Bagley, Minnesota

sundog photo by Terry Lamppa

1,644 miles

March 3 – Sundogs are one type of a large family of halos, created by light interacting with ice crystals in the atmosphere.  They’re also called mock suns, phantom suns, or (scientifically) parhelia.  Sun dogs typically appear as a pair of bright spots on either horizontal side of the Sun, with a luminous ring known as a halo.  Sundogs are best seen and are most conspicuous when the Sun is close to the horizon.  An icy place in a high latitude in the early morning created this spectacular Bagley sundog.

asparagus shoots

The growing season in Bagley is very short.  At the Ter-Lee organic gardens, the first spring crop is asparagus in May!  The first tender shoots appear about the same time as the dandelions arrive and continue for about six weeks.  Presumably, the hardy dandelions continue to flourish until late fall.

sundog image by Terry Lamppa:  http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/local/3946714-reader-photos-winter-scenes-bemidji-area

Ter-Lee Gardens:  http://www.terleegardens.com/terlee-gardens-healthy-food.htm