Butterflies and Fountains

Location coordinates:
44°55'39"N, 93°17'45"W
Lyndale Park
Minneapolis, Minnesota

I live in a wondrous place. I can look out the window of my upstairs home office and see Lyndale Farmstead Park across the street to the north. There is the beautiful and historic Lakewood Cemetery across the street to the west. And just a block to the south lies yet another park, Lyndale Park, that features a rose garden, a perennial garden, a peace garden, and a bird sanctuary. Walking or biking through Lyndale Park brings you to the eastern shore of Lake Harriet, of which I've made several earlier blog entries. This collection of wonderment literally steps from my front door is my home base, and it provides a terrific venue for a new photographer to practice.

A few days ago I ventured out during the hour just prior to sunset to capture the warm end-of-day lighting. My goal was to photograph a bench that sets off by itself. I love photographing benches, and this particular bench has caught my eye many times during the year, as it seems to provide a serene setting in which to gaze off toward two large maple trees currently dawning their vivid red colors of the season. When I arrived at the bench, however, the lighting angle simply wasn't complimentary enough to the scene to produce the type of shot I desired. So I wandered off in another direction looking for anything else of interest. As luck would have it, a perky little monarch butterfly was kind enough to pose for a few shots.



Phelps Fountain

 Given the fact it was near to sundown, the mosquitoes were on the prowl. Although I had prepared by dousing myself in insect repellent, I observed a small squadron of the pests making their way my direction and I didn't want to take any chances. I left Madame Butterfly behind and walked toward the rose and perennial gardens. The next thing to catch my eye was the Phelps Fountain, one of two historic fountains located in the gardens. It occurred to me that very soon these fountains will literally be enclosed in a plywood housing to protect them from the cold winter weather. This fact made me appreciate the water patterns shimmering in the setting sun all the more.



Phelps Fountain

 While taking in the charm of the fountain I felt that always-annoying piercing itch of a mosquito who had managed to penetrate the defense barrier of the bug repellent. I decided it was best to pack up the tripod and head for home. As I did I looked around and considered the fact that within the next few weeks the gardens will end their season and the Minneapolis Parks staff would be packing the rose bushes in a thick layer of leaves as protection from snow and ice. The parks will take on a whole different look, and I'll be there to capture it all.