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Wild Rose, Photo by Erik W. L. Anderson

Wednesday, June 13th, 2007 - Report by

Saturday I visited two creative and productive vegetable and fruit gardens.

Sunday we went up the Gunflint Trail to see the results of the Ham Lake Fire. I had thought that it would be totally burnt above the Sea Gull Guard Station and was pleased to see that there was still a lot of green - however it was devastating. The survival factor - the willingness to live was exciting.  Lots of underbrush had already emerged - fields of fern! The site that remains in my mind is the beautiful Clintonia (Blue-bead Lily) with their thick, shiny, green leaves and yellow flowers that look like fire crackers or sparklers against the black, parched ground.
Monday we took the Superior Hiking Trail from the Jackson Lake Road to the "Hellacious Overlook". It was hot and buggy and the overlook was not nearly as good as the overlooks at Oberg Mt.
The big thrill was seeing 3 Long-bracted Orchids, many blooming Naked Miterwort and lots of Bunchberries. Soon the buds of Linnea and Pink Pyrola will open.

Wed. June 13 - The days of the spring ephemerals are over and we are beginning to see the colorful flowers on the highways: Lupine, Winter Cress, Yellow hawkweed, Caraway and Bird's-foot Trefoil. In quieter areas, there were still many Bunchberries, Clintonia, Lily-of-the Valley, Mertensia, Wild Rose. The blooms on the Mountain Ash and Red-osier Dogwood are at their peak.
We were fortunate enough to go see the Hoffman's wonderful living area - both outside and in. Mother Earth would be proud of them. K had a Sweet Cicely on his property and I did not have a picture, so I was happy to get that.
We then went out Pike Lake Road and stopped at the Superior Hiking Trail parking area on the left side of the road. We walked down the trail until we saw the Cascade River - what a view.
Then up the Cascade River Road and turned left at the blue sign #79. We drove in a ways then parked and walked down to the river. What a nice spot to camp and fish.
Lunch at Devil Track Campground and home at 4:30. 80 degrees inland and 50 degrees by the lake.

 

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