Nearly two hundred miles north of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Willow Fen is a serene haven—the perfect escape from urban clamor. Lush perennial gardens (designed by garden writer Julie Scouten) complement a natural setting that comprises two little fens surrounded by evergreens, several varieties of native willow and other hardwoods. Overlooking a clear, quiet lake, Willow Fen is a birdwatcher’s paradise with frequent sightings of herons, the resident pair of loons, and a family of ducks. A whippoorwill often calls on warm summer nights, and flocks of finches, grosbeaks, orioles, redwing blackbirds, and hummingbirds visit the garden feeders. This year we were even treated to visits by Cape May warblers, scarlet tanagers, and a breathtaking indigo bunting.