Yearly Archives: 2010

City to conduct assessment of Hidden Valley Pond this week

Brian Welch, GIS Technician for the City of Northfield, has this update in Northfield City Administrator Joel Walinski’s June 25 Friday Memo: Stormwater Pond Rehabilitation Assessment The City has contracted with Barr Engineering to help the city develop a prioritization … Continue reading

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Deer in Hidden Valley Park: getting closer

At about 9 am on Sunday, I saw this deer trot across Hidden Valley Dr. at Peterson Dr. and head into Hidden Valley Park, startling a couple who were walking their dogs.

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VPTA Meeting Locations 2010 – 2011

The folling is a link to the 2010-11 VPTA Meeting Locations.  We still need locations for the Feb, Mar and Apr. meetings.  Please let Sherry Freking know or use the contact us page from this website, if you can host … Continue reading

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Getting rid of Bird’s foot trefoil

Last Thursday, I noticed a crew of three workers walking around the pond spraying. I chatted with one who said they were from Prairie Restorations, under contract with the City of Northfield. They were killing Bird’s foot trefoil, described on … Continue reading

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Another gorgeous sunset

The big storms bypassed us on Thursday night, but they left behind another gorgeous sunset:

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Toad entertainment

This little toad seemed convinced that the only way out of our basement window well was to climb up the face of our outdoor thermometer, to no avail. Cheap entertainment for me.  I finally took pity on it and squashed … Continue reading

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An elusive doe appears to be making Valley Pond her home

Robbie spotted a doe wandering among the cattails around the pond last Saturday. I tried to get close for a photo but the doe spotted me and took cover. Crappy photo, I know. A few hours later, when I was … Continue reading

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The honeylocust tree in spring

Our neighbor’s honeylocust tree is at it’s spectacular best right now because it’s as much yellow as it is green.

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Sunset over Hidden Valley Park

Tonight’s thundershower cleared out just in time for the sunset.

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Daisies among the wildflowers popping up

   The wildflowers are starting to pop up all over Hidden Valley Park after the spring burning a few weeks ago. And this year, several strands of oxeye daisies can be seen, including a bunch right at the storm water … Continue reading

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Our pond is alive with the sound of music

The rains have been plentiful this spring and thus making the frogs around the pond in the middle of Hidden Valley Park very happy.   I captured their music while sitting in front of our backyard fireplace last week and again … Continue reading

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Mallard families (not geese) again making Valley Pond their home

Again this year, Valley Pond is home to a couple of new mallard duck families. And again, thankfully, no Canada geese have done likewise. The cattails that surround the pond are evidently doing their job to keep the geese away.

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Carmen Sevcik joins the neighborhood

I met Carmen Sevcik a few weeks ago during the controlled burn of Hidden Valley Park. She had just moved into one of the townhomes along Hidden Valley Drive. Carmen’s known to many in the area because she and her … Continue reading

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Storm Water Ponds! Could this be us?

The Star and Tribune  has long article in today’s paper that some metro areas have storm-water ponds that are chemical soups of pesticides, fertilizers, pet wastes, oil, grease and other contaminants.  Driveway sealants play a big part in this contamination.  … Continue reading

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Arbor Day Tree Giveaway of Native Tree Saplings

Arbor Day Tree Giveaway of Native Tree Saplings April 30 & May 1 @ Just Food Friday, April 30, 3-6p.m. AND Saturday, May 1, 10am-1pm (or until they run out of trees) in the front of the store, 516 Water … Continue reading

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