Scene: Wildwood
Family: Jake & Heidi, Chase, Rylie, Reece
Time of day: Morning
Season: Late Fall
Atmosphere: Cold, cheerful, generous
When the temperatures drop and the leaves start to fall, we Minnesotans trade in our sandals for scarves. If there’s one place on the Eagle Ridge acreage where oversized scarves can both accentuate and match the environment, it’s Wildwood.
Although Wildwood is renowned for its sparkling depth in mid-winter, especially on days following a snowfall, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Another imaginative time to enjoy this beloved scene? November.
Wildwood: Family Portraits Under the Evergreens
Wildwood’s towering evergreens line the southeast side of our land. At once imposing and protective, this scene has always been my favorite. I enjoy scenes near the orchard in warmer months and try to convince myself to name a new favorite on occasion, but there’s really nothing that compares to the character of these magnificent trees.
On one day I find my eyes drawn to the height of the trees, while on another I’m delighted by the way the scent of the trees pulls me back to family vacations in the mountains around Lake Tahoe. Those trips were half a lifetime ago, but in the midst of the trees I hear a breeze that sounds just like the Rocky Mountains . . . and I can close my eyes and pretend FTD (Frontotemporal Degeneration) hasn’t slowly robbed my family of my dad.
If there’s one scene in particular that can camouflage itself to highlight any season, it’s this one. Wildwood. In the fall, a blanket of crunchy golden leaves recently fallen from equally huge silver maples obscures the lingering green grass and gives us gorgeous brown hues in every direction. Snowy winter layers soft white upon the browns and—in the right light—literally sparkles in portraits. And during one magical week in the springtime, winter’s bed of needles is carpeted by fragrant apple blossoms drifting through the tops of the pines.
Jake and Heidi came to our home on a mid-November day that looked like it should have felt warm, but betrayed the imminent arrival of winter. We carried multiple blankets with us. A favored tool for multiple reasons, blankets embody the words pretty and useful, all wrapped up into one big wonderful armful. Even so, Jake and Heidi’s whole family (wisely) wore their coats on the short walk to Wildwood.
Before settling them on the straw bales, we nudged the kids to warm up by running the length of the field between the silver maples and the evergreens. Soon after, Jake, Heidi, and baby Reece joined them. Then, in a precious window of time that always passes more quickly than any of us imagine it could, we split the group into parents-only and kids-only, switched the pairings to mom-and-kiddo and dad-and-kiddo, and brought them all back together for one big snuggle under Heidi’s magical scarf.
Attitudes & Outfits
There’s no better word than generous to describe the attitude of Jake and Heidi’s family. It was cold that day! Even so, Jake was engaging, Heidi was relaxed and friendly, and the kids were content to snuggle their parents.
All dressed up for the coming Christmas season, Jake and Heidi chose thick sweaters and dresses for themselves and the kids. Jake’s sweater and Riley’s dress pulled in bold colors while Heidi’s and the boys’ shirts balanced the depth of color with an array of neutrals.
Heidi also brought a beautiful dark, muted scarf that doubled as a blanket for her picture with baby Reece—and helped the kids feel cozy on the straw bales.
Photographer’s Favorite
This is my all-time favorite mom-and-child portrait. I love the faraway look on Heidi’s face and can imagine how nice it was to hold his warm little body on that cold day.
Wildwood Highlights: Portraits on the Wall
There’s no better scene to prominently feature on your wall than the majestic evergreens of Wildwood. Not sure what size you need? A 20×30” piece is our most common order. Paired with the rustic timber frame we love, with or without mats, Wildwood has never looked better.
Here’s what Wildwood in the fall looks like on the wall. Isn’t it gorgeous?
