Photo by Kelly Povo
As temperatures warm, lingering snowdrifts recede, and water runs clear again in streams and falls, Minnesotans welcome spring in the great outdoors—one of our favorite places to be.
Take a Hike
Minnesota native-plant enthusiasts Kelly Povo and Phyllis Root share some of their favorite parks and trails—and the early-spring wildflowers you can look for in each locale. flowerchasers.com
Carley State Park, Plainview.
What to see: Virginia bluebells, hepatica, anemone, trout lily, Dutchman’s breeches, and bellwort
Dutchman’s breeches are related to bleeding hearts, and their flowers resemble white, billowy pantaloons. They have wispy, frond-like leaves and grow low on the forest floor.
Photo by Kelly Povo
French Regional Park, Plymouth.
What to see: Showy orchids, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and nodding trillium
Jack-in-the-pulpit has a maroon and green cup that folds over a green spathe—that’s the part that looks like a person standing in the pulpit.
Photo by Kelly Povo
Lower Glen Trail, Minnehaha Regional Park, Minneapolis.
What to see: Skunk cabbage, marsh marigold, and bloodroot
Skunk cabbage thrives in wet areas and, well, looks like cabbage—and smells like skunk. Look for its red spathe, a cup-like structure around the green flower.
Photo by Kelly Povo
River Terrace Prairie Scientific and Natural Area, Cannon Falls.
What to see: American pasqueflower and prairie smoke
American pasqueflower is one of Minnesota’s earliest blooms, and you can often spot its bluish-white petals on south-facing slopes.
Photo by Kelly Povo
Go Chasing Waterfalls
Melting snow and runoff make this peak season for waterfall peeping all around the state. Visit one of these beautiful cascades for a reminder of the power of nature.
Cascade Falls, Cascade River State Park, West Cook
Gooseberry Falls, Gooseberry Falls State Park, Two Harbors
Hidden Falls, Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand
Minnehaha Falls, Minnehaha Regional Park, Minneapolis
Tettegouche Falls, Tettegouche State Park, Silver Bay
Best Birding
To see migratory species as they move through Minnesota on their way north, prime bird-watching spots abound. If you’re hoping to view a particular kind of bird in your binoculars, make sure to visit a habitat that’s suited to their migration patterns.
In northeast Minnesota, including Cook County and the North Shore, you’ll see a wide variety of species as they head north toward Canada for the spring and summer:
- Cascade River State Park, West Cook
- Hawk Ridge Nature Reserve, Duluth
- Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Grand Marais
For boreal species that flock to the woods, including majestic owls, several locations in northwest Minnesota fit the bill (pun intended):
- Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Middle River
- Peatlands and wetlands around Roseau
- Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, Rochert
In central and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, early waterfowl species and cranes can be found near suburban lakes and riverways:
- Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, Odessa
- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington
- Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman
Wing It
The Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail is a partnership among several northwestern Minnesota communities, including Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Roseau, and others. Visitors can see almost 300 species of birds—from herons and osprey to snowy owls and sparrows—and can reserve viewing blinds at various wildlife management areas. Along the trail, Lake of the Woods holds a special distinction as one of only a few places in Minnesota where the American white pelican nests. mnbirdtrail.com
Photo by Elizabeth Wilde
Show Some Identification
Monica Bryand, founder and executive director of Urban Bird Collective, shares a list of feathered friends you can spot early in the birding season. urbanbirdcollective.org
Golden-crowned kinglet
Where: Backyards and parks
Distinctive features: Tiny, with an olive-green body, bold white eyebrow stripe, and black stripes on the side of the head
Song: High-pitched “See-see-see”
Photo by Monica Bryand
Killdeer
Where: Dirt roads and open fields
Distinctive features: Two prominent black bands across a white breast
Song: “Kill-deeh!”
Photo by Monica Bryand
Northern flicker
Where: Open fields where they can feed on the ground
Distinctive features: Brown coloring, with round black spots on the belly; eastern birds have yellow under their wings and tail, while western birds have red
Song: “Wicka, wicka, wicka” or “Kyeer”
Photo by Monica Bryand
Red-winged blackbird
Where: Ponds
Distinctive features: Black coloring with red and yellow shoulder patches (males); streaky brown coloring (females)
Song: “Conk-a-reel!” from atop a cattail stalk
Photo by Monica Bryand
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Where: Backyards and parks
Distinctive features: Tiny, with olive-green coloring and a prominent, broken white eye ring and two white wing bars
Song: Surprisingly loud, “galloping” warble of “Tee-da-leet, tee-da-leet”
Photo by Monica Bryand
Song sparrow
Where: Open ponds and lake edges
Distinctive features: Dark brown streaks on the breast that converge into a central dark spot
Song: Three clear opening notes, followed by a mix of trills and buzzes
Photo by Monica Bryand
Winter wren
Where: Old Cedar Avenue Bridge and Bass Ponds trails, Bloomington
Distinctive features: Very small; appears as a plump, round ball with a short, stubby tail held upright
Song: Loud and complex sequences of trills and warbles
Photo by Monica Bryand
Wood duck
Where: Lakes
Distinctive features: Iridescent green, blue, and chestnut plumage with white “bridle” marks on the face (males); gray-brown with white teardrop eye patch (females)
Song: “Jeeee” (males); “Ooeek, ooeek” (females)
Photo by Monica Bryand
Get Started in the Garden
In March, even before the ground fully thaws, you can start many seeds indoors for easy transplanting once the weather warms up. These tips from experts at the University of Minnesota Extension will help your seedlings thrive.
- Use seeds that have been purchased recently; as time passes, fewer seeds from a packet will germinate.
- Keep your starts in a place away from pets and big swings in temperature. Make sure the air temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. (Avoid the windowsill, which can be cold at night and hot during the day.)
- Start each seed in a small, individual container. Make sure your plastic or fiber pots have drainage holes at the bottom and sterilize recycled containers with a bleach solution to kill any germs from previous plants.
- Add a clear plastic or glass dome over seedlings to help keep moisture from escaping and provide better heat to the roots.
Get Crafty
To help beautify your yard or a neighborhood common space (get permission first!), make seed bombs, which can be tossed or planted in the spring for a mix of flowers. Make a pancake shape out of air-dry clay and add a few teaspoons of potting soil or compost. Then, sprinkle a handful of seeds into the soil—native wildflower seeds are a great choice—and gently form the clay into a ball, keeping the soil inside. After a few days of drying, your seed bombs are ready to be tossed.
Courtesy of Cottonbro Studio
