fall color is a hallowed time in minnesota. people drive hours to remote locations where slopes of sugar maples ignite and then burn orange-red for days, as gawkers stream past in their subarus outbacks.. we’re about a month away from that right now, but in the meantime, i just drove about 2 1/2 miles tonight to a lakeside trail in shoreview, where little sparks flared in the greenery, and i did not have to wonder just where in the world i was going to find a decent meal.

assorted berries from one walk in late august

vadnais lake, saint paul, minnesota