Last update: May 15 Sweets are in full blossom to passing and tart cherry trees are in full bloom (or nearly there). We will have excellent blossom coverage through this weekend - make your reservations now!
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, director of the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station, reports that she's seeing a few sweets now. She that although sweets typically blossom first with tarts coming 3-5 days after, there have been years when they've come at the same time. She noted that cherries are only receptive to be fertilized for a week or so, no matter how long the blossoms are out. Years when we do have an enduring blossom can even be detrimental to fertilization as bees don't like to fly when it's cold.
Keep an eye on at least one tree with the Hort station's Cherry Orchard webcam.
The photo is Leelanau by Jeff Lamb, and you can view it large right here and see more of Jeff's great pics from the Leelanau Peninsula on his photography web site.
For a whole lot more about cherry blossoms, check out Cherry Blossom Time in Michigan on Michigan in Pictures and be sure to think about attending the Leelanau County Cherry Blossom Tour on May 10, 2008!
The 2008 Priority Health Tour de Leelanau bicycle race will be held next Sunday (May 25). This race is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union, UCI, and USA Cycling and is a heck of a lot of fun! It had been held in September but is moving to Memorial Day Weekend this year. Race director Steve Brown explains "We have moved the event forward on the racing calendar in order to capitalize on the teams' enthusiasm for racing in early summer compared to the end of the season." While they are hoping to draw more racers and crowds this year:
One key element of the 2008 Priority Health Tour de Leelanau that has not been tweaked is the course. Leelanau's reputation as a "hardman's race" continues to grow throughout the US. Tower Rd is still located at mile 60 (97 kilometers) and promises to whip up a frenzied crowd cheering on racers from every team as they hammer their way up the steep (21% gradient) climb.
The race features $20,000 in prize money and all kinds of climbs & sprints set against the beautiful Leelanau landscape. You can get all the details and maps for the men's race (11 AM start in Leland, 109.5 miles, 3:30 PM finish at Peshawbestown) and women's race (approximate 12:40 PM start in Glen Arbor, 69.5 miles, 3:30 PM finish at Peshawbestown), course tour & maps, the race expo and all the rest of the events surrounding the race at the Tour de Leelanau web site
Here's our report on the 2007 Tour de Leelanau. You can also check out the tour de leelanau tag on Flickr (slideshow) and more photos in the Tour de Leelanau group on Flickr.
Photo credit: Tour de Lelanau. Men's sprint line in Glen Arbor, Michigan by cyoas55
Speaking of photos:
Priority Health is sponsoring a Tour de Leelanau photo contest where you could get your photo on the cover of next year's Tour Trumpet & receive a check for $500. To enter:
- Take a picture at this year's event.
- Upload it to the Priority Health Cycling Flickr pool at: http://www.flickr.com/groups/phcycling/
Note: You will need a Flickr/Yahoo account - signing up for one is FREE.
- Add the tag to your image: "Tour de Leelanau"
Every Saturday in May the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will hold a ranger-led, educational walk in the Lakeshore. Meet at the Visitor Center in Empire on Saturdays at 1 PM. Here are the topics:
May 10 - The World of Frogs - What would spring be without the sound of frogs? Why are they singing and why are they disappearing all around the world? What might they be trying to tell us? Learn to identify several local varieties by sight and sound. This is a great outdoor adventure for the whole family.
May 17 - Hike to a Beaver Lodge - Look for one of the few animals that dramatically engineers their environment and has played a major role in this region’s history. See a dam, lodge, canals, and tunnels while learning more about beavers and their logging operations.
May 24 - A Flurry of Wild Flowers - Few places on earth have an abundance of wildflowers as the hardwood forest of Northwest Michigan in the spring. Join a ranger to marvel at this annual display of native plants as you hike through one of the best wildflower habitats in the region.
May 31 - Returning Birds - Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day by joining a ranger to welcome back several species of migratory birds. Learn about their winter adventures in far off lands and the distances they travel in between. This is a great opportunity for beginning birders. Binoculars provided.
Photo: Spring Beauties by Jim Sorbie (click over to get it desktop background size!)
Over on our Absolute Michigan web site, we're featuring Leelanau's own National Lakeshore in Dig Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes. It begins:
The October 21, 1970 Act of Congress that established the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore declared that "...the Congress finds that certain outstanding natural features, including forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena, exist along the mainland shore of Lake Michigan and on certain nearby islands in Benzie and Leelanau Counties, Michigan, and that such features ought to be preserved in their natural setting and protected from developments and uses which would destroy the scenic beauty and natural character of the area."
Before it's all over, you will have hopefully enjoyed the photos, maps and links and checked out 5 "must-do" ways to experience the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. (I'm hoping folks who know and love the Dunes can add many more tips for visitors!)
Check it out - I'm really happy with how it came out!
Photo: canyon of trees by metrolens
Sleeping Bear Dunes 0822 by SNiedzwiecki
News from the Week
In addition to some upcoming events, we posted the Leelanau Cherry Blossom Report (which we're updating as the blossoms update!)
The Week's Weather
The weather was what you want from spring, some sun, some rain and not too hot allowing blossoms and buds to develop slowly.
May 1, 2008: Light rain (a dusting of early snow) & low 60s (66/30)
May 2, 2008: Heavy rain, thunderstorms and 50s (62/42)
May 3, 2008: Mostly sunny and 50s with bit of afternoon showers (62/37)
May 4, 2008: Sunny & 60 (62/32)
May 5, 2008: Mostly sunny & low 50s (55/39)
May 6, 2008: Light rain & 60s (66/37)
May 7, 2008: Mostly cloudy, breezy & occasional showers (63/42)
Click for the Leelanau news archive from May 2007 and the May 2008 page!
Dan took this photo of The Bufka Farm last weekend. He has several more photos from around the county and area on Saturday.
Every month we make a post where you can let folks know about news items, fun things you did and observations of what's happening in the great outdoors.
Every May we know we can expect cherry blossoms and the beginning of the summer travel season.
This May on Leelanau.com, we're also going to be focusing on summer travel with stories about cool vacation ideas and (hopefully) some vacation giveaways courtesy some of our great sponsors.
Stay tuned!
Photo: J Jumps by Andy McFarlane
Fog Bank by John Levanen
News from the Week
Stories this week were pretty much events, but there was a very cool video about "Leland Blues".
The Week's Weather
We had a nice warm end of the week last week and have spent most of the rest of the time in the 40s and 50s. I get the sense from talking to farmers that they're OK with this.
April 24, 2008: Cloudy, light rain & 70s (75/41)
April 25, 2008: Very heavy rain, thunderstorms & low 70s (75/50)
April 26, 2008: Wind, rain & 50s (63/39)
April 27, 2008: Mostly sunny, breezy & 40s (46/35)
April 28, 2008: Sunny, windy & 40 (40/28)
April 29, 2008: Partly sunny & low 40s (44/32)
April 30, 2008: Sunny & 50s (54/32)
Click for the Leelanau news archive from April 2007 and our April 2008 page!
The Leelanau County Cherry Blossom Tour has been scheduled for Saturday, May 10 from 11 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!).
The event will start and end at the Connie Binsfeld Building in Lake Leelanau and features a free ride on busses provided by the Bay Area Transportation Authority. Tour takers can stay on a bus throughout its journey or get off at preplanned stops and catch the next one! There will also be a free lunch with cherry brats from Pleva’s Market in Cedar and those famous Cherry Republic Boomchunka cookies. Highlighted on the tour will be the views offered from a vantage point at St. Wenceslaus Church and the Gregory family's Cherry Bay Orchard.
Years ago, a Blossom Tour was offered annually by agricultural leaders in Leelanau County at about the same time the "Blessing of the Blossoms" ceremony was celebrated in Grand Traverse County. While the blessing event remains today, the blossom tour has long been discontinued — until this year.
Contact the Leelanau Conservancy at 231 256-9665 for further information or to volunteer and get more information from Cherry Blossom Tour web page from the Leelanau Enterprise.
Photo: Spring Will Come by Andy McFarlane (check out this Cherry Blossom Slideshow too!)
The photo is Daffodils II, and I'd like to wish everyone out there a happy Earth Day (and tell you that the daffodils came out yesterday!).
Come to the parade in TC Saturday too!
