Victoria MN Newspaper

To the Editor:

America's favorite wildflower is sound asleep right now, tucked in under a lovely white blanket of snow, my favorite mulch. But before you know it, the snow will melt, the ground will warm, and tight little purplish green buds of Mertensia virginica will be pushing their way skywards.

Over the following week or two, these buds gently unfold into 12-inch to 24-inch medium green stems to reveal clusters of pinkish-blue, pendulous flower buds that burst open into the softest, pastel blue flowers. As the flowers age, they ever so slowly and magically morph into a subtle shade of light pink.

Please don't let the common name mislead you. Virginia Bluebells are native to just about the entire eastern half the U.S. and Canada, and there are 18 different species of Mertensia in the U.S. alone. These early spring wildflowers will grow happily just about anywhere in the world.

The genus name Mertensia is in honor of the German botanist Franz Karl Mertens. Now, while they're still dormant and your ground is thawing, is a very good time to plant them to ensure that you will get a good bloom this spring.

Barry Glick

Sunshine Farm and Gardens

Renick, West Virginia

To the Editor:

Good Samaritan Society-Waconia and Westview Acres received approval from the State of Minnesota to move forward with construction of a new three-level building project.

This project is designed to focus on post-acute and rehabilitation care for patients following a hospitalization from a serious injury, illness, or elective surgery procedure. The existing care center will also have a refreshed design focused on resident-centered living spaces with the same warmth as home.

As part of the building project, Good Samaritan Society-Waconia and Westview Acres will construct an underground walkway to provide direct access to Ridgeview Medical Center.

This physical connection between the two campuses will allow for access to multiple levels of acute and post-acute clinical care, speciality services and community based care and technology, located on both of the Ridgeview Medical Center and Good Samaritan Society-
Waconia and Westview Acres campuses.

This innovative building project is scheduled to be completed in early spring 2016. It is owned and operated by the nation's largest not-for-profit provider of senior care and services, the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. Mission of the Society is to share God's love in word and deed by providing shelter and supportive services to older persons and others in need, believing that "In Christ's love, everyone is someone."

Jennifer Hissam, LSW

Good Samaritan Society-Waconia

and Westview Acres

Waconia, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Great job, Sue.

Peter Schrempp

Plymouth, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Minnehaha Falls was seen flowing the week of March 10th, 2014. In honor of that rite of spring, here is a shot of the falls roaring in the mid summer!

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District

Minnetonka, Minnesota