“Madison Lake in Blue Earth County is a special lake where we keep track of ice-out dates,” he said. “It was March 22, which ...

Although only a small number of wildflowers bloom in April, we really appreciate them after their long absence.

Luckily, Lancaster County has several places to see these spring ephemeral wildflowers en masse. Peak bloom usually happens around Easter and the earliest arrivals already are starting to bloom.

With an off-putting scent and maroon flower buds that blend in with fall’s leaf litter, skunk cabbage is not on the radar of many Minnesota hikers. The plant blooms early and looks bizarre ...