Summer at the Arboretum

Location coordinates:
44°86'19"N, 93°61'51"W
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Chaska, Minnesota

 As a budding photographer I am always on the lookout for enjoyable places to go and practice my craft. A Twin Cities favorite spot for photographers of all levels is the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, located in Chaska, about 22 miles southwest of downtown Minneapolis. Spread over one thousand acres, the Arboretum features an incredible array of northern climate plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and hedges set in manicured gardens or in fields depicting a more natural setting. Throughout the Arboretum are miles of walking paths, along which you will find dozens of benches to sit and admire the view. This is a four-season destination, and it has been quite interesting following the changes of scenery over the past year. I've marveled at the brilliant colors of the stands of maple trees in the fall, trekked across the winter landscape in snowshoes, attempted to calculate the precise peak of spring blossoms on the cherry and flowering crabapple trees (I missed it by a week!), and dodged the wedding parties seeking that perfect photographic backdrop in the summer.

During my most recent visit I focused on the blooming gardens nearest the visitors center, hoping to catch a few good shots in the late afternoon light. On this particular day the bridal parties had been replaced by impatient members of the high school Class of 2011, doing their best to look excited and self-assured while posing for their senior portraits. Most seemed quite embarrassed by the attention given them by curious onlookers as their photographers placed them in what likely felt as very unnatural poses. As annoyed as they were, I'll bet they will find the effort was worthwhile when the final product is gracing their parent's fireplace mantle.
 

Getting away from the crowd is the best tactic to use while visiting the Arboretum. Wandering from the heavily-used Three Mile Drive and following a smaller trail, or no trail at all, can land you in a secluded spot all to yourself. Once there you can appreciate the sights and sounds of nature, watch the birds, or, perhaps, run away from the snakes. (This actually happened to me once. I freely admit I hate snakes. There is just something about their movement that is truly creepy.)

I'm never disappointed when I go to the Arboretum. No matter what the weather, season, or time of day, you can always find something beautiful to appreciate. Lucky for me I live close and am able to visit often.

Extraordinary Weeds

Location Coordinates:

44°48'52"N, 93°32'13"W

Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail

Eden Prairie, Minnesota

     After a long stretch of recent travel, I was anxious to get back on the bike and out on my hometown area trails. Last weekend, Chrys and I ventured out to a trail we had not yet ridden around the area of Lake Riley in the suburban Minneapolis communities of Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. We found the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail running alongside Lake Riley's eastern shore and started in a southwesterly direction. Spending so much time on the crowded urban trails within the city, it was a very nice change to be almost alone on this path, riding through deciduous forest along a bluff overlooking the Minnesota River and the town of Shakopee.

     Perspective truly is everything. In a well-manicured lawn, a clump of thistle would likely be viewed as unwanted weeds. But in Scotland, thistle is a national icon, and is really quite pretty in an open, natural setting. As we leisurely pedaled our way along the regional trail we came across a large clump of thistle. Chrys has an appreciation for thistle (it appears as a decorative feature on her best Scottish dishes), so we made note of the location so I could return with the camera. When I returned Tuesday evening I found the thistle humming with industrious bees, doing their jobs moving pollen from one place to the next. A few passing bicyclists did double-takes as they observed me snapping photo after photo of what appeared to be a big clump of weeds. And while the photos didn't end up being as "frame-worthy" as I had hoped, they do illustrate how a change of perspective in how you look at something can make a big difference. Unwanted clump of weeds, or charming bunch of flowers? Everyone can decide for themselves.

A Canadian Eden

Location Coordinates:
48°33'55"N, 123°28'10"W
Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay,
British Columbia, Canada

My goal with the creation of The Right Latitude blog is less about sharing sights and thoughts on traditional tourist attractions and more about the everyday aspects of any spot that make it interesting. As such, including an entry about the world-renowned Butchart Gardens in British Columbia would seem inconsistent with my objective. But the sheer beauty of this place compels me to at least include a few shots of this amazing property, which is located about 14 miles (21 km) north of Victoria, BC.

Warmer-than-normal weather and traveling at the peak of summer vacation season, with the associated hordes of tourists, were the only downsides about spending a few hours wandering through these exquisitely maintained gardens. The moderate climate of southern Vancouver Island allows for a huge variety of floral and plant life to thrive, and the design of the various sections of The Gardens provides for an almost overwhelming array of color and beauty.

Sunken Garden

The most recognizable scenes are those in the Sunken Garden. It is nearly inconceivable that this spot was once a quarry providing limestone for the Butchart family's cement business. It was the ingenuity and determination of Jennie Butchart that transformed an ugly, barren quarry into this beautiful retreat.

Rose Garden

The countless varieties and colors of the Rose Garden make it impossible to determine which is your favorite.

And even with throngs of tourists milling along the pathways of the Japanese Garden you can still find a shady, peaceful spot to be calmed by the sounds of water falling in fountains surrounded by lush green.

Japanese Garden

These are just a few of the dozens of photos I shot, the best of which I'm reserving for publication on my web site (which should be operational by this fall). If you ever have the chance to visit Butchart Gardens, go ahead and brave the crowds. It is worth it.

Water takeoffs and landings

Location coordinates:
48°25'22"N, 123°23'15"W
Inner Harbour
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada


I'm sure you've seen movies set in exotic locales like a south pacific island, Alaska, or the wilds of the Yukon. At some point in these movies you will likely have a scene with someone arriving in a small plane with two pontoons (or skis) in place of landing gears. These are floatplanes (also known as seaplanes), and with my passion for flying and aircraft I've been curious about what it would be like to take off and land on the water. I was able to satisfy that curiosity as part of my recent visit to Victoria, British Columbia.

When we arrived in Victoria I was pleased to find an airline operating scenic flights using a large fleet of floatplanes - specifically, de Havilland Otters. Excitement outweighed frugality regarding the flight's cost, so my wife and I bought tickets on Harbour Air for a forty-five minute aerial tour of the region around Victoria and the nearby Gulf Islands.

It was unseasonably warm on our tour day as we arrived at the Victoria Harbour Water Aerodrome. We obtained our bright pink boarding cards and had a seat in the sparse waiting area to await our departure. Fifteen minutes later an energetic girl called for those on the 11 AM flight. I was a bit concerned as I observed about thirteen people moving toward a plane I assumed was fitted for no more than six or eight passengers. As I crawled into the plane I could see that, technically, the cabin could seat about fifteen - providing those fifteen were the stature of a five-year-old child. We claimed our two diminutive seats, and with my knees rammed into the row in front and legs spilling into the "aisle", I buckled up and let anticipation rush over me. It was quite cramped and stuffy inside the tiny cabin, but worries about comfort quickly faded away as we got underway.

We enjoyed a mini-cruise of the harbour while taxiing to the main channel for takeoff. I expected to be vigorously bounced by the waves on our acceleration run, but even though water was flying wildly to the sides the ride was relatively smooth. Soon we were airborne and banking left to follow the gorgeous Vancouver Island shoreline. The views were amazing! At one point our pilot took us down to a mere 500 feet where we seemed to skim the tops of the trees on one of the Gulf Islands. What a thrill! Beyond the excitement of the flight itself, we were able to see so much more of the diverse beauty of the area than we ever could have from the ground. The adventure ended much too soon, and after about thirty-five minutes in the air we splashed down for a smooth landing back in Victoria Harbour. 

The flight exceeded all my expectations (except for cabin space), and it was the highlight of my visit to Victoria. And, I get to check "ride in a seaplane" off the life goals list.

Storm on the Plains

Location coordinates:

41° 09' 57"N, 101° 00' 04"W

Hershey, Nebraska

 OK, so it has been a long time between blog posts. I've been busy traveling, and I'm in a bit of a lull right now before another trip at the end of the month, so I thought I'd get in a post or two before I'm off again.

A few weeks ago I was in western Nebraska for a family event. Nebraska has had their fair share of rain and storms this spring and summer. This particular storm passed just to the north of Hershey, NE, which is west of North Platte along Interstate 80. It had been another hot day, with temperatures near or at 100 degrees. The storm blew up close to sundown, so the cloud formations were really stunning with the setting sun. When we noticed the darkening sky out of the living room window we all went out to watch the unfolding drama. It was fascinating to watch the clouds churn and boil, and the lightning put on a very nice show. It never did rain where we were, but shortly after sundown the wind came up (which I am assuming was associated with this storm as it passed), and the temperature dropped significantly. The strong wind was welcomed by me for more than just its cooling impact; it blew away the mosquitoes, which had viciously attacked me as I was trying to focus on taking the photos. (I am your typical mosquito's very favorite dish, apparently. I attract the little villains more than anyone I know. I step outside near sunset and they nearly knock me to the ground!)

I love to watch weather, if I'm out of harm's way. I've lived in the central U.S. most of my adult life, in Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and now Minnesota. I believe the beauty of a summer thunderstorm is best observed in Nebraska because the terrain is flat with few trees to obscure the view. As long as the storms don't become destructive, they are one of the best things about the Midwest summer.

A Slight Pause . .

I'll be slowing down a bit on my blog posts over the next couple of weeks as I have some travel and other business matters that I'll be working on during June. As I'm working these other projects I'll be keeping an eye out for new "right latitudes", and I'll be bringing new posts again soon. In the meantime I'll share a photo I took on my recent trip to Washington of pretty Snoqualmie Falls. The falls are located about 30 miles east of Seattle and make for a very nice afternoon journey. Located at the crest of the falls is the Salish Lodge and Spa (http://www.salishlodge.com/), a great looking place I'm interested in experiencing sometime.

Snoqualmie Falls, Washington

Location coordinates:

47°32'31"N, 121°50'13"W

Seattle - Beyond Expectations

Location coordinates:

47°37'47"N, 122°21'33"W

Kerry Park, Seattle, Washington

It's great when a destination lives up to your pre-conceived notions. Even better is when a location provides the unexpected and broadens your impression of what that place is really like, which is what happened on my recent journey to Seattle. I found plenty of what I expected: beautiful bays dotted with ships and sailboats and ferries, picturesque parks, great food, mind-boggling traffic, and interesting architecture. I was also introduced to characteristics that up to this point I did not associate with the city.

With Seattle's reputation for damp and cloudy weather, it was my understanding that sightings of majestic Mt. Rainier are hard to come by. But our arrival day was clear and bright, and as we flew into the city we were treated to amazing views of the 14,000 foot mountain, it's snow-covered peak contrasting sharply with the lush green landscape of the lower elevations. Most of our four-day visit was sunny and dry . And it was warm - in the mid-seventies. In fact, I'd say the weather was just about perfect. Is it possible the "it's always rainy in Seattle" mantra is a myth?

Another unanticipated finding was the proximity of spectacular mountain ranges that seemed to frame the horizon any direction you looked. Across Puget Sound to the west you can see the Olympic range, and to the east is the Cascade range, with Mt. Baker in the north and Mt. Rainier (shown here) to the south serving as geographic sentries for the Seattle metropolitan area. I always knew there were mountain ranges nearby, but I wouldn't have guessed they were such a visible and pleasing part of the Seattle cityscape.

I was also quite surprised to find downtown Seattle similar to hilly San Francisco. Many of the streets in the city center and immediate surrounding area are so steep that even the best of stick shift drivers would be hard pressed to keep their car from making that heart-thumping roll back when getting the green light.

What I did expect, and most certainly found, was a culturally diverse, dynamic city in one of America's most scenery-blessed regions. The best views combining the city, Puget Sound, and Mt. Rainier can be found in Kerry Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerry_Park_(Seattle)) in the Queen Anne Hill neighborhood just north of downtown. If you're lucky and the weather is clear - which from my photo above you can see on the day we visited it was not - you are treated to a dramatic visual trifecta of skyline, water, and mountains. You can also admire (or envy if you are so inclined) the stately homes of those fortunate enough to live with the best view in town.

It's easy to understand why Seattle's population has increased dramatically since the early 1990s. Fortunately, I won't have to move there to continue to explore the city. With family living there, I'll get to enjoy my status as repeat visitor.