i live in the middle of a large continent, right smack on the 45th parallel (halfway between north pole and equator). that means we get some pretty intense weather. people here talk of four seasons, but really we have two: six months of hot, and six months of cold. given this, it seem reasonable that we should plant just as many gardens intended to be seen in the winter, as in the summer. i nominate, as my first minnesota winter garden candidates, red osier dogwood and rose hips. both reliably colorful all winter long.

rose bush in winter

saint paul, minnesota

the language of architecture is uniformly thrilling, whether the posts, beams, rafters, and joists of a house, or the petioles, veins, margins and blades of a leaf. all answering the same question. is it beautiful? will it, for a time, defy gravity?

fiddle leaf fig

a burning candle to warm you on this shortest day of the year. and now we stop climbing down into winter, and begin climbing up toward summer. happy to have you along.

northern yellow-shafted flicker feather

saint paul, minnesota

p.s. for those you who are local, i will be spending the day today, tuesday 12-8pm, at a holiday open-house and pop-up show that you are all invited to! it’s at the gorgeous MAD studio in southeast minneapolis (near hennepin and hwy 280).  the address is 2920 talmage Avenue SE, minnepolis (enter the parking off 29th avenue).  i can guarantee it will be worth your efforts.

for some reason i fell in love with that long terminal branch, reaching out like god’s finger in the sistine chapel.  my mom always told me she had more confidence than talent. she always raised her hand in class, even if she didn’t know the answer, because that way the  teacher would just assume she was smart. i inherited her weakness for people who raise their hands, and aren’t afraid to stick out.

winter limb

sucker lake regional trail, saint paul, minnesota

sometimes the best way to make art is to be forgetful. this tomatillo husk sat ignored all summer in a corner of one of my numberless lucite specimen boxes. i found it this afternoon, and in the meantime it had the courtesy to turn itself into lace for me. much obliged, tomatillo husk. i owe you one.

tomatillo husk

saint paul, minnesota