By Jean Larson Is there someone in your life who is never too down and never too high? Someone who seems to have a good sense of how to regulate their emotions? For me, that person would be my husband. He is a “steady Eddie” who seems to have found the secret to balancing and regulating his mood throughout the day.  Of course, serotonin (a neurotransmitter — or chemical messenger) plays a vital role. It is a chemical in our brains that helps maintain our mood. It regulates our emotions and is an important stabilizer. There are many ways to help regulate our emotions such as reac ..read more

By Zan Tomko Ready. Set. GO!  Are you ready for the Holidays?  It’s that extra-special time of the year, featuring extra calories, extra activities, extra excitement and extra aggravation. In this blog, I’ll stop you in your tracks and give you a way to be grounded during this busy time — color meditation. While walking or resting at the Arboretum, color meditation creates a path to find mental focus and lower your blood pressure. It’s simple enough that a child can play along and fun, too. In a busy world, sometimes our thoughts overtake us, even when walking outdoors.  Mindful ..read more

By Holly Einess The day is still and mild, and many trees are now bare; excellent conditions for observing the birds and squirrels who make their homes at the Arb.  Most of central Minnesota’s summer-only avian residents have flown south for the winter, but there are plenty of hardy birds who make it through our coldest season just fine. The black-capped chickadee is one of our most familiar year-round birds. These little cuties are commonly seen at birdfeeders and seem very comfortable around people.  The white-breasted nuthatch is readily recognizable by its harsh “yank” call and i ..read more

By Sarah Jackson  What’s a cuetlaxóchitl? Cuetlaxóchitl is another way to describe the beloved holiday plant known as the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). Pronounced “kwet-la-SHO-shel,” the word comes from the Nahuatl language of the Aztec peoples of Mexico with “cuitlatl,” meaning “residue” (relating to the white sap for which the Euphorbia genus is known); and “xochitl,” meaning for “flower.” This year the Arboretum — which is displaying its popular 25-feet poinsettia tree day and night now through Dec. 31 in the Oswald Visitor Center — is sharing the story of the cuetlaxóchitl ..read more

By Mary Beth Pottratz Fuzzy staghorn sumac berries are rubine red in today’s bright sunlight. Deer have browsed the dried berries from the lower twigs, but seedheads rise on the tallest branches.  Fuzzy staghorn sumac berries appear to glow in the sunlight. A Kentucky coffee tree is heavy with its leathery seedpods. It’s native to Minnesota but is listed as “of special concern” on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources endangered list.  Kentucky coffee tree pods cling to leafless branches. Some oak leaves have fallen. Others remain on branches in jumbled shades of green ..read more

By Zan Tomko The bright blue and green-gold colors of a Minnesota prairie filter through the slats of the old corn crib, and a volunteer tree begins the long, slow process of taking the farm back to prairie. The shadow of the former prairie looms over the Kerber Farmstead which previously occupied the land, and the shadow of the Kerber Farmstead reaches into the present-day Lake Tamarack site of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. On this October ramble, you can see all sides of the story that make up the history of this place. An ash tree from the farmstead casts a shadow across the barn while ..read more

By Holly Einess Having explored the Arb’s Dog Commons Trails on my last visit, I decide to walk the other two trails in the West Side Trails system—Wood Duck Trail and Prairie Trail. The former is a .6-mile loop around Wood Duck Pond and is rather squishy from yesterday’s rains. Cattails are bursting with fluff, and nearly all the wetland forbs have gone to seed.  The view from Wood Duck Trail The still air and damp ground make for a quiet walk. The weather can’t seem to make up its mind; a light sprinkle is followed moments later by blue sky and sunshine, and then the clouds move in agai ..read more

By Mary Beth Pottratz The landscape is awash with the first fall colors. A burgundy maple leaf is veined in gold. Others have turned sulfur yellow along their veins with sponge-print maroon between. Woodbine vine glows in a muted shade of ginger orange.  Fall color appears in varying stages on maple leaves and woodbine. Some trees have lightened a shade or two. From underneath they still appear green. But walk past and look back to see bronze and tangerine on the sunlit side. The view over Wood Duck Pond is a lovely example.  Sunlight illuminates the trees across Wood Duck Pond. Gold ..read more

By Jean Larson October begins the darker, quieter months of the year. We know from research that there are positive physical and mental benefits associated with connecting to nature.  As you begin the process of slowing down for the fall and winter, consider starting a journal to document how you feel before and after connecting with nature, and start jotting down anything interesting you notice while doing it.   And remember, connecting with nature does not have to be outside; taking time out to admire a photograph or artwork of nature can count towards your time with nature. T ..read more

By Zan Tomko Wáz̊upi Wi is the final harvest moon in the Dakota lunar calendar, which lasts from Sept. 25 through Oct. 24. Autumn is a time of preparation and celebration for all who live in Minnesota. It signals the last harvest of corn, soybeans and sunflower seeds and time to bring in the houseplants before the first average frost date on Oct. 15. The drama of cool rains and windy weather will bring down the rainbow of leaves and usher in time to harvest wild turkey and deer.  Amid the high drama of the season, the Minnesota prairies and wetlands are also preparing to fulfill their des ..read more