As a Minnesotan, I can’t help but feel that each spring is a hard-earned season. After being snowbound in a sometimes dreary, sometimes sparkling winter, the first sight of bright green buds overrunning the trees wakes me out of my own hibernation. This spring, I can’t imagine the transition will feel quite as striking, but I’m sure the return of greenery will still speak to something within me. The courtyard gardens outside my apartment will slowly unfurl once again before filling out in a sudden rush once the weather permits. I’m especially looking forward to the potential return of a few p ..read more

iStock/lissart Bring some joy to your neighborhood this spring. Bachman’s horticulturist Heather Johnson says she has fond memories of making May Day baskets with her family. “That was a really cute tradition that my family used to do when I was a kid,” Johnson says. “You make your little woven paper basket, and you put either candy or flowers in it and then you hang it on your neighbor’s door.” In the spirit of May Day, which lands on May 1 each year, Johnson shares a few ideas for how to bring the tradition to your neighborhood. Idea One: Divide and Conquer Johnson says the period shortly ..read more

Photo: Matthew Prior A tisket, a tasket, a dog in a basket. “This was a photo of opportunity, inspired by the beautiful dog in his wicker basket,” Matthew Prior says. The photographer was on the Luce Line State Trail when he came across this irresistible photo opportunity. “I enjoy capturing the beauty of life in a way,” Prior says. Photographer: Matthew Prior Title: The Ride Equipment: Sony a7IIi & Tamron 28–75mm lens Location: Luce Line State Trail Category: Pets Award: First Place The post The Ride appeared first on Plymouth Magazine ..read more

Local food truck brings a Parisian touch to local graduation parties. When it came time for her oldest son to graduate from high school, Toni Schwitters had a unique idea to make his grad party extra special. “I thought that would be such a fun experience to have a food truck,” Schwitters says. But not just any food truck would do. Schwitters wanted to bring a touch of France to their Plymouth home, and she knew who to contact to make that happen: The Crepe Lady. Her actual name is Florence Aymard, and her food truck is called Crepe and Cake, but she doesn’t mind being known as “The Crepe Lad ..read more

Marsh Pointe Preserve. Photos: Charles Cudd Co. Attendees of the February and March Parade of Homes might have a lingering impression left by a local Plymouth home builder. Think 10-foot ceilings, tall transom windows and unique floor plans. If this rings a bell, you’re thinking of the work of Charles Cudd Co. If you didn’t manage to attend the Parade of Homes this year, here’s your chance for a small reprise. We sat down with vice president Jason (Jaa) Kruell to discuss the two Charles Cudd Co. parade homes—the model homes for Marsh Pointe Preserve in Medina and The Highlands on Dunkirk in ..read more

Gretchen Anthony. Photo: Chris Emeott In our February/March 2024 issue, we introduced The Book Haters’ Book Club as the Plymouth READS book pick for April, 2024. For this issue, we sat down with the book’s author, Gretchen Anthony, to learn a little more. The Maple Grove resident is no stranger to Plymouth. “I like to say, ‘I can see Plymouth from my porch,’ because we’re literally two houses in,” Anthony says. Don’t be surprised if you spot the author at the Plymouth Library either. “When it comes to my books, many scenes have been written in that library, because I go there as a respite ..read more

Photo: Belén Fleming of Belu Photography This easy mango coleslaw recipe is delicious and refreshing. The green cabbage is crisp. The mango is sweet and juicy. The cilantro adds an earthy flavor, and the jalapeño brings just the right amount of spice. I love to eat this slaw with shrimp or fish tacos. It also makes a great side dish for anything cooked on the grill. Mango Jalapeño Slaw 4 cups green cabbage, chopped (1 medium or 1/2 large head) 1 1/2 cups mango, diced 1/3 cup jalapeño, minced 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped 1/2 cup homemade or good quality mayonnaise 1 1/2 Tbsp. lime juice 1 tsp ..read more

Pexels/Magic K Spring is a wonderful time of year in Minnesota. After a winter of hibernation, greenery is finally starting to make its return. But spring is also a time when potential injuries lurk in our own backyards. Yard work and gardening are all too common sources of lower back injury, resulting in pain and disability. Spring activities that include repetitive bending, twisting and lifting are often the culprit, especially after being sedentary for several months. We often refer to this as the weekend warrior syndrome. Employing proper lifting mechanics can help avoid such an episode ..read more

Bee Balm. Photos: Chris Emeott Hennepin County Master Gardeners showcase their earthly endeavors. Like many things in life, experiencing them firsthand often provides an elevated experience. Take, for example, when visiting a garden, one can view how colors, shapes and textures are married with nature’s tender hand to reveal natural art in its purest form. Bees, butterflies, songbirds and tiny woodland animals all come to visit, and, for the most part, positively add to the natural vistas as they go about their inherent business. When the Hennepin County Learning Garden Tour, launched in 200 ..read more

Over the course of January, we invited readers to vote for the very best Plymouth has to offer. The reader poll is closed and the votes are tallied. Now, it’s time to meet the finalists (listed in alphabetical order) for Best of Plymouth 2024.  Stay tuned for our Best of Plymouth 2024 issue this June, when the winners will be revealed. Dining Best Bakery How Sweet It Is Desserts Lunds & Byerlys  The Fox and Pantry Best Bar, Brewery or Distillery Luce Line Brewing Co. Northern Taphouse Rock Elm Tavern Best Breakfast or Brunch Peg’s Countryside Cafe The Fox and Pantry The Ori ..read more