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Memorial Weekend marks the unofficial first day of summer in northern Michigan. The next few months will be a whirlwind of festivals, barbecues, beaches, boating, or whatever your favorite summer activity may be. Start the summer off right, by attending one of the Memorial Day celebrations.

Monday at 9:30am, Leelanau County's official Memorial Day observance will be held at the site of the county's new Veteran's Memorial plaza on the Grovernment Center Drive. County Commissioner Richard A. Schmuckal, a former sergeant in the U.S. Army, will be emcee and former Army captain and Vietnam combat veteran Dave Alguire of Leelanau County, a member of the Eagletown American Legion Post No. 120 of Peshawbestown, will be the keynote speaker. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7731 of Lake Leelanau and Eagletown post members will provide a color guard and honor guard for the ceremony.

Also Monday, at 10:30am Northport will hold their annual Memorial Day observance at the Leelanau Township Cemetery on Kitchen Road. George Anderson, will once again be the master of ceremonies for the Leelanau Township observance, which will focus on the War of 1812. The keynote speaker is Jerry Dennis. The ceremony will include patriotic music by the Village Voices and Northport Community Band. The Northport Girl Scout and Brownie troops, as well as the Suttons Bay Boy Scout troop, will also participate in the ceremony. Veterans whose lives were or are a part of the township will be recognized in the Armed Forces salute.

A few years ago, Absolute Michigan, featured the Michigan's First Memorial Day. Read about many of our Michigan communities celebrated, after Major General John A. Logan, head of the postwar Union veterans' group called the Grand Army of the Republic, declared that on May 30, "the choicest flowers of springtime" should be placed on the graves of Union soldiers and sailors who had saved the Union and ended slavery.

Other events happening this weekend include the Northport Car's in the Park and the annual Memorial Weekend Plant Sales in Cedar and Leland.

The weather forecast shows a beautiful sunny weekend, with temps in the 70s. So even if you are just picnicking in the park or chilling at the beach, we wish you a fun,happy, and safe Memorial Weekend. Enjoy!

As, I was looking for a picture for this post, I found this one of the Cove in Leland. I was reminded of another annual Memorial Day event in Leelanau, The Here Come's the Sun Party at the Cove. Don't miss the excitement at this day full of fun, sun, and music!

Photo: Take a Seat…outside The Cove… by KT of Lake Orion

Looking to spruce up your garden this weekend, Cedar and Leland have Memorial Day Weekend Plant Sales. This week, we also featured The Leelanau Artists' Annual Exhibition. Looking to win some prizes this summer, be sure to check out the Absolute Michigan Photo Contests!

Week's Weather

May 25: Sunny & 69 (89/48)
May 24: Sunny & 78 (93/63)
May 23: Sunny & 70 (89/51)
May 22: Partly sunny & 63 (71/54)
May 21: Mostly cloudy & 57 (67/47)
May 20: Partly sunny & 64 (82/46)

Post your comments about the week's news, observations of the weather or the natural world or events below! You'll also want to check out the Leelanau Calendar and the latest news and features from Leelanau, Traverse City and the surrounding area in our blog! Here's the May 2009 archive, and Leelanau Almanac: Week of May 13 – 19.

The folks who bring you Leelanau.com also produce Absolute Michigan. We're celebrating 100,000 photos in our Absolute Michigan group and would like to invite any photographers out there to take part in giveaways all summer long! You can get all the details at the Absolute Michigan Summer Photo Celebration.

Our first contest is the Michigan Business Photo Contest for photos that promote Michigan businesses or buying from Michigan businesses. This first contest deadline (many more coming) is Monday, June 14th and the winner will receive:

• One year Michigan SEO and Category Sponsorship package on Absolute Michigan ($1250 value)
• A Private Label Radio Program that tells the story of your business courtesy of Vertio
• 2 pounds of coffee (your choice) from Higher Grounds Trading Company
• Other business related prizes that we can find between now and June 7th!

Photo: Open for Business by .jowo.

The Leelanau Artists at the Old Art Building in Leland will host their tenth Annual Exhibition June 4-6, 2010.

This exhibition represents the work of a group of visual artists who meet weekly to paint at the Old Art Building. Some work in oils while others use watercolors, pastels, acrylics and other media. The purpose of the group is to participate in the imaginative and challenging creative process and to enjoy the camaraderie and inspiration of fellow artists.

The opening reception is on Friday, June 4 from 5 to 7 pm and is open to the public. The exhibit will continue on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm each day.

Photo credit: Art Exhibition at the Old Art Building by Bean in Sylvan Lake

Looking to spruce up your garden or your yard? Two area communities have plant sales this weekend.

Cedar's Perennial Plant Sale is Saturday, May 29 from 9:00am – 4:00pm. Over 500 perennial and wildflower plants, inspected by Michigan Dept. of Agriculture are ready for planting in your garden. Beautify your home with plants that attract butterflies and birds. Prices start at $2.00. This is our major fundraiser of the year to support 265 days per year of free, educational, healthy and intergenerational fun.

The 17th Annual Plant Sale on the Village Green in Leland is on tap for Memorial Day Weekend! Now is your chance to purchase native ferns, blood root, and trillium and more along with a huge selection of other nursery perennials, trees and shrubs provided by locally owned Bellwether Gardens and Four Season Nursery, who will be on hand to answer questions about going native. When: Memorial Day weekend. Sale begins Friday, May 28th and runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. All proceeds help maintain the Village Green and assist with other Conservancy projects.

Photo credit: 20090429_0107_copy(Blood Root) by jsorbieus

Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear is joining others around the country in offering events that celebrate preserving our heritage. We invite you and your friends to an open house and tour of the Port Oneida Rural Historic District tomorrow. Open House – Thursday, May 20, 10 am – 6:30 pm!

* Learn about our summer preservation projects in the park and volunteer opportunities.
* Enjoy refreshments.
* Take a tour of Port Oneida at 10 am with Bill Herd (over 30 years as Interptetive Ranger for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore).
* Sign up to help with our preservation projects.

Other things to do:

* Come out and paint or photograph the historic landscapes – (particularly beautiful right now!)
* Write a poem
* Walk the trails
* Make a donation to support PHSB's preservation work!

BRING YOUR FRIENDS!
Location of the Olsen house:
3164 W. Harbor Hwy. (M-22) just west of Port Oneida Road 3 miles north of Glen Arbor. 231-334-6103

Photo credit: Solid Foundation_4595 by ETCphoto

This week we featured some regional KUDOS for our Leelanau wineries. Michael Brneton, wine writer for City Pulse in Lansing wrote, From Leelanau with Love and Bill Ging of the Oakland City Press asks the question, Who needs Napa when you've got Leelanau? Back for the 13th year is Northport's Cars in the Park. And, although you missed the Launch Party, please check out On the Ground Launch Party, on how you can get involved in the Run Across Ethiopia.

Week's Weather

May 19: Mostly sunny & 58 (76/40)
May 18: Mostly Sunny & 55 (73/37)
May 17: Partly cloudy & 55 (72/38)
May 16: Mostly sunny & 50 (64/35)
May 15: Partly sunny & 48 (57/39)
May 14: Mostly cloudy & 54 (60/48)
May 13: Rain & 42 (57/26)

Post your comments about the week's news, observations of the weather or the natural world or events below! You'll also want to check out the Leelanau Calendar and the latest news and features from Leelanau, Traverse City and the surrounding area in our blog! Here's the May 2009 archive, and Leelanau Almanac: Week of May 6 – 12.

From the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association:

Once again the LPVA gets KUDOS from a regional writer! Bill Ging of the Oakland Press says that, "we are lucky to have one of the best stay-cations in the country. It’s called the Leelanau Wine Trail." Bill and his wife visited eight of our 18 wineries. Bill writes about Tandem Cider:

Tandem Ciders is one of the most unique stops on the Leelanau wine trail. Tandem Ciders specializes in artisanal hard ciders and some very interesting small plates. Tandem Ciders is trying to establish the European tradition of hard cider in Leelanau County. They use Michigan apples in their ciders and work closely with neighboring growers that produce the fruit.

Read about Bill's visit to the other wineries in Part One and Part Two of Bill Ging's Who needs Napa when you've got Leelanau?

Join the crowd at the 13th Annual Cars in the Park on Saturday, May 29 at Haserot Park in Northport from 9 am. to 4 p.m. A great place to see all types of vehicles: antiques, classics, hot rods, muscle cars and motorcycles. Cars in the Park is the major fundraiser for the Northport-Omena Firefighter's Association! It's a great day on the water looking at some beautiful examples of the best in motor transportation. In addition to viewing the cards you can get hot dogs, brats, sodas and water, participate in a 50/50 raffle, a bucket raffle and guess what time one car will blow up.

Also, check out the Cars in the Park facebook event page for up-to-date information.

From the Leelanau Peninsula Vinters Association:

Michael Brneton, wine writer for City Pulse in Lansing, spent some time with a couple of the LPVA winemakers, Charlie Edson from Bel Lago and Leel Lute from Black star Farms. In his article, he describes some of his favorites, like Bel Lago 2007 Semi-Dry Riesling, which won Best Pacific Rim White Wine, at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition. He confirms that the tropical fruit flavors, soft, viscous mouth feel, tangy acidity on the back palate, and long, lingering finish! And says, "What a testament to the ever evolving quality of Leelanau Peninsula grape growing and wine making, and international recognition of that fact!"

Read the praise that he gave all the wines that he tasted at Bel Lago and Black Star Farms From Leelanau with love at City Pulse.