Minnesota Fall

I just got a little taste of the Midwest fall that I grew up loving.  My husband and I traveled to Minnesota this weekend to visit family and celebrate his grandpa's 90th birthday (quite the accomplishment!).  While it was a very short trip, I got to spend a little bit of time appreciating the nature of the north and colors of autumn.  The weather was beautiful - upper 50's during the day, with the cool crispness that comes with the changing seasons.

Trees in my mother-in-law's backyard getting ready for the winter cold.

Not just the trees display fall colors.  Here - sedum adds some burgundy color to nature's palette. 

Such beautiful colors!

We even spotted a few black squirrels (sciurus carolinensis), which I can't say I ever saw growing up, even though they are supposed to be relatively common in the Midwest.

Did I mention it was beautiful?

I especially loved the contrast of the white birch tree bark against the autumn leaves.

These are all views that I loved growing up in Wisconsin, but appreciate even more now that I'm living in Texas.  It is certainly nice getting back and getting a little dose of a true Midwest fall.