A Norwegian Leprechaun?

We are visiting relatives in La Crosse this weekend and during our morning walk down by the river we wandered through the "Friendship Gardens."  With the long winter coming to an end, it's still quite stark and gray this time of year - very different from the bright flowers and blue skies of summer.  This part of Wisconsin has a prominent Scandinavian heritage, and tucked among the evergreen shrubs and bare branches are several Norwegian "trolls" guarding the grounds. It's the closest I can get to an Irish Leprechaun. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

High Bush Cranberry

Also known as Viburnum Opulus, the high bush cranberry shrub is a common sight Wisconsin woodlands. In the spring, fragrant white flower clusters adorn the bushes, and in the fall the leaves turn a beautiful magenta red. The berry clusters remain during the winter as food for wildlife. The berries of this shrub along Swan Road carried a mantle of snow after our recent blizzard, creating a pretty holiday postcard.

Japanese Maple

A shot of a branch from the Japanese Red Maple in the front of our house. We planted this "small shrub" almost 15 years ago when we moved into our house. Assured by the garden center that this variety would not exceed 15 to 20 feet, it's now pushing 25 feet and waves outside our upstairs office window. I love the pretty, delicate leaves and they turn a deep rusty coral in the fall.