Minneapolis in March

It might be interesting to visit places at some other time of year rather than March, but we don't do that generally.  Spring break from school is in March, and it is usually before Jim gets to be working so he is freer to go at that time of year, also. Except for this year when we had hardly any winter, so he's been working off and on clear through and jobs are starting to pile on. 

So, for spring break this year we went to Minneapolis to see Jim's sister.  The first place we went was the Como Conservatory and Zoo.  I've never been to a conservatory before, but I have been to plenty of zoos.  

It was fun to see the lush vegetation in this really old building that has been a conservatory for hundreds of years, (more or less).

No idea what this plant is, but I liked the name.

Miniature orange.

I didn't know Ipecac was from a plant.  I don't think it was this one, see the next photo. I looked it up and it isn't recommended for use anymore, there are better methods that are less toxic, like stomach pumps. (and other things, but I can't remember them.)

This MIGHT be the ipecac plant, the leaves match the picture I found, but not the description, but everything else in this place was bigger than normal I think.

A "chocolate" tree.

And the "chocolate", whatever they call the thing that holds the beans.

Macaw flower.

Some group of plants.  They just look so nice all crowded up together.

Bonsai--I want to try one someday. 

Orchids

Ferns

Seals are such playful creatures!

Polar bears have HUGE paws. Wouldn't want to mess with one of those. 

I don't really know why I take photos at zoos.  Everyone knows what giraffes and tigers and lions and zebras look like, but I still take pictures.  I guess I want to prove to everyone that we saw them in real life. 

Kitty with a big fat tail. (Snow leopard).

We were driving around St. Paul on our way 'home', seeing the houses of really old St. Paul, and we stopped in to see St. Paul Cathedral.  I've never been in a cathedral, so it was rather amazing, the stained glass, the height of the dome, the stone carving.  But, it was time for mass so Jim didn't like it.  (It is open to the public even when services are on, they just ask you to be quiet, which we were.)

Supper with Lynette's friends (and their folks, too)

A 'family' picture.

Another day we went to Minnehaha Falls, mentioned in the classic poem 'Hiawatha' by Longfellow, whom you should know from your Author's cards.  I should read it and know more about the story. 

This is funny.

We did a little walking, and had a little snack by the river with food from the 'used food store'.*

I tend to forget that other places have different flowers that where I live.  I've heard of 'jack in the pulpit' flowers in romantic old books, but I've never had a chance to see one in real life. 

We had a lovely time in the cities, shopping and looking around and having time with new friends and old. It is never enough, but life calls and we had to go back to meet it. 

*This is really a store that sells food at a discount that other stores are done with when they get to expiration date.  It's a good place to pick up ready to eat NOW fruit and dairy products and meat.