I love Wisconsin!

There were a lot of these blooming at Lake Vermillion. Anyone have any idea what kind of plant these might be?

Bonus points to be awarded if you can tell me if this plant is native to northern Minnesota.

Minneapolis has a number of spots are the ruins of once prosperous industry. I find these places have a beauty all their own, perhaps more than when these places were hopping with commerce and activity.

Grandpa on the dock with Elise at sunset on Lake Vermillion.

Last week my tulips were finally in bloom. I’ve been so busy I had already missed the riotous azaleas but managed to get outside with a camera before the tulips were completely gone.

Proof that flowers bloom in the land of the starter-castle. Not my castle, BTW.

Back in college I worked for a few years making bluelines for a couple of local companies. It was a repetitive job, without a lot of intellectual challenge.

I still think of it fondly though because it was very social work. It was easy to carry on a conversation while doing something as mindless as running the diazo machine. Slide the original, wait; slide another on in, lather, rinse, repeat. We played music a little too loud and made a lot of bad jokes trying to keep going until the second shift was over.

I ran across some folks who are using the blueprint process as alternative photo process. I tried this a few times but never really got anything that looked the way I hoped it would. These folks have turned out some pretty good looking work I think.

Makes me homesick for the smell of ammonia.

I’ve been spouting off about spring quite a bit lately. My conscience was bothering me about the photos I have posted because they are from previous years — much later in the season. The photos represented my thoughts but don’t paint an accurate picture of what Minnesota is like at the end of March.

So here are some photos taken tonight. You can see the plants and shrubs are budding, but the flowers haven’t paid a visit yet.

I love pussy willows. They flowers are small, fragile and subtle but they are a sure sign that spring is arriving.

I love these “transparent screens” on flickr.com. I have to do this.

As promised, you can find the answer to the question “What’s in my pocket?” on flickr.com

• What’s in my pocket (Tag)
• What’s in your pocket (Tag)
• What’s in your pocket? (Group)