The Arb

 

   One of the things that C and I enjoy doing is visiting the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. We started visiting the Arb when we were dating and have continued to do so. It is a good place for us to be when we need a break from the city and have a lot of stressful things happening. Walking in the gardens is a peaceful experience.

   We needed such a break yesterday so we drove out to the Arb. The weather was going to be nice although a bit windy, but we really needed to get outside and away.

   I honestly wasn't sure what we were going to see. It's been to cold for any planting. I was fairly sure that the spring tulips would not be blooming. Such is spring in Minnesota. Even though it could be a dull walk, then sun would be shining and that counts for quite a bit. 

   We made our way into the main building pausing at the dining room to see what was going to be served for lunch. We walked down the hallways that connects the main building to the old main building admiring the artwork on the walls as we walked.    

  We got to the doors that opening outside. I put on my sunglasses and we went out the door. I wasn't expecting to see anything but bare grass. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were a few flowers poking out of the ground. The grass was green and some of the water displays were running. There was a display of tall ceramic flowers in white, yellow and black. The flowers had decorative metal "stems" which held them into the ground. The display was to honor those who had committed suicide or had been struggling with mental illness. Visitors to the garden were invited to take a green plastic tag, write the name of a friend or family member who suffers/suffered from mental illness or committed suicide. The tag could be attached to any of the flowers. I wrote the name of a guy I knew in high school who had killed himself. C wrote the name of his mother who struggled with severe mental illness long before there were treatments or even a knowledge of what mental illness is.  

   We walked through the woods. There were small flowers blooming near the ground, Early spring is the only time when these flowers can bloom. Once the trees start leafing, they don't get enough sun. Some parts of the stream had water while other parts were dry. Leave from the previous fall had filled in the streambed.

  A few azalea bushed had blossoms as did some northern magnolias. Northern magnolias seem miraculous to me. Magnolias are a southern tree. In the south they have large, beautiful, fragrant flowers. The flowers show up before the leaves do. The northern variety is a mini version of the southern with less fragrant flowers. The fact that this small version can survive up here amazes me.

   We got to the end of our walk. It was past lunchtime and we were both a little hungry. The dining room offerings didn't interest us. We got into the car and drove away refreshed and ready for the rest of the week.