Wild flowers and BWCA wild fires

 On May 5 a campsite on a small lake in Minnesota’s famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area blazed out of control. Today, May 11 the fire (click this link to see photos of the fire) continues to rage, sweeping homesteads and forests into its wild embrace.  So far 50,000 (85 square miles) acres have been consumed as wind and extreme drought send flames rampaging through ever greater swaths of the area. Six years of drought and the terrible July 4 blow down in the Boundary Waters in 1999 has turned Minnesota's Arrowhead region into a tinder box. Mandatory evacuations are being ordered as one area after another along the Gunflint Trail succumbs to devastation. Residents of other nearby areas are told to keep their windows closed and stay indoors because of smoke inhalation danger.

Yesterday a second fire leaped to life off the Honeymoon Trail. We have prepared evacuation kits of essential clothing and medication, important documents, cash, computers, precious photos. Two days ago I walked through our beautiful woods and took photos as if anticipating its possible demise. I felt like I was journeying to visit a critically ill friend, hoping and praying that it would not be for the last time, treasuring every moment and honoring all that we’ve shared, loving every inch of this place and praying that the fire can be contained. And as I walked I remembered that we must hold all things lightly for nothing is really ours.

The spring ephemerals, short-lived though they be, paraded throughout the woods. Flowers that normally bud in sequence spread swaths of color throughout the woods. Bloodroot, Dutchman’s Britches, Marsh Marigold, wild garlic, Spring Beauty, tiny violets. Here are a few that I managed to capture.

 For some reason these photos show well in draft mode but when published get all disorganized. So sorry. Seems a nasty genie has snuck into the edit options.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First we must honor the ancient white pine which, though deceased, continues to tower majestically at the entrance to the Cramer/Temperance section of the Superior Hiking Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Beauties dance through the leaves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiny purple violets bend demurely close to the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blood Root demands sunlight. Tightly closed when I began the hike they'd opened in the sunlight as I returned.

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

Mr. Moose stopped by to look

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marsh Marigold turns every swamp into an arboretum 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brother Wolf passed by weeks ago 

 

 

 

 

 

I leave our woods soothed and inspired. The woods will regenerate even if they burn.