NATURE FOR A RESTLESS HEART!

One thing I know for sure is that getting out in nature calms me down in miraculous ways and revives my spirit. Two days ago I left my restlessness behind and headed to Minneapolis and Eloise Butler

Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary.  Right on the edge of beautiful Theodore Wirth Parkway and the winding paths

around multiple Minneapolis lakes, it's yet another reminder to

me why I've lived in Minneapolis for nearly 50 years.  It has the number one park system in the entire country and the lakes are incredible.  But starting out my adventure at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden was absolutely perfect.  It's like walking into a fairy tale.

Eloise Butler, for whom the park is named, is remembered as a student of nature who taught botany to Minneapolis students for 36 years.  She grew up in rural Maine and brought her love of plants and wildflowers to Minneapolis.  How lucky were the students of that era.  They ventured out into the area around Theodore Wirth Park to explore and

become nature sleuths. What an amazing teacher they had!  And how lucky are those of us who can follow her trails and feel her presence in that magnificent park.  I never have to second guess why I choose to go there. 

Following that, I drove along the winding lake roads of Cedar Lake and on to Lake Harriet, my favorite Twin Cities lake.  I spent several hours there,

sitting near the lake, being an observer of adults and children

 who walked and rode bikes and scooters and often smiled

at me and mentioned what a beautiful day it was. I discovered one woman who was in her own little world fishing along the shore. And how could one resist watching the ducks while eating an ice cream.  Minneapolis is indeed a joyous place to be in summer.