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This is the beginning of our 25th year of looking at wildflowers in Cook County, MN. We are three senior women who just love to get out and explore and learn new things. We are even getting together all winter but don't find too many flowers at that time, but no matter.

Wednesday, June 7th, 2006 - Report by

Last weekend we went to "Devil's Kettle" in Judge Magne State Park. I believe there are about 225 steps to get there. I didn't think I could make it but it was a success. Beyond the "Kettle" a ways are the only Large-flowered Trillium we are aware of in the county. They were past their peak but fun to see.

On Wednesday, driving around town I saw: Caraway, Lupine, Dandelion (mostly white seeded), Yellow Hawkweed, Sheep Sorrel, Rose, Winter Cress, Buttercup, Red-Osier Dogwood, Mountain Ash, Pussytoes and Orange Hawkweed. -Yesterday I spoke to my sister who lives near St. Cloud. I told her we just turned the heat on in the house, it was 63 degrees and we were wearing jackets in the house. She said that she had just turned off her air conditioner. Today when B was dropped off at her home in Grand Marais the temperature was 80 degrees. L's house 6 miles east of town the temp. was 70 degrees. We are happy for the cool summers.

We saw so many flowers today that all will not be mentioned. However if you want to see Gay Wings (Fringed Polygala) turn off the Gunflint Trail on the Lima Mountain Road - stop and get out of the car. There were about 100 just in that spot. We continued on the Lima Mountain Road and turned left on the Lima Grade. We had hoped to see Bog or Pale Laurel but were too late. The seed pods were pretty though. We did see: Labrador Tea "as far as the eye could see" Bunchberries, Clintonia, lovely Cotton Grass and Columbine. We tried to find an old road used for gravel trucks but now camouflaged - there we were "two woofy old ladies" charging through Alder brush as high as our heads. We turned around and did not see the Pink Moccasin flowers we hoped for.

We turned around on the road, going north , past the Lima Mt. rd. and saw the largest display of Blue-eyed Grass we had ever seen and also some Marsh Marigolds.

It was hot and buggy. We ate lunch at Swamper Lake in the car.

The flowers of the week were the Gay Wings and Labrador Tea. The Wild Purple Clematis are still blooming in my woods.

 

 

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  Be sure to stop back throughout the Spring and Summer to see our weekly wildflower reports from Lorraine Anderson of Grand Marais, Minnesota.