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From: Alan Campbell, on behalf of the Leelanau Conservancy, Leelanau Conservation District and the Leelanau Enterprise.

We are forced to cancel the 2010 Cherry Blossoms tour. The reason is that Cherry Blossoms will arrive in Leelanau County much sooner than anyone could have realistically planned for. We have very few options excluding trying to move the tour to Saturday, May 1. But we ran into too many logistical problems with moving the event ahead two weeks. We had originally set the tour for Saturday, May 15 — smack dab in the middle of cherry blossom season, at least by historical terms.

But the spring of 2010 has been one for the record books. Right now at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station, cherry bud development is about three weeks ahead of schedule, with mild temperatures predicted for the rest of the week. We could move the tour ahead one week and still completely miss the blossom season.
We have always said that the tour is all about cherry blossoms. Without them, we cannot have a tour. We have thoroughly enjoyed sharing the beauty of the area with others, and introducing many to their first cherry farms in full bloom. Orchardists, too, have extended their hands, explaining their trade and offering first-hand accounts of the business of cherry growing.

Thanks go out to those who have worked with us by helping to promote and plan for the 2010 tour, including the staff of the hort station, Suttons Bay Public Schools for reserving buses, and the Grand Traverse Band for graciously offering use of the Eagles Ridge Conference Center for the May 8 date. We looked at moving the tour ahead one week and north in search of blossoms, but were still left with the probability that we would miss them.
We are already looking ahead to the 2011 tour, and plan to learn from this experience. We expect to set two or possibly three dates for the tour next year, and wait until closer to bloom before making a final determination. And we need to find a way, possibly through a separate website, to publicize the progress of cherry buds toward blooms as the date approaches.

We remain convinced that the cherry blossom season is the one jewel of Leelanau County and northwest Michigan that is underutilized and under publicized. This area should be crawling with Blossom Peepers. There is no prettier place in the world than the back roads of Leelanau County at full cherry bloom.

We need to tell people about it. Please forward us your suggestions.
For 2010, however, our emphasis has changed to damage control. Please help us inform as many people as possible that the blossom tour has been cancelled due to the expected historical early bloom. The last thing we want to do is leave people unhappy about beautiful cherry blossoms.

Also help us inform bloom lovers that they'll need to set their calendars ahead two weeks or so to view Leelanau's beautiful blooms. For many of us, it's the greatest show on earth. Although we won't be there to guide them, we encourage participation in any form.

Photo credit: The road less traveled by PrincessDoodleBeans Boutique

Livability, which touts America's most livable cities and explore the best places to live, work and play picked their list of 10 Surprising Food Cities. At the top of the list was a photo of a Leelanau winery and...

1. Traverse City, MI

Known as the Cherry Capital of the World, the Lake Michigan resort town of Traverse City does a pretty good job with other foods, too. With plenty of award-winning restaurants, wineries, farmers markets and dairies, Traverse City has been called “a new foodie haven” by The Huffington Post, and Midwest Living magazine recently named it second on its list of the region's “best food towns.” At the heart of the accolades is an emphasis on the farm-to-table philosophy. At Trattoria Stella, where chef Myles Anton was nominated for a 2010 James Beard Foundation award, the menu of Italian fare takes care to note ingredients from local farms and dairies. For wine lovers, the city's Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula wine regions lie along the 45th parallel— the same latitude that gives the Bordeaux region of France its famous reputation. Get started with a self-guided foodie tour.

We offer congratulations to Myles but feel compelled to point out the two more Beard Award nominees from the Leelanau Peninsula: Randy Chamberlain at Blu in Glen Arbor and Guillaume Hazaël-Massieux of La Bécasse near Maple City!!

Sit back and enjoy this short tourism documentary on Northern Michigan c. 1949. The film was part of James A. Fitzpatrick's "TravelTalks" series. Includes footage of Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, Mackinac Island, Traverse City, and other places.

From absolutemichigan.com:

Did you know that Michigan is the largest producer of Montmorency tart cherries, growing 70-75% of the crop? With February being National Cherry Month, it's only appropriate we celebrate Michigan's almost-official fruit!

The Cherry Marketing Institute has information available for educators and other folks regarding the history and present state of the cherry industry including growing research showing that antioxidants in tart cherries may relieve the pain of arthritis and gout & help fight cancer and heart disease.

For more tasty cherry info, be sure to check these out!

Michigan Cherries from Taste the Local Difference is PACKED with all kinds of information and delicious cherry recipes.

Michigan Cherries from the Department of Agriculture

Cherry Marketing Institute

Absolute Michigan's Cherry Links

MSU's Michigan Cherry Information features more cherry information than you can shake a whole tree at!

For all things edible, drinkable and wearable, check out Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor

The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City is a celebration of cherries and the cherry industry held every year at the beginning of July.

Recipes from Chef Eric Villegas - Fork in the Road

Balaton Cherries Jubilee - The great French chef Auguste Escoffier has been held responsible for creating Cherries Jubilee in honor of Queen Victoria. Here's Eric's version with the "new" Balaton cherry…

Balaton Cherry & Michigan Maple Crisp - A unique combination of Michigan flavors…

Balaton Cherry Mojo - This sauce is great hot or cold on poultry, waterfowl, pork and veal

Grilled Grape Leaves Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Michigan Cherries - Grape Leaves and Goat Cheese on the grill

Michigan Steamed Brown Bread with Dried Cherries and Walnuts - This bread is a variation of the classic steamed brown bread of Boston

Michigan Tart Cherry Worcestershire Sauce - A great taste treat as a condiment with meat. In Show #110 it was served it with our Buffalo Hanger Steak.

And Now for Something Completely Different...
Neil Diamond, 'Cherry Cherry' (circa 1967), and I do hear the influence it had on the Michigan based band The Romantics and their song 'What I Like About You'.

Photo: Cherry pie. Messy but yummy! by Trish Petrat

Courtesy of Absolute Michigan:

Leelanau Tarts (fo-lomo) by farlane

Old Orchard Brands debuts 'Very Cherre' premier line of cherry juice on mLive begins:

Move over exotic pomegranate, acai and mangosteen. The All-American tart cherry could be the next rage in superhealthy “superfruits.”

Old Orchard Brands is giving the simple pie fruit a chic makeover with its introduction of a premier line of juices called Very Cherre.

The Sparta-based fruit juice company will debut the 100 percent tart cherry juice product this week at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, J.W. Marriott and other Amway properties. There, Very Cherre — available in Pure Tart Cherry and three cherry blends — will be added to sauces, mixed in cocktails and sold in gift shops.

“I think it’s a superb product,” said Gerhard Schmied, vice president/director of food and beverage for the Amway Hotel Collection. “It’s from our own backyard. I can’t emphasize how important that is.”

Very Cherre juice is made from Montmorency tart cherries grown in the Leelanau Peninsula. The northern Michigan region is the biggest producer of the Montmorency cherries.

Read the rest at mLive and check out verycherre.com - kind of cool to see a private company promoting their product AND the region it's grown in! (especially since it's in Michigan!)

Cherry Festival has come and gone, but early August is still all about cherries in Leelanau, as danenmolly's photo Ready for Harvest shows us.  Cherry trees are plump with fruit, family and friends work 'round the clock in the orchards, and trucks parade down the streets with their lugs full of cherries.  Check out more great shots in danenolly's slideshow.

Those folks,  lucky enough to live in northern Michigan, are accustom to all of the wonderful local fare that the area has to offer.  From our community farm markets and roadside stands to the fabulous restaurants, that also incorporate local products in their cuisine.  However, thanks to this article from mlive.com, the secret is out.  The rest of Michigan and the region will know that Traverse City is an "up-and-coming foodie haven."  As John Flesher, of the Associated Press, points out:

Long a top Midwestern tourist draw for its lakes, rivers, forests, beaches-and the orchards that inspire the self-proclaimed moniker "cherry capital of the world"-the Traverse City area is now home to an increasingly varied and sophisticated culinary culture with a strong emphasis on local ingredients.

The Lake Michigan resort town is awash in award-winning restaurants and wineries, artisan bakeries, dairies and farm markets. Midwest Living magazine recently placed Traverse City second on its list of the region's best "food towns."

In the article, Flesher spoke with celebrity chef and summer resident Mario Batali, who says the area food scene "has just exploded."   A couple of restaurants that he mentions by name, include Trattoria Stella and Suttons Bay's own, Martha's Leelanau Table.

Northern Michigan has so many great places and ideas for foodies, here are a few that Flesher didn't have room to mention. For a truly unique culinary experience, check out Learn Great Foods.  Leelanau Cheese is producing award-winning traditional European style cheeses at Black Star Farms.  The Leelanau Peninsula Vintner's Association offers many wine trail events that pair local fare with some of the area's best wines.   For a list of Leelanau Restaurants, visit the Leelanau.com dining page.

Photo: ~ Stone House Bread ~ by KT of Lake Orion

PrincessDoodleBeans Boutique (K Frank) writes that she's a Mom, Musician, Artist, Designer, Professional Multi-tasker, oooh, and chocolate lover who tries to make the most of every minute God has given me on this earth. She also makes tutus - check them out in her online shop!

Be sure to check this photo out "background big" - it's part of her life in leelanau set (slideshow).

Driving today on the Leelanau Peninsula, I noticed the cherry trees beginning to bloom. Apparently, the south side of the farms have warmed and are ready to begin the growing season, while the trees planted in the north appeared a little less eager to wake from winter's slumber. Within days, the orchards will be adorned in pinkish white petals.

Across cultures, the bloom of the cherry tree is revered. In both China and Japan, annual celebrations mark this special time in the growing season. The delicate, short-lived blossom symbolizes the temporariness of human life. In the span of a growing season, an orchard in bloom lasts the equivalent length of a sunrise; you glance momentarily at the sun peeking over the horizon, while sipping morning coffee. Before long, this fiery orb fills the sky and you return to your oatmeal as if nothing miraculous happened at all.

As breathtaking as a sunrise, the blossoming cherry trees have this same potential for being overlooked. Without fanfare the blossoms emerge, signaling the start of the annual growing season and fortelling the fruits to come. High off the ground, this delicate flower begins growing as the unpredictable north leaves them susceptible to devastating frosts. At the end of their short lives, the blossoms sprinkle to the ground and cover the ground as snow and then return again to the earth.

The Leelanau Peninsula is known for its cherries, and the opportunity to witness the gorgeous spring bouquets of blossoms bursting in the orchards is here and now. Check out the 2009 Cherry Blossom Tour this weekend or make a date to tour the area. No reservations are required, but this show runs for a limited time only and will not be back again until 2010!

Dark Chocolate Chunk and Dried Cherry Oatmeal Cookies

* 1 cup butter
* 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
* 2 eggs
* 1 & 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats
* 1 cup dried cherries
* 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Preheat oven to 350°.

Beat butter and brown sugar together until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Add vanilla.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add to the butter mixture just until combined. Do not overmix. Stir in oats, cherries, and chocolate.

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto lined or lightly greased baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until bottom edges are lightly browned. Cool on pans for a few minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

These may also be made into bar cookies. Press the dough into a lightly greased 13?x 9? baking pan. Bake for about 30 minutes.

Photos: Blossom, Barn & Blue Sky and Blue Sky & Blossoms by Andrew McFarlane. You can click both of them for background-big pictures!

The Leelanau County Cherry Blossom Tour has been scheduled for Saturday, May 16 from 9:30 AM - 2 PM. The Tour is sponsored by the Leelanau Conservation District, Leelanau Conservancy and the Leelanau Enterprise, with several other organizations presenting a tour of orchards with a leisurely FREE bus ride for folks of all ages (wheelchair lifts are on every bus as well!).

Horticulturalists within the cherry industry have helped select this year’s optimum blossom-viewing date, which is some six days later than the 2008 tour.

Organizers have mapped out a new one-hour route for the 2009 tour that will again include two stops and begins and ends at the Eagles Ridge Conference Center in Peshawbestown.. Participants will be encouraged to exit buses for a first-hand experience at working cherry farms in the Omena area and in northern Suttons Bay Township. Cherry growers will be on hand to explain their work, and tour guides will offer explanations along the route of the history and importance of cherry farming for Leelanau County.

The one-hour route passes by stops at two working cherry farms in Suttons Bay and Leelanau townships.  Guest appearances have been lined up for Patrick Niemsto and Chris Skellenger, original members of a Leelanau favorite, the Third Coast band.

An opening ceremony will kick off the day at 9:30 a.m., with the National Cherry Festival queen in attendance. A blossom blessing prayer will be offered. Also expected to be in attendance is the famed Dried Cherry Queen, always a crowd favorite in the Leland Fourth of July Parade.  Buses will begin running at 10 a.m., with the last bus departing at 2 p.m.

Photo: Spring Will Come by Andy McFarlane (check out this Cherry Blossom Slideshow too!)