This article was written by Jeannette Lutter-Gardella, Nature Center Outdoor Educator, North Mississippi Regional Park
Spring in Minnesota is a feast for our senses. Just smell the air after a spring rain. There is a distinctive “earthly” and refreshing aroma. The smell is caused by soil-dwelling bacteria known as actinomycetes, which thrive in the soil when conditions are wet and warm. When the soil dries up, these organisms produce tiny spores that release a chemical compound called geosmin, meaning “earth smell” in Greek. If you can smell it, that’s good! It means that the soil is fertile and hosts an abundance of microorganisms.
Spring also brings a cacophony of bird songs and a vibrant palette of colors to our state. The greening of the fields and prairies, the subtle budding on trees, the brilliant flowering blossoms, and the regal, colorful plumage of migratory and nesting birds can be seen along the Mississippi River in the city.
The month of May is the best time to enjoy the passage of warblers in their full breeding colors. The plumage flitters and flickers among the trees. While walking the trails at the North Mississippi Regional Park, you can catch sight of the flashes of colors through the trees or when sitting by our bird feeding area enjoying a meal at our picnic tables. If we’re lucky, we may even have a visit from a rose-breasted grosbeak, indigo bunting, scarlet tanager, or one of my personal favorites, eastern bluebird.
Throughout the park we maintain nesting boxes for the Minnesota Bluebird Recovery Program. Many of the boxes can be seen while walking the trails, and we encourage you to stop by the Kroening Nature Center to check-out a pair of our binoculars, and ask our naturalists about bird locations and other fun facts about what happens during early spring in the park.
We were thrilled when one of our frequent visitors to North Mississippi dropped in and perched on our welcome sign: a red-tailed hawk. The red-tailed hawk is the most common hawk in the U.S. and the largest hawk found in Minnesota. They feed mainly on rodents in the prairies and woodlands in the park. They have excellent vision and can spot prey from hundreds of feet in the air.
Come enjoy spring with us in the park and join us for any of our naturalist-led activities in May. Register today at minneapolisparks.org/nature.
Bird Watching, Spring Migration: Sat. May 14, 9-10:30 a.m. Join us for a morning of bird watching as we look for the first of our summertime birds and many others just passing through. Ages 8+,activity #123769.
Bonfire Bunch: Tues. May 17, 6:30-8 p.m. Enjoy a bonfire, nature inspired outdoor art project, guided nature walk, snack, and socializing! $5, all ages, activity #123772.
Outdoors, Plants for Pollinators: Thurs. May 19, 1:30-3 p.m. Come learn about a variety of local pollinators, the pollination process, as well as the plants and places they like best, then join a naturalist on a hike through the park. Ages 18+, activity #123857.
Build a Chair Workshop: Sat. May 21, two sessions: 10 a.m.-noon or 12:30-2:30 p.m. Practice the craft of woodworking by building your own Adirondack chair in the park! All materials and tools provided. $160, ages 18+ (child can attend with adult), activity #123777 or #132584.
Campfire Date Night: Sat. May 21 6:30-8 p.m. Bring a date out for an evening of fun in nature!
$3, ages 18+, activity #123779.
Campfire Game Night: Fri. May 27 5-7:30 p.m. Get outside for a night of fun and games in the park!
$2, ages 5-17, activity #123781.
Nature Art: Fairy Gardens: Sat. May 28 1-2:30 p.m. Craft an enchanting living work of art that will invite the good luck fairies to your home. $15, all ages, activity #123816.