Some of Minnesota’s songbird species virtually scream for attention with their brilliant hues. Do you know the species of this songbird? 'Flashes of Brilliance' MCVmag tinyurl.com/c2h29tve
📷: Richard Hamilton Smith

Wildflowers are nature’s bouquets💐

Most wildflowers are native plants that occur naturally without cultivation. This doesn’t mean you can’t grow wildflowers in a garden, it just means most of them occur without being deliberately planted.

#NationalWildflowerWeek

📸USFWS

When you realize how short life is, you ought to celebrate it even more🌼

Spring ephemerals grow for a limited time when conditions are favorable. They emerge quickly, reproduce, & go dormant, typically within 2 months.

#NationalWildflowerWeek

📸Trillium by Gary Peeples/USFWS

Happy Arbor Month!🌳 Explore how to plant & care for trees to grow resilient communities against pests and diseases. From proper planting to creating diversity in our tree canopy, let's work 2gether to help our neighborhood trees thrive. 4 more info, mndnr.gov/arbormonth

“On Guard!”
Instead of spinning a web, crab spiders hide in plain sight - using camouflage to surprise their prey. With their long front legs, they are able ambush and grab insects much longer than themselves!

📷Karen Sinclair/USFWS

Like 2012, conditions bode well for fishing -- and catching -- on Minnesota's Opening Day, writes Dennis Anderson:
startribune.com/minnesota-fish…

Did you know there are 58 recognized species of lady's slipper orchids? 12 of them are found in North America! Yellow lady's slipper is widespread from Alaska through much of Canada, parts of the west and much of the midwest and east.

📷 Brandon Jones/USFWS

It's here 🎉 Have you subscribed to MCVmag yet?

Want to learn more about oak wilt, including what symptoms to look for and how to prevent it? Check out this KSTP interview with our forest health program coordinator: kstp.com/special-covera…

We spotted this semipalmated plover at a waterfowl production area in Minnesota. These long-distance migrants spend winters along coastal areas, sometimes as far south as Argentina. Their summer breeding grounds are across Alaska and much of northern Canada.

📷 Mike Budd/USFWS

The May-June issue of MCVmag is here! Subscribe to get a copy delivered to your mailbox or, go to mndnr.gov/magazine to read some of the feature articles like 'Flashes of Brilliance.' These colorful songbirds are bright spots on the Minnesota landscape.

Devin Brown will launch her source-to-sea Mississippi River attempt on Memorial Day 2024. Our story MCVmag tinyurl.com/yxpr4ww7

Happy #ArborDay and #EarthWeek !

We kicked off Arbor Day last week with a tree planting at Blake School in Hopkins. 3rd graders planted 250 trees in their school forest. Let's plant and care for trees to grow resilient communities this Arbor Day!

Marsh Lake, in western Minnesota, has the state’s largest white pelican colony. In northern Minnesota, Lake of the Woods and Leech Lake also provide good nesting habitat. MCVmag tinyurl.com/btxcjy6v

What birds have you seen migrating this spring?

📷: Hooded warbler by Doug Greenberg, CC BY-NC flic.kr/p/2oxZHnS

Have you noticed any changes in the number of #MonarchButterflies near your home?

Learn more about how monarch populations are shifting, and how you can help, here: ow.ly/JYju50RobYJ

📸Mike Budd/USFW

In “Traveling Light,' we profiled 5 Minnesotans who’ve embraced the #VanLife spirit by customizing their small RVs and camp trailers. Each vehicle is as unique as its owner. tinyurl.com/MCVCampingRigs

Many runners🏃turn to trails in search of peace, solitude and a connection to nature. Find a list of state parks and trails that are tops among runners MCVmag tinyurl.com/ykwd5kne #RunningFree