Christmas Day at the Lyndale Park Rose Garden in Southwest Minneapolis

This year, there was no snow for Christmas. It was bright and sunny and my afternoon walk through the Lyndale Park Rose Garden was pleasant.

It is during the summer, however, that I usually enjoy visiting the garden to see all of the beautiful varieties of roses that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has on display. I often sit on a park bench near one of the fountains to listen to the soothing sounds of the water.

My favorite fountain -- there are two -- features turtles.  With Lake Harriet being so close, I think turtles fit the theme of this garden well.

During late fall, the fountains are drained and encased in plywood to protect them during the harsh winter months.  At about the same time, the roses are carefully protected under thick blankets of leaves.

However, even in late fall and winter, you can still view some beautifully painted panels that the young artists from Barton Open School and Lyndale Community School have created. Their decorative brushwork enlivens those otherwise featureless plywood panels surrounding the fountains.  If you're in the Lake Harriet area be sure to stop and give the panels a look.

The art project was funded by the East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association and Guse Hardware.   Just scroll down to see five photos of those panels.

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All photos were taken by David Jonathan Malas