Minnesota Harvest

from flickr user Miss.Amber.Lane
Located off the beaten path, up the hill from today's modern U.S. Highway 169 on old highway 169 is Sponsel's Minnesota Harvest apple orchard near Jordan, MN. As I tweeted last week, though, the end seems to have come for the southwest Twin Cities orchard, with even the pictured barn which currently serves as a giant sign, for sale at auction. I've only been there once but this orchard, while needing repairs to its outdoor attractions, has tremendous potential.

Albert Lea, MN In The Evening

from flickr user imagination overdrive
There's no mistaking Albert Lea, MN for a sprawling metropolitan area - especially at night - but there is something almost calming about this nighttime photo taken in the southern Minnesota city's downtown area overlooking Fountain Lake.

Holidazzle Twinkle Bus 2009

from flickr user Doug Wallick
It's a sure sign of the Christmas season when lit vehicles and floats roll through downtown Minneapolis.

Barn Bluff

from flickr user Huachinango888
A great perspective of the bridge and Mississippi River below it - taken in Red Wing, MN.

Church and Moon

from flickr user glness
In rural Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

Seussical 2009

from flickr user minomap
Albert Lea 2009 High School Musical. It was a very entertaining play.

St. Paul Skyline

from flickr user ArtxCore_Photography
At night, the lights of St. Paul make it appear to be a true "big city" instead of the often overlooked sibling of Minneapolis.

St. Paul

from flickr user -Chad Johnson
St. Paul, Minnesota as seen from the middle of the Wabasha St. Bridge.

Vertigo

from flickr user romans 1:20 photography
A new twist on an often-photographed subject. The venerable Gold Medal Flour sign and accompanying silos in Minneapolis, taken from this perspective, almosts gives a guy vertigo.

A couples ruins

from flickr user ephidrena99
An interesting setting apparently in Hastings, Minnesota. If anyone has details on these ruins, please share.

Old Barn North of Annandale

from flickr user Broken Sparrow
This old barn won't be around much longer.

Morning On The River

from flickr user glness
Misty November sunrise on the Pelican River near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.

Riverwalk

from flickr user -Chad Johnson
This saturated photo taken in Rochester, MN conveys a certain emotion - I'm just not sure what that emotion is.

University of Minnesota - Sports Venues

from flickr user Adam Jerstad
Left - Williams Arena - Gopher Basketball

Upper Right - Mariucci Arena - Gopher Hockey

Lower Right - TCF Bank Stadium - Gopher Football

Target Field Station at Night

from flickr user MSPdude
A Northstar train sits at Target Field Station on the first full weekend of service, having recently arrived from Big Lake.

Target

from flickr user fivesixzero :: Erik Hess
Only in Minnesota would I get a pass for calling Target signage artistic bu tthe bullseye element at the downtown Minneapolis Target store looks as close to a piece of modern art as there is and I'm sure each and every Target store will be a complete zoo at 5 AM Friday when shoppers seek out those Black Friday bargains.

Flashback

from flickr user preparsed
No, it's not some sort of drug-induced flashback but seeing a '1950s-era Buick rolling down the streets of a Minnesota city in 2009 makes even a relative whipper-snapper like me nostalgic. Today's cars are all about comfort and safety - cars from days gone by were all about style. I bet this one doesn't have seatbelts.

New Prague Czech Singers

from flickr user Kim Goetzinger
A gem from this past summer features the New Prague Czech singers riding in the Kolocky Days parade, Montgomery MN.

Shelter Belt

from flickr user glness
A farm shelter belt in rural Wilkin County, Minnesota.

Repeating St. Paul

from flickr user bjorn1101
As pointed out in the comments, this photo features an excellent example of repeating shapes with the bandshell and bridge. Taken in St. Paul at Raspberry Island.

Rainbow over Corn Field

from flickr user Broken Sparrow
A beautiful double rainbow! This reminds us of the promise of God. "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease."

Birdwatching

from flickr user djsime
This Goldfinch, who seems to have taken on some autumnal tones, seems to be sticking around later than usual during our extended fall season in Minnesota.

Pre-Game on the Plaza

from flickr user Croixboy
Party on the Plaza @ The HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN before the 11/14/09 game vs. The Detroit Lions. Love this guy!

A herd of beetles

from flickr user CaseyJ*
The small herd of ladybugs shot against the detailed background of the sand makes for a wonderful nature photograph.

Coal is yucky

from flickr user Christopher Loren Thompson
The range of emotions captured during this go coal-free protest at the University of Minnesota is what drew me in. From almost angry and very focused in the foreground to chatty and giggling in the background this group is apparently full of diverse personalities.

Frosty Wonderland

from flickr user Jeana Marie Photography
November mornings bring frosty landscapes in Minnesota and this photo taken in Milaca, MN shows very nice depth of field.

Nite lites

from flickr user photo.klick
Looking northwest across downtown Minneapolis from atop the Foshay Tower. The IDS Tower, on the left, is the city's tallest building; the Wells Fargo Center on the right and faced in Kasota Stone is the third tallest. The new Minnesota Twins outdoor stadium is peeking from behind the IDS Tower.