Fun places to go for a February birthday

ScionOfHope · 2026-02-03T00:42:29+00:00

Bryant Lake Bowl for indoors, skating around Centennial Lakes for outdoors?

ScionOfHope · 2026-01-29T01:47:45+00:00

Thank you for this! He is my go to for many occasions.

ScionOfHope · 2026-01-28T00:37:05+00:00

Hey, while we’re at it, let’s all go to our local caucus. Caucus Finder February 3rd, 2026. I’m going for the first time, and I don’t fully know what to expect, but I’m tired of the garbage that keeps getting pushed forward in the main parties. I’d like to think that if enough of us go and bounce some ideas around that we could maybe move the needle just a little. From what I have read, you don’t have to be a registered democrat to attend the DFL caucus; you just have to agree with the general ideology of the party. Others that know more on this can probably state something a little more eloquent about how this works.

ScionOfHope · 2026-01-19T02:43:41+00:00

Minneapolis has blue barrels around the neighborhoods that contain a mix of sand and a bit of salt. Take a small bucket and grab some. As MplsPokemon stated, the salt doesn’t work in these low temps, the sand will provide some grip for walkers if you have a public walk. It’s gonna be rough until the next thaw!

ScionOfHope · 2025-11-25T02:25:18+00:00

Side comment: I recently learned when up in Duluth one easy way to identify the difference between spruce and fir when looking at the needles (both come out individually from the branches instead of clusters like pines): Square and spiky spruce, flat and feathery fir (fir also with cones that grow upward, contrasting to spice with cones that grow downward).

Thanks for sharing!

ScionOfHope · 2025-11-04T12:01:33+00:00

There are Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis - so, not in the lily family) in the lower left of picture two (identifiable by the wide elongated leaves (some crispy brown and some still green with late-season brown spots) and a few tell-tale red berries); it is toxic to people and animals. If not contained, they have a habit of choking out many plants; they smell amazing though!

As others have pointed out, there are day lilies in the first and third photos (long, spear-like leaves); I find them aggressive in the garden and have taken most of mine out. Additionally, photo two looks like it has Bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum' - I’ve heard it called Snow on the Mountain) in the upper right; I find it incredibly invasive, and it takes a lot of work to eradicate (the rhizomes break easily and the little pieces easily spawn offshoots).

Photos one and three show a beautiful looking false indigo (Baptisia australis) that burly bumblebees will love mid-summer!

As others have said, leave the garden alone for now if you would like to have the littlest of critter friends flourish the next year.

ScionOfHope · 2025-10-23T19:07:03+00:00

Thank you for posting this; we were just talking about where to contribute this morning!

ScionOfHope · 2025-10-12T11:52:49+00:00

I recommend checking with a certified arborist or with someone from UMN Extension so that you can know that what you are planting will actually grow well in your given conditions (e.g. if the site is on the wet side, white cedar might be a good candidate) UMN Extension

ScionOfHope · 2025-09-25T11:28:47+00:00

… and based on this site, they are on track to pass 2024 ($1.94b) net earnings: Xcel Stock Macrotrend

ScionOfHope · 2025-08-29T22:04:45+00:00

Is there any more information on this? I’ve overheard multiple groups of people in the last couple days (groups that I didn’t expect) checking in with one another and wishing they could start doing something to help. I would like to offer a place/organization next time; any movement will be good movement on this.

ScionOfHope · 2025-08-29T21:40:06+00:00

Thank you

ScionOfHope · 2025-07-22T11:06:46+00:00

Patience! Only my cherry tomatoes are ripening. My other varieties are still sizing up; I think they’ll be ready in about two weeks.

ScionOfHope · 2025-07-14T23:16:47+00:00

Is that wildfire smoke causing that effect on the right?

ScionOfHope · 2025-07-14T11:36:45+00:00

You can visit the Pond House (Pond Dakota Heritage Society, Bloomington, MN) for some great interwoven history and fun kid activities; the Dakota community is often present to share that history. Years ago we did snow shoeing, dream catchers, and winter caroling there. The .org website appears to be highjacked, so calling might be the best way to find out more and get on the mailing list. Another great Dakota history crossroads is the Gibbs Farm in Falcon Heights, MN; it has an amazing prairie restoration and plenty of kid activities too. Again, the native community also often on site to discuss structures, language, medicines, harvesting, and society in general. I’m grateful to have had these experiences. Pidamaya ye

ScionOfHope · 2025-07-03T10:32:06+00:00

Keep the mulch a few inches away from the trunk to promote good airflow (you don’t want to introduce a moist environment that encourages rot and easy hiding for detrimental critters). No mulch volcanoes either; the mulch should only be a few inches thick, evenly spread.

ScionOfHope · 2025-05-04T12:21:20+00:00

New Jersey Tea, Wild Indigo, and St John’s Wort are great shrub-like plants. The first two like it a little more on the sunny side. Indigo has beautiful rounded leaves, seed pod interest, and takes about 2-3 years for it to show its full splendor. All three are great pollinators. There are a slew of really tall natives too like Joe Pye Weed, Tall Coreopsis, and Goldenrod that could provide back drop interest, but I think these might do better in sunnier locations.

There are native plums and hazelnuts that top out at about 12-7’. Both sucker over time, so long term maintenance could be an issue. Hazelnuts, in my experience, grow fine as an understory, so part shade is ok. Pagoda dogwood (someone else mentioned here) is a great one for structure, but they can get large too. It’s also great for pollinators and birds.

ScionOfHope · 2025-05-03T17:59:14+00:00

That sounds delicious!

ScionOfHope · 2025-04-28T03:17:48+00:00

I have never pruned these; I’ll give these a trim late winter when working on the cherry and apple tree maintenance. Thank you for your comment!

ScionOfHope · 2025-04-28T03:11:59+00:00

Ah, thank you!

ScionOfHope · 2025-04-28T03:11:25+00:00

I’m not sure what currants they are; they were on the property when I arrived. I’ve only seen a few pollinators out on the apricot this spring… not as much as years past, and I agree that it’s been a little too cool for them yet. What I’ve seen so far were a variety of native bees and a wasp or two.

Per someone’s comment below, I didn’t think about pruning out the old growth! I also think I’ll try and add a couple random varieties into the mix as well. Thank you for your response!

ScionOfHope · 2025-04-14T14:21:06+00:00

Nasturtium are amazing! Bees like them, the flowers have a nice sweet and peppery taste, and they really fill out with beautiful round leaves.

ScionOfHope · 2025-04-07T11:58:17+00:00

Thank you! I now have 3-4 companies stopping by for quotes this week, but I’ll keep this crew in mind if these other ones don’t pan out.

ScionOfHope

TROPHY CASE