When most people think summer in Minnesota, they think north: lakes, coniferous forests, large noisy black birds. But Minnesota actually has four biomes, and I would consider the prairie grassland the most neglected when we engage in communal nostalgia for Minnesota summer. Luckily, we have some great parks on the prairie where you can see a little of what Minnesota might have been like before settlement. And it’s beautiful.
When everyone else is battling to head north, you can head west, to some less-trampled wild areas. Experience the what real wind feels like (it’s pretty constant). See some still-vibrant agricultural outposts. Eat at the Water’s Edge in Starbuck.
I won’t write too much, but wanted to share a few a my favorite pictures from a trip to Glacial Lakes State Park, a great place to experience the Minnesota prairie.
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Too bad 99.9% of the tallgrass prairie has become infinite fields of corn.
My family restored the prairie at our property in SW Minnesota. it’s surrounded by farm fields as far as the eye can see (except our adjacent neighbor’s untouched prairie). The controlled burns are always interesting: http://instagram.com/p/Kdq4YoIBg9/
Thank you for doing that Adam. It’s so interesting that prairie depends on fire.
Beautiful post. Just beautiful. As a native of southwestern Minnesota, I’ve always loved the prairie. Always. I don’t live there anymore, but love to return to my roots. Recently my husband and I visited Blue Mounds State Park near Luverne. Another beautiful prairie park. I’ll take wide open spaces and big sky any day over lakes and woods as the prairie is the place of my heart, where I feel most at home.
Great Pictures Brendon. Pretty Incredible.