One of the BEST KEPT SECRETS in the Twin Cities!

Duane and I decided to stay in town for the Labor Day weekend (since we just went to Paris, and I'm starting to FREAK OUT about school starting on Tuesday, and need to be home to try to finish the TWO MILLION projects I'd planned to work on this summer, of which I've accomplished exactly THREE...).

It's nice being in town when most of the rest of the population is either

1. at the cabin, or
2. at the Minnesota State Fair...

the roads are less congested, stores are a little emptier, and "local attractions" aren't even CLOSE to the elbow to elbow disaster they usually are.

So...we decided to spend the afternoon at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, near Chanhassen.  I LOVE the arboretum!  They have done a FABULOUS job of landscaping the place, and the flowers are at their PEAK right now. 

They have created a variety of gardens with themes including "Kitchen Garden", "Ornamental Garden", "Scented Garden", and a multitude of others.  Fountains, waterfalls, walking paths, statues, and structures made out of vines complete the magic...it's TRULY amazing!

Here are some photos from our "field trip":

Here's hoping YOU had the chance to enjoy the AWESOME BEAUTY of nature where YOU live recently!!!