Bridge tonight. Fun times!

Woody

from flickr user Urban Camper
A rather curious roadside attraction, this homemade wooden bicycle stands tied to a tree in the Loring Park area of Minneapolis.

Wadena, MN Tornado - One Year Later

from flickr user nickwarrenphoto.com
The photographer says: These photos are nearly the one-year follow-up to the tornado that hit Wadena, MN on June 17, 2010. There will be a fundraising event held on June 18, 2011, so we had to do these photos just a bit early to make sure we have them ready for the event.

Goldie the Finch

from flickr user DJ~mn
With such striking color to be found on one of our fine feathered friends, this spectacular photo of a Goldfinch perced in a tree in the Minnesota River Valley makes me want to try my hand a bird photography. Maybe that will finally reignite my photographic fire.

Spring NEEDS to hurry the hell up

from flickr user mb_wen
Waiting for Spring in Minnesota to arrive takes patience but with only 2 or 3 days with temperatures in the 70s and 80s thus far our patience in running out.

Storm Spot Light

from flickr user markjackson15
5.10.11 Storm over North Minneapolis Minnesota Twin Cities

Stone Arch Bridge, Minneapolis, 1953

from flickr user John McNab
Burlington Zephyr on the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 17, 1953.

Photographer: Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Foshay Tower

from flickr user aaron.goodyear
At night, the Foshay Tower in Minneapolis lives up to its brilliance. With its angular -- almost round appearing corners -- and the definitive Foshay signage at the top, this building is one of those few truly Minnesotan structures that gives Minneapolis its character.

Ominous Skies

from flickr user Doug Wallick
Taken during a tornado warning [last night], no funnel clouds developed where I was at, but there were some reports nearby of funnel sightings.

Springtime reflection

from flickr user Jair65
This photo is the most perfect springtime reflection I have seen in recent weeks. The crystal blue sky reflected in true mirror fashion in the calm as glass water complete with swampy, rural surroundings. Scenes like this make Minnesota very much worth living in.

St. Paul skyway

from flickr user Ebbs2
Finally, proof that living, breathing humans exist in downtown St. Paul and use the city's skyways.

Southern Minnesota Lakeshore

from flickr user Cherished Moments Photography
This stunning shoreline setting is just what people fail to realize about extreme southern Minnesota (in this case Albert Lea). There are actually sizeable lakes there -- Albert Lea has three that I can think of, maybe more. Take an exit off of Interstate 35 next time you venture south and see them for yourself.

Where cars go to die

from flickr user nhanson454
Taken in Albert Lea, MN, this auto junk yard seems to have been almost forgotten as it appears to contain the relics of cars from the 1950s and maybe the 1960s. Sadly, though, I think I've been to this junk yard as a child with my dad. It's located east of Interstate 35 just north of the former U.S. Highway 16 (now Freeborn County 46).

A New Beginning

from flickr user DigitalObserver
Finally the tulips of Minnesota, long suffering due to our abnormally cold, sunless spring, can burst open today. I'm guessing that color will be plentiful by this coming weekend with warm temperatures finally gracing us with their presence.

Grazing

from flickr user Tricia V
While the photo itself is a bit overexposed, the photographer has a sentimental attachment to the subject matter because she apparently owns the Bison in the photograph. If she's reading this, I wouldn't be opposed to a few pounds of Bison meat...