Belle Plaine's BBQ Days Parade

Held the second weekend in July each year, the southwestern metro community of Belle Plaine embraces its small town charm while coping with the rapid growth associated with the fringe of the Twin Cities metro area.

This float, sponsored by a neighboring township, protests the decision of Lieutenant Governor and Transportation Commissioner Carol Molnau to forego a second controlled intersection on the city's U.S Hwy. 169 thoroughfare to install a u-turn southwest of the immediate city.

Summer means harvest time too

A rare rural landscape in southern Scott County, Minnesota. Early July for this farmer brought the harvest of his wheat crop in a non-mechanized way. Instead of using a combine to harvest the grain or a baler to collect the straw, this farmer instead opted for 'stacking' the straw for loose collection later.

With the sun in my face

Prior Lake. It is the typical outer ring suburb. Exploding population. Endless construction. Too many townhomes for my personal tastes.

It also has the second largest body of water in the Twin Cities metro area. Prior Lake (both the city and body of water) make for quite the search for a photo to define the community. The new monument marking the entrance to Lakefront Park with the fountain spewing droplets of pond water in the background do the trick for me.

Not quite Niagra Falls

This often-photographed dam in the Scott County city of Jordan, MN lies in the tucked away Mill Pond area. Off the beaten path, the dam is a rare hidden gem in this historic town. This day brought a couple of area teens daring enough to dive into the deeper water above the dam on Sand Creek.