We’ve crossed into November, or Gashkadino-Giizis, the Ojibwe name for the Freezing Over Moon. As the water freezes and snow begins to fall, many of us turn our attention toward upcoming gatherings with friends and family. Are you hoping to make something special to to share with others? We know just the thing! Sweet Manoomin…
The following was originally published as the sidebar text accompanying the above photo for November in the 2017 Boundary Waters & Quetico calendar. It’s time to winterize, and the herps (reptiles and amphibians) of Canoe Country have remarkable adaptations to winter weather. They brumate, rather than hibernate, which means they reduce their metabolism so much…
The following content was originally published in our 2016 Boundary Waters & Quetico calendar. Photo credit: Steve Voiles. Depending on your perspective, aspen trees are pulpwood, weeds, or trees at add beauty and character to canoe country. There are three species here, the most common being Populus tremuloides, or quaking aspen, also called popple in…
The following text was the September 2002 sidebar content in our Boundary Waters & Quetico calendar. Photo credit: Paul Sundberg. Lake Agnes. In the BWCAW and Quetico, peak leaf color is usually from the middle to the end of September. As early as July, single red maple leaves add bits of color to the…
Late July is a great time for canoe tripping in the border country—the lakes are warm enough for long swims, the black flies are mostly gone, the mosquitoes usually don’t come out until sunset, and the blueberries are ripe. Picking blueberries always reminds me of the year we transformed our canoe tripping style due to…
Photo credit: Paul Sundberg. This image and text below were featured in the 2017 Boundary Waters & Quetico Calendar. Blueberries are more than delicious, abundant, and free for the picking. They are also one of the most healthful of all fruits and vegetables. With plenty of fiber and vitamin C as well as natural…
Celebrate blueberry season with a refreshing cocktail! (Or make a tasty spritzer without the alcohol.) This recipe was generously submitted by the folks at Insula Restaurant. Serves two* Still providing delicious meals with curbside service. INGREDIENTS 1 cup blueberries 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves Juice from one lime (fresh; about 2 tablespoons) 1…
The following article was originally published by Raven Words Press in the 1997 Ely Summer Times. Helen opened her eyes. Morning. Letting sleep slide away, she listened to the sounds of guests gathering in the lodge for breakfast. The talk centered mostly on bait, weather, and how many days of fishing were left before…
This article was originally published in the 1999 Ely Summer Times. It served as a follow up to Crooked Lake, July 1950, which was originally published in the 1997 Ely Summer Times. It was a rainy afternoon early in September, a quiet time on Crooked Lake. But for one woman staring out from the pines…
The cover photo of Crooked Lake was provided by Layne Kennedy and featured in the 2019 Boundary Waters & Quetico Calendar. You can pre-order your copy of the 2021 Boundary Waters & Quetico Calendar now! It was, as it turned out, the longest paddling day of my life. (At age 72, I’m sure I…