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
Last update: May 8 Sweets are definitely getting going - the orchard by my house is almost in full blossom and we'll definitely have nice blossom coverage this weekend - make your reservations now! The cool weather is keeping the tarts under wraps, so it looks as if we'll have orchard beauty for at least another week!
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!
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!)
Birch by Andy McFarlane
News from the Week
News from the week included news that Brad Lutz will not pursue his option on Sugar Loaf and the story of not one but TWO state championship teams from Leland in the Michigan Odyssey of the Mind competition, and a cool photo of daffodils.
The Week's Weather
The weather has been great! Lots of sun and 60s and even a taste of the 70s!
April 17, 2008 : Partly sunny & low 60s (63/48)
April 18, 2008 : Mostly cloudy & 50s (57/43)
April 19, 2008 : Mostly sunny & 60s (66/41)
April 20, 2008 : Sunny & 70 (70/40)
April 21, 2008: Sunny & 70s (75/48)
April 22, 2008: Mostly sunny & 70s (75/45)
April 23, 2008: Mostly cloudy & upper 60s (69/42)
Click for the <a href="http://www.leelanau.com/blog/2007/4/">Leelanau news archive from April 2007</a> and the <a href="http://www.leelanau.com/blog/april-2008/">April 2008 page</a>.
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!
