Outdoors

Lift Bridge in Heavy Fog

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0PGXgr1wrc

Greenhouse Advice

I’m trying to make my yard and garden more inviting to pollinators, and I’m having trouble finding greenhouses in the Duluth area that don’t treat their flowers with long-lasting systemic insecticides that get into the pollen and nectar. I don’t want to bring flowers and shrubs home that will poison the bees and butterflies I’m trying to attract. Any recommendations for where to get untreated plants locally? I’ve gotten some at Burchfiel’s and some at Boreal Natives, but they don’t have everything I’d like to plant.

First Tick of the Year — 2013 Edition

In addition to misapplied possessive apostrophes and upset people in the newspaper, another thing we’ve been following on PDD for quite some time is the first tick to show its face each year. This little bloodsucker latched on to me today on the Lumber Camp Trail at Pattison Park.

(more…)

Morel Hunting in Greater Duluth Area

I’ve done quite a bit of morel hunting in southern Minnesota, where I’m from, but I don’t know if there are morels up here or good places to look. If anyone up here has hunted mushrooms and can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. I realize that good morel grounds might be top secret around here, but if anyone is willing to share I promise I won’t tell anyone!

Mystic Moon Festival and Camping

Mystic Moon Festival and Camping is a three-part series of events located in North Central Wisconsin under the full moon, stars, and sun, encompassing a 600-acre plot of land with plenty of room for camping and recreation. The first part in the series, June 21 to 23, features 48 hours of non-stop Electronic Dance Music presented by the creators of DS Frequency’s Aura series, the 2011 and 2012 beach “Luna Parties,” Wrekt Records and Groove Shop North.
(more…)

Duluth Outer Harbor Views

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyGBV6wYcXg

Wolf Blood

Ars Technica has an interesting article on Isle Royale wolf ecology.

See also:  Wolf Blood.

Rock-hopping Chester Creek

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxXenguKOH8

Duluth & North Shore Kayaking on NPR

NPR’s weekly sports show ended with a feature on the area’s whitewater kayaking. Hear Only A Game’s story on SoundCloud.

Some terrific photos are on the show’s Flickr stream, too.

Chester Creek Survey 3

Chester Creek Survey 2

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTJvGAvmNh8

Chester Creek Survey

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87uBQ5lKjcQ

Happy Smelting

Smelter: John Finkle
Photographer: Chelsea Froemke

Smelting posts from years past:
Where is the best place to eat smelt? (2012)
Duluth Smelting (2011)
Remember the glory days of smelting? (2010)

Blocked Trail in Lakeside!

Does anyone know what the story is with the no trespassing signs and fences blocking the extremely popular spur trail connecting the bottom of Glenwood/Oakley to Hawk Ridge road? I thought this was city property. The name on the sign is Gordon Seitz (I think). Thanks!

Off Street Parking?

My wife and I own a home with 2 vehicles, and no off street parking. This can become a pain when we want to leave town for a long weekend and the sides switch on Sunday. I haven’t done too much investigating, but is there a decent solution to having to be back on Sunday night to move it, aside from selling a vehicle, asking someone to move it for us or taking the parking ticket? Is there a local lot that has a reasonable rate for several days of parking? Anybody anybody?

North Shore Sighting of Canada Lynx

Here is a rare video of Canada lynx in Minnesota calling at each other near Sawbill Lake north of Tofte. (more…)

Weather postpones annual native tree sale

It’s not just warm-blooded creatures who are cold this spring. Plants are shivering down to their roots! So, the annual South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District tree and shrub sale pickup dates have been postponed by one week. Same place, same time, but all one week later. New sale pickup dates are May 16 to 18. See southstlouisswcd.org for details.

P.S. Save the seedlings! Tree and shrub orders are still being accepted — call Lisa at 723-4867.

Wild Turkeys in the Snow

Wrenshall’s Mark “Sparky” Stensaas has had up to 19 wild turkeys at his feeder. He tells the full story on his Photonaturalist blog.

Blustery out at the Congdon’s today

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x12THpgHgg0&feature=youtu.be

Perfect Duluth Sound

The “Lake Superior ice sheets breaking at Brighton Beach” post reminded me how much I want some clean recordings of the amazing things the lake does with its ice.  Does anyone in our PDD community have some field recording gear (418, 702 or the like)?  And would this person be willing to head out on a sound hunt for these phenomena?  We could barter some of my recordings or work something out.  That crazy ice stuff just doesn’t happen in Seattle.  I was back in Duluth in December with gear, but the conditions weren’t right.  Here’s hoping…

Looking for grant applicants

The Duluth Legacy Endowment Fund Committee is looking for grant applicants.

The Neighborhood Grant program awards grants up to $5,000 for projects and programs improving Duluth’s neighborhood parks and services. The deadline is April 1. Applications and other details are at
dsacommunityfoundation.com.

Please apply. Or please pass this along to anyone you think may be interested.
(more…)

Duluth in Outside magazine again

Best Adventure Hub Runner-Up: Duluth, Minnesota

Note: The stat “81 miles of running and hiking trails” seems like an underestimate to me. Perhaps we should tally them up in the comments.

Canoe Repair in Duluth

Being Duluth has been recognized as the Outdoor mecca we all know it to be, it seems someone around here would do canoe repairs. Does anyone know of someone who does? I have a Tripper that needs patching and I don’t have the know how or the space. Any help would be great.

Nice day for a ski …

One might even say “perfect.”

Eagle Watching

You think you’re cold? Watch these guys, brought to you by the DNR …