Mike is a bull moose. Only on our fifth appointment did he finally show up for our tete-a-tete at a moose viewing area up the Gunflint Trail. R: You’re a hard moose to track down. M: Pound for pound, moose pride ourselves on being as elusive as any species. R: What made you decide to show up today? M: I... READ MORE >
On Highway 61, at mile marker 73, the Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center first opened its doors to the public in 2003. The grounds are open dawn to dusk, but the Nature Center, which was closed for Covid, has once again reopened to the public. The Center offers exhibits on geology and surface fresh water supply. Maybe you heard Lake Superior... READ MORE >
Consider the Lupine. Intriguing for many reasons, including its pronunciation. In spite of the way it’s spelled, don’t call it a Lou Pine unless you enjoy being looked at funny, over reading glasses. ‘Loo-pin is the correct way to say it. Got it? Good. Now – the Lupine is a purple flower, though some are red-purple and some are blue-purple.... READ MORE >
Hundreds of years ago, the Ojibwe-Anishinaabe named the water Kawimbash, deep hollow river. The water has been carving into the rock for thousands of years. Today, we know it as the Temperance River and it’s considered one of the deadliest in Minnesota. Located between Schroeder and Tofte, the Temperance River flows 39 miles from Brule Lake to Lake Superior. It... READ MORE >
Winter’s past. Springs sprung. Now summer approaches with the intensity of a juicy kamikaze toward my windshield. This means one thing: bugs vying for that top spot – Best Bug on the North Shore – 2021! No one likes bugs. Unless you’re a frog, gecko, or spider. Or a very small bird. Each bug brings a different skill set to... READ MORE >
West End Pizza Nite is back at Birch Grove Community Center. Most Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m., from June 3-September 15. Red sauce and mozzarella are provided, but the event is considered BYOT (Bring Your own Toppings) with a suggested donation of $5. This family-friendly event has been absent since the start of the pandemic but it’s back in all its glory.... READ MORE >
I met Tina the Tick for a coffee and scone just off the Superior Hiking trial, deep in the woods. Tina, a black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is also known as a deer tick. She is currently an adult. Below is a transcription of our conversation, edited for time. Rob: Thanks again for being here. Tina: Thanks for having me. It’s... READ MORE >
In previous years, Joe Paulik played Thursday nights for the season, usually going up to Labor Day. But in 2020, Paulik played by a campfire on Lutsen Resort’s beach well into October. “Last year was incredible. We were getting freezing temperatures, but people were so hungry for live music.” Says Paulik. Originally from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in 1982, drawn to nature,... READ MORE >
The Gala for the Grove, the tenth annual auction/fundraiser to support Birch Grove is back, launching entirely online in a safety-first form from June 5-12. “It’s my favorite fundraising event,” says Director Diane Blanchette, Birch Grove Community School. “I always leave with a sense of community that renews my resolve to keep our small school going strong.” Proceeds from the... READ MORE >
“We have come to fish for the herring-fish That live in this beautiful sea” V Wynken From Eugene Field in his children’s classic, Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. First opening its doors in 1996 and now old enough to be celebrating its 25th anniversary, the North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum in Tofte is officially open for the season. You can tell... READ MORE >
