Friday, March 28, 2014

Northern Inspiration

My family and I have become quite obsessed with northern Minnesota, especially along the coast of Lake Superior. We have been camping up there a half dozen times or more in the last 2 years. I noticed a few things last summer that I thought were garden blog worthy. I find the landscape up there naturally deeply inspiring and would love to emulate it in my own garden. 

Everything come so much later up there. We were there in late June and early July and the lilacs were blooming. It's fascinating to see what a shorter bloom season looks like.
 
Wildflowers everywhere.
 
 
Its almost like a rainforest, there's moss everywhere.

 
 
The beauty is unreal.

 
I was so excited to see Luna moths on the light poles outside of the bathroom, and on the check in station walls at Judge Magney State Park.

 
The rocks on the shore are incredible.


 
The driftwood is everywhere.

 
This wildflower was growing right on the beach in Grand Marais. The most beautiful blue you could imagine.


 
One time, our campsite was right in the woods.
 
 
The lupine are everywhere!

 
So many people have collected their own huge amethyst rocks. My son Ben loves it!

 
More rocks...

 
God's the best landscaper.

 
We found so many fresh berries on the mountainside at the end of the one of the trails, we felt like bears.

 
The smaller lakes are beautiful too.

 
More wildflowers...
 
One of my favorite parts of the trips we make- the old pines!




 
At the Fort near the Canadian border I was inspired by the natural materials/structures.



 
One of our favorite stops is the fur shop- where the antler shed is just how I'd love my garden shed to look.

 
More wildflowers and beautiful sky.

 
Grand Marais is just inspiring.
 


But so is every woodland path we found...

Frogs from the creek.

Crawfish watching.
 
And mushroom and fungi galore.




 



And asters... perfect.
I loved the little accents in this container garden outside of the shops in Grand Marais.
 
 
Every time I leave one of our trips I tear up. I don't want it to end. But I do bring so much inspiration back with me.
 
Happy gardening!

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