News

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, invites everyone to celebrate Syttende Mai, Norway’s Constitution Day, a couple of days early on Friday, May 15. Stop by for a Children’s Parade, Nordic Dancers, folk art demonstrations, a live fiddle and guitar concert with Erik Sessions and Joshua Vorvick, folk art activities, free ice cream, and more. Admission is free all day, and the museum and store will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Syttende Mai is the day Norway ratified its constitution in 1814 at Eidsvoll, and Norwegians celebrate with excited crowds—especially children—marching through the streets, waving flags, and singing songs.

Vesterheim’s Syttende Mai activities are supported by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Marvin Bruha. The concert is supported by Bob and Mary Jane Lake and the ice cream by Decorah’s Sugar Bowl.

The music performance will be from 12:00-12:45 p.m. in Vesterheim Commons. Sessions and Vorvick have performed around the region for almost a decade and have worked up a special set for this event of Scandinavian tunes, from ancient melodies to Nordic Roots favorites to traditional Norwegian-American dance numbers.

The Children’s Parade throughout Vesterheim Heritage Park begins at 1:00 p.m., followed by a performance by Decorah’s Nordic Dancers on Mill St. next to the Museum Building. Norwegian flags will be given out at the parade, and everyone is invited to march along or cheer from the sidelines. The Nordic Dancers began in Decorah in 1966 and include a senior and junior group of dancers.

Activities also include a carving demonstration by Rebecca Hanna from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Museum Store, and hands-on craft activities from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. A guided tour of Heritage Park will start at 10:45 a.m. Free ice cream will be available from 1:00-1:45 p.m.

Syttende Mai is a great time to see the special exhibit “Pioneering Pages: Forming the New American Woman” closing on May 18! Stop by to learn more about the history of an influential women’s magazine made right here in Iowa! Visitors can also see the new exhibits “Red River Girl: From Telemark to the Buffalo” and “Lars Fletre: Resistance, Resilience, Artistry.”

In case of inclement weather, the parade and Nordic Dancers will be canceled. All other activities will continue as planned.

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the conversation of the American immigrant journey through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience. Vesterheim offers innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, and programs, both at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa, and online at vesterheim.org and Vesterheim social media. For more information on exhibits, classes, programs, tours, membership opportunities, and ways to donate and volunteer, connect at vesterheim.org, (563) 382-9681, and Vesterheim, 520 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379.

Plan a fun trip to some of Bluff Countries greenhouses this spring to fill your garden, landscape, porches and home.

Enjoy some local dining options and check out some great outdoor decor and furniture stores.

Some of these are also Amish greenhouses. Most are open Monday-Saturday 8am-7pm and closed Sundays as well as May 14th (Ascension Day). Most are cash or good check only.

A&R Poly Outdoor Furniture
13603 385th Ave – Canton, MN
Bench Gliders, Single Gliders/Chairs, Swivel Gliders/Chairs, Tables/Picnic Tables, Custom Built Furniture

Garden Rd. Greenhouse (Amish)
32960 Garden Road – Harmony, MN

Country Greenhouse (Amish)
36343 130th St. – Canton, MN
(mostly vegetables)

Hershberger Greenhouse (Amish)
36557 130th St. – Canton, MN

Shady Lawn Greenhouse (Amish)
12570 Co. Rd 23 – Canton, MN

Lenora Flowers (Amish)
38960 Co. Rd. 23 – Canton, MN

Hillside Nursery
Something for Everyone! It’s more then a Garden Center, it’s a true family friendly destination complete with gardens, water features, inspiration, fun and more (The Little Farm Zoo is one of the “more” features).
12348 Spring Rd SE – Chatfield, MN
www.hillsidenursery.info

Places to eat in Chatfield:
Carly Mae’s Bakery & Cafe
Shari’s Sports Saloon & Lanes

The Treehouse
The area’s largest selection of annuals, perennials, trees & shrubs! Stroll through our 2 acres of display gardens and visit our gift store.
Hwy 63 North – LeRoy, MN
www.treehouselandscaping.com

Quilt Road Greenhouse (Amish)
12632 Quild Road – Spring Valley, MN
Baskets, bedding plants, vegetable plants, fruit and shade trees, fall mums, poly furniture & more! Baked goods on Fridays and Saturdays.

Places to eat in Spring Valley:
Pizza Place – Spring Valley
Racks Bar & Grill – Spring Valley

Hidden Springs Peony Farm
Family-owned and operated peony farm is home to over 600 peony varieties.  Many of which are heirloom.  Fragrant Varieties | Tree Peonies | Species Peonies | Heirloom Fruit Trees | Farm Leaf Peonies | Itah Hybrids | other unique and rare plants
18581 County 4 – Spring Grove, MN
www.hiddenspringspeonyfarm.com

Green Acres Flowers (Amish)
11224 Hwy 52 – Mabel, MN

Preble Greenhouse (Amish)
42591 160th St. – Mabel, MN

Places to eat in and near Spring Grove:
Fat Pat’s Brewery – Spring Grove
Frank & Julia’s Grocer & Deli – Caledonia
Good Times Restaurant and Bar – Caledonia

K&K Gardens
Iowa’s #1 Destination Garden Center. Just 30 minutes south of Decorah. Offering over 40,000 plants.
108 E. Wilbur Street – Hawkeye, IA
www.kkgardens.com

Riverside Gardens Greenhouse (Amish)
22744 10th St. – Cresco, IA
Flowers, hanging baskets, planters, bedding plants, vegetables, perennials, shrubs, roses, hydrangeas and more! Fresh baked goods Fridays and Saturdays.

Fisk’s Farm & Home (Garden Supplies)
625 2nd Ave SW – Cresco, IA
fiskfarmandhome.com

SVJ Creative Designs
From small garden stones to life size hero statues, SVJ creates it all.  Custom painting available.  Painted and unpainted statues to choose from.  Two Locations:  Wabasha (Downtown) offers a retail store, open painting and painting classes.  Kellogg (Country) offers manufacturing of concrete statues and retail.
62099 MN-42 – Kellogg, MN
svjcreativedesigns.com/

Places to eat near Kellogg:
The Olde Triangle Pub – Wabasha

Artisan Home Furnishings – Amish Furniture
Fully Amish Owned and Operated – All Furniture 100% Amish Made – Biggest Amish Owned Furniture Store in Minnesota! Best Outdoor Furniture with 20 year warranty
13113 County Road 35 – St. Charles, MN

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes Norwegian artist and psychotherapist Mona Stenseth for a free presentation about art expression and tradition on May 6 at 7:00 p.m. in Hanson Vesterheim Commons.

Rather than asking how tradition can be preserved unchanged, in this talk, Stenseth asks more urgent questions, “What does it mean to truly carry a tradition forward?” and “How does tradition continue through people?”

“Working at the intersection of identity and ornament, Mona approaches rosemaling (Norwegian decorative painting) in a new way – not simply as decoration, but as a living language, passed down through the generations and shaped by human experience,” Andrew Ellingsen, Director of Folk Art Education, said.

“This presentation is not just for rosemalers, but painters, artists, and those interested in the evolution of folk art,” Andrew continued.

“Mona is an engaging and inspiring presenter! Drawing from both her artistic practice and her background in expressive therapy, she reflects on how tradition is learned, internalized, and transformed across generations,” he continued.

Bringing a contemporary perspective from Norway, Stenseth invites audiences into a deeper reflection on belonging, authorship, and what it means to make tradition personal.

Mona Stenseth was born and raised in the north of Norway and currently lives in Porsgrunn, Norway, where she paints, creates, and teaches in her studio.

This presentation will be livestreamed online. Register for the Zoom link at vesterheim.org/folk-art-school.

Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the conversation of the American immigrant journey through the lens of the Norwegian-American experience. Vesterheim offers innovative and interactive exhibits, classes, and programs, both at the dynamic campus and park in scenic Decorah, Iowa, and online at vesterheim.org and Vesterheim social media. For more information on exhibits, classes, programs, tours, membership opportunities, and ways to donate and volunteer, connect at vesterheim.org, (563) 382-9681, and Vesterheim, 520 W. Water St., P.O. Box 379, Decorah, IA, 52101-0379.

Mainspring is pleased to announce the third annual Houston County High School Art Show opening on Saturday, April 25th with a celebratory reception from 4 – 6 pm; light refreshments will be provided.

Students from Caledonia, Spring Grove, and Houston High Schools will display a variety of art pieces they’ve created in the classroom over the last school year. The pop-up exhibit will open on Saturday, April 25th, with the reception for the student artists and their family and friends at 4 – 6 pm. The exhibit will also be open on Sunday, April 26th from 10 am – 2 pm.

About Mainspring’s Youth Education Programs:
Mainspring launched youth arts programming in 2023 to create a fun and inclusive environment for creative rural teens in Southeast MN. Youth artists engage in workshops where they complete hands-on art projects and learn from professional artists, and also come together to display their work at the annual Houston County High School Art Show.

Mainspring is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing arts and cultural experiences to the residents and visitors of southeast Minnesota. More information can be found at http://mainspringmn.org/.

By Charlene Corson Selbee

Looking for a memorable day trip? Discover eleven unique waterfalls in historic Bluff Country, each offering its own distinct personality, from a towering 200-foot waterfall to an underground 60-foot marvel and a picturesque step waterfall. Prepare to be amazed by the natural beauty that awaits you.

It might surprise visitors and possible even residents to learn that the waterfalls result from a unique geological phenomenon. The true marvel lies in recognizing that the region was shaped thousands of years ago, when the last Ice Age bypassed the locally known Driftless Region of Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, and Northwest Illinois. The distinct topographical features, such as the waterfalls, bring visitors back time and time again to enjoy the wonders of Historic Bluff Country.

In Decorah, Iowa, explore three captivating waterfalls, Malanaphy Falls, Dunning’s Springs, and Siewer’s Springs.

Malanaphy Falls, tucked within the Malanaphy Springs State Preserve, where it meets the Upper Iowa River, is just 10 miles upriver from Decorah. The waterfall can be accessed by foot through the picturesque forest or by canoe/kayak for a stunning view from the river. The eighth of a mile trail is well-maintained but is not accessible.

Dunning’s Spring Park, located on Quarry St./Ice Cave Rd. in Decorah, features Iowa’s tallest 200-foot waterfall and a one-of-a-kind rock bridge that crosses the stream, enticing visitors to climb to the top of the falls. There is ample parking next to the Upper Iowa River. Enjoy a short walk up the paved road. Visitors with disabilities can drive up the paved road to the falls.

Nearby, Siewer’s Springs along the Decorah’s Trout Run Trail offers a serene step waterfall experience and is a popular spot for trout fishing. Look up and you may see eagles flying overhead. Siewer’s Spring is promoted as the most accessible place in Northeast Iowa to fish. There are picnic tables, clean restrooms, sculptures, and the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery. The hatchery is open to the public 365 days a year.

Hokah, Minn., is home to Como Falls, peacefully nestled behind the fire station, surrounded by tree-covered limestone bluffs, making it a peaceful park for a picnic. You can also walk to the park from the city’s swimming pool, a spring-fed, sand-bottom pool.

Winnebago Springs, located on private property in the beautiful hills outside of Caledonia, Minn. The crystal-clear spring water gently bubbles over rocks and through soft, lush green grass. The spring joins one of many trout streams in Bluff Country.

Don’t miss the historic stone dam in Lanesboro, Minn. The dam on the Root River creates a scenic backdrop for this picturesque town and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Journey to Niagara Cave just minutes outside of Harmony, Minn., and watch as the 60-foot waterfall gracefully falls in a hypnotic display of natural beauty, creating a serene and picturesque underground setting.

The 10-foot Bridal Veil Falls are located within the boundaries of Pikes Peak State Park. The park is located above the Mississippi River town of McGregor, Iowa. The falls are accessible via a short half-mile walk along a wheelchair-accessible wooden boardwalk. Make sure to check out the 180-degree view of the Mississippi River from the Point Ann Overlook, which is also accessible.

Head south on the Great River Road National Scenic Byway to Spook Cave Campground, McGregor, Iowa. Beulah Spring Falls is located within the campground and is open from May to October. Don’t forget to hike the bluff above the falls. For more water fun, make sure to include time for a tour of Spook Cave. The cave is wheelchair accessible.

Located along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway, Big Spring Nature Area, Guttenberg, Iowa, features a stair-step waterfall with water cascading down a 100’ limestone wall. Enjoy a casual walk alongside the spring or hike up the north side of the area.

Embark on this journey through Historic Bluff Country and witness the beauty of each unique waterfall-it’s a day trip you won’t soon forget. Don’t forget to snap a selfie and tag Visit Bluff Country.