Events

Spring Wildflowers in Bloomington's Minnesota River Valley

Mound Springs Park Trail, Bloomington MN

April 10 Bloomington Wildflower Tour Rescheduled for May 1st.

As eager as we all are to see spring wildflowers, this year’s bloom is running a couple weeks late compared to last year.  In light of this delay, we’ve moved the date of our first wildflower walk along Bloomington’s Minnesota River Valley to Sunday, May 1st. from 2:00 pm-3:30 pm.

 If you registered for the April 10th walk but cannot make it on May 1st, please let us know so we can open additional tickets for Wild Ones Twin Cities members. Thank you—and we look forward to walking amongst the wildflowers with you soon!

Join Wild Ones Twin Cities for a guided wildflower walk with Nathalie Shanstrom down the Spur Trail toward Mound Springs Park in Bloomington.

John Crampton, Bloomington historian, will provide background information about the Native Americans, mainly Dakota, who lived along this area of the Minnesota River.

Though the forest is quite degraded, this stretch of the Minnesota River Corridor has a surprising diversity and assemblage of spring ephemerals, including, among others: wild leek, hepatica, Dutchman’s breeches, and even Snow Trillium! Snow Trillium is listed by the DNR as a “Special Concern” species, and is described by Minnesota Wildflowers as “a rare find throughout its range."

WILDFLOWERS TO LOOK FOR ALONG THE TRAIL:

Snow Trillium
Bloodroot
Hepatica
Dutchman's Breeches
Yellow Trout Lily
Violets
Virginia Waterleaf
Wild Leek

The Mounds Spring Spur Trail connects with the Bluff Trail running on the north side of Long Meadow Lake (see map for this and more Bloomington Hiking & Biking Trails).  Please be advised that the trail we'll be following runs along a creek, is unpaved (and at times very uneven), and we'll be walking downhill (and up again).  This trail is also used by bicycles.

WHAT TO BRING:  Wear good hiking shoes, bring water and binoculars if you have them.  Also, if you want to help identify wildflowers and other plants, download the app Seek, by iNaturalist on your iPhone.  It’s a great, free app.  The photos you take contribute to a large Citizen Science database. 

PARK at the intersection of 100th St E and 11th Ave S.