Archive for 2008
Summer Solstice Garden Tour
Join the Friends of the Linnaeus Arboretum for an early summer garden tour to three southern Minnesota botanical treasures. Van service from Linnaeus Arboretum will leave at 10:15 a.m. for the August Schell Brewery in New Ulm. German Park will be our destination for a picnic lunch. Then it’s on to the Rysdahl residence to [...]
A Great Day of Birding
Yesterday afternoon was amazing for birding in the Arb! We had excellent looks at several uncommon species, and the weather was absolutely beautiful. Here’s a list of what we found: American Crow American Goldfinch American Robin Bald Eagle Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Brown Thrasher Brown-headed Cowbird Chipping Sparrow Common Grackle Cooper’s Hawk (heard calling briefly) Eastern Bluebird European Starling (apparently nesting in a wood duck box!) Field Sparrow House Finch House Sparrow House Wren Killdeer Lark [...]
Happy Arbor Day
“He that plants trees loves others beside himself” – unknown It is important to remember the value trees hold in our world. Arbor Day reminds us to look around and appreciated trees and nature that surround our homes. They offer so many special gifts to us as inhabitants of the Earth. Thank a tree [...]
BPLP Earth Day Event in the Linnaeus Arboretum
Last night, the Big Partner Little Partner Program (Community Service Office) hosted an educational Earth Day event in the Linnaeus Arboretum. This was a cooperative effort that focused on small ways to “save the planet” and “connect with nature”. The event was a huge success and lots of fun for the St. Peter [...]
Trees for Heart, Mind, and Spirit Begins Today
Today is the kick-off of our Arbor Week activities in the Linnaeus Arboretum. Come enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery. Lunch is available for purchase, so all should join us for a brief visit. The schedule for the next three days is as follows: Wednesday, April 23rd 11:30 – “Yoga in the Arboretum” – Kari Lipke 12:00 [...]
Birding in the Linnaeus Arboretum
What a beautiful afternoon it was for birding! Migration is definitely well underway, as we found several species now passing through the Arb. Here’s a list of what we saw today: American Crow American Goldfinch (nearly in full yellow summer plumage!) American Robin Black-capped Chickadee Brown Creeper Brown Thrasher (at least two within earshot of the Interpretive Center) Cedar Waxwing Chipping Sparrow Common Grackle European Starling Golden-crowned [...]
A Titanic Ruby Thursday
Walking toward the greenhouse door this morning down a hallway redolent of dead mice, I suspected that great things were to come. My entry into the greenhouse was greeted by a glorious wave of abominable stench. Inside at the time were Emily (our greenhouse manager), a guest, and Ruby, all three in [...]
Perry the Titan and Cousin Konjac Beckon
Perry, our largest plant of Amorphophallus titanum, has now exceeded our 2.4 meter measuring stick in height. We’ll probably move a ladder into the room soon so as to be able to use a tape measure for gathering data points. The petiole of the leaf shoot has developed a slight, but obvious sinusoidal [...]
Titan Tops Two Meters, Calls for Admirers
Perry, our largest plant of Amorphophallus titanum, continues to grow her/his awe-inspiring leaf at a remarkable rate. The leaf had topped two meters by about 4:30 Sunday afternoon (April 13), up from 191 cm at about the same time on Saturday. The leaf base is now approximately 6.5 inches in diameter at ground [...]
Tiny Titan Trasfixes Thousands
Bob the Tiny Titan opened his/her inflorescence at the Majorie McNeely (aka Como) Conservatory in St. Paul over April 9-10. Thousands visited and were astounded. Many also dipped into the visceral depths of olfactory challenge presented by Bob. I made a trip to Como on Thursday afternoon (April 10), as did Philip (who was [...]