#14 of my 2025 52 Hike Challenge
Trail/Park: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Nerstrand, MN
Spent meadow rue blossoms
Seeds fluttering in the breeze
A visual translation
The sound of rain dripping from the eaves
Sometimes the little things catch your eye. It might be a blossom, a leaf, a pop of color. A recognition. A memory or hint of something familiar. I was on a hike to see, I hoped, the elusive spring ephemerals which bloom each spring at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. I knew I might be too late with the lack of spring rains and the warming temperatures. We have had a few days that felt like the middle of summer already.
While I had hoped to see a carpet of Trout Lily blooms, there were fewer than I’d hoped. The Dutchman’s Breeches were nearly done as well. A few blooms lingered. So I started looking for the others I’ve come to love.
Then I noticed it. Meadow rue, one of my favorite woodland flowers. The leaves of the plant unfurl from tight balls which look like cilantro. Then long, branched stems fill with tiny flowers. As the blooms fade tiny seeds begin to form. The tiny seeds caught my eye as they moved with the breeze. Fluttering. Immediately I thought this must be what the sound of rain looks like. Shivery.
In the quite of the park I held this image in my head as the words describing this place between sound and sight. I still don’t know if I’ve got it just right. What I do know is that the description feels right. In the end that’s all that matters.
This hike took place on the traditional territory of the Wahpeton, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ, and Wahpekute who have stewarded this land for time immemorial. I respect the histories, languages and cultures of these peoples, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant and changing communities. Join me in learning more about the tribes and these lands, by following the links provided.
GEAR: Granite Gear Scurry Day Pack, Oboz Katabic Low, Gnara Go There™ Pants, Kula Cloth, Leki Women’s Micro Vario Cor-Tec TA trekking poles, Thermarest Z Seat™.
Want to know more about my gear selections? Head on over to Gear & Gadgets or check out my posts titled “Gear in Review”.
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