Greg Seitz
@gregseitz
Words and maps, woods and waters, people and places. Contains multitudes, contradicts self. 📍 May Township, Minnesota 🔗 gregseitz.com 🦋 @stcroix360.com
Spent some time with tiny, endangered, Karner blue butterflies earlier this week.
Smoke on the St. Croix last night made a surreal atmosphere for a relaxing paddle.
Back in September 2011, I was camped in the BWCAW when the Pagami Creek Fire blew up. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time resulted in my photos being on the Star Tribune front page and even BoingBoing as featured by @maggiek.bsky.social. boingboing.net/2011/09/21/a...
I'm guiding a paddle on the St. Croix River on Saturday when I'll share some of my favorite river writers. It'll be fun and the weather is looking great. Still a few spots open! go.theflybook.com/book/1554/En...
Dragonfly hunting on the upper St. Croix yesterday. Also a purple wartyback mussel.
We canoed among fireflies last night. Came across one on the water's surface. Somehow got it on my paddle. Placed it on the thwart, carried him along until he disappeared into the darkness.
Recently watched a ruby-throated hummingbird conduct his morning ablutions at an artisanal spring in northwest Wisconsin.
Didn't fish today, chased feathers instead of fins, opted for friends in the forest over water and boats. No catching, no releasing, just awe. No regrets.
The border between Minnesota and Wisconsin is about 300 miles long. The St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers comprise about 260 miles of that. Roads run along a mere 11 miles of the border. This is one such stretch: Wisconsin on the left and Minnesota on the right.
Paddled Horse Creek in western Wisconsin yesterday. Flows down the valley carved by glacial meltwater. Shot culverts, limboed under bridges and electric fences, saw wildlife beyond measure. Creek meanders across the valley, we went 12 miles to cover 5.5 miles as the crow flies. Excellent adventure.
Eastern phoebes returned to the yard today. They almost always arrive on April 10, like they have a little bird calendar.
Water and woods to remind us that the world will always be bigger than people.
Along with everyone else in the St. Croix Valley, I went for a walk in the woods this very warm afternoon. Saw frozen spring seeps and the first scarlet cup mushrooms.
A neighbor shared this video of a beaver seemingly chasing off a romp of river otters. I'm curious about the interspecies relationship. They don't compete for food but often occupy similar habitat. Wondering if otters prey on beaver kits?
We just had a wonderful little love-filled Valentine's Day rally and community sing for peace and human rights in Marine on Saint Croix. Sunshine and kids and connection.
Seventy-five or more folks froze their faces in a bitter wind to stand up for America in Stillwater today. Seemed like half the passing cars were honking in support.
The St. Croix Tribe of Ojibwe in northwestern Wisconsin are offering tribal members living in the Twin Cities 14 days of free hotel lodging on the reservation and other support as part of a temporary "Return Home" program.
The only photo I took during my shift washing dishes at tonight's lutefisk dinner at Christ Lutheran Church in Marine on St. Croix: the cache of roasters and pans stashed in a pre-school classroom.
I regret to inform the good people of St. Paul that the city's reputation for nonexistent nightlife was earned 169 years ago. (The Weekly Minnesotian, December 6, 1856.)
I was walking along, carefully watching my step on snow over ice, when I saw where a couple turkeys had slipped.