Seven Mile Point on the Keweenaw Peninsula

Posted on by farlane

Untitled

Untitled, photo by North Woods Conservancy

When someone with the commitment to jump into the icy waters of Lake Superior in February asks you to take a look at something she thinks is important, my feeling is that you darn well do it.

Kate shared news that the Keweenaw-based North Woods Conservancy owns a piece of property called Seven Mile Point. It’s 32 acres with 1,854’ of sand, basaltic bedrock and volcanic cobble beach located on Lake Superior about 5 miles from Eagle River. The Michigan Natural Features Inventory listed it for high-priority protection due to the unique plant and animal communities associated with the 1.1 billion-year-old basaltic lava flow lakeshore.

While they were able to get going with the purchase, they haven’t been able to raise enough funds to make the payments. They’re seeking folks to help with one-time or monthly donations. Click for more information and photos of this gorgeous spot and also follow them on Facebook!

 

You can get this photo background big and in their Seven Mile Point slideshow.

More of Lake Superior on Michigan in Pictures.

Real-time Great Lakes Surface Currents

Posted on by farlane

Get Up - Stand Up

Get Up – Stand Up, photo by Rudy Malmquist

The Great Lakes Echo highlighted a really cool realtime map of Great Lakes surface currents that can really help keep you safe whether you’re swimming, boating, surfing or stand-up paddleboarding. It might even help you find a fish or two!

Check this out background bigtacular and in Rudy’s water slideshow.

Snapper

Posted on by farlane

Snapping Turtle, photo by Michigan Free Diving

Christopher Morey got a couple of nice shots of this snapping turtle – be sure to check out his slideshow of diving photos!

The Michigan DNR notes that while snappers are dangerous if molested on land, they are less likely to bite under water. Read more snapping turtles on Michigan in Pictures!

Dragonfly in the Northern Sky

Posted on by farlane

Dragonfly

Dragonfly, photo by Xavist on the colorful way

Sorry failing to post the last two days – I hope these stunning northern lights shots make up for it a little. Xavist took them last night on the Keweenaw, but I saw them all the way down in Frankfort!

Check this out bigger and see many more in his slideshow.

Many (many) more Michigan northern lights shots on Michigan in Pictures!

Chapel Beach – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Posted on by farlane

"Chapel Beach" Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Chapel Beach – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, photo by Michigan Nut

Chapel Rock deservedly gets a lot of attention, but the beach that it’s on is one of Michigan’s coolest, with the rushing chapel river, a lot of great rock formations along a secluded, sandy beach and even a great backcountry camping area. As a bonus, the trail in passes Chapel Falls.

Check it out bigger and see more in John’s stunning Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore slideshow!

George’s Eagle Harbor Web

Posted on by farlane

November 11 2008 Walkabout, photo by George Hite

“To Serve”, that’s the whole idea. Other Web sites set forth the natural, cultural and historic wonders of this special place for all to see. This site is designed to respond to more basic needs of those who live here — like what’s going on and, more importantly, the desire we all have for the delight and support of “neighborhood”.
~George Hite, November 1996

Last November 1, George Hite of Eagle Harbor passed away at his home at the age of 80. His memorial service is planned forJuly 28, 2012 and I thought it would be good to post one of his photos to remember one of the early pioneers of blogging in Michigan.

I first became aware of George’s Eagle Harbor Web in 1997 when looking for information about Eagle Harbor and the Keweenaw Peninsula. Over the years and along with many others, I followed life in the small town of Eagle Harbor through his photos and updates about longtime residents, new arrivals and the changing seasons. I hope you get a chance to take a moment to shuffle through his photos and writing and reflect upon a man who spent a lot of his life in service to his neighbors.

Farewell George.

July 10, 1887 was a Grand day

Posted on by farlane

Grand Hotel Pano (3 photo pano)

Grand Hotel Pano (3 photo pano), photo by raddad!

Today is the 125th birthday of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island which opened on July 10, 1887. Wikipedia’s Grand Hotel (Mackinac Island) entry explains:

In 1886, the Michigan Central Railroad, Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, and Detroit and Cleveland Steamship Navigation Company formed the Mackinac Island Hotel Company. The group purchased the land on which the hotel was built and construction began, based upon the design by Detroit architects Mason and Rice. When it opened the following year, the hotel was advertised to Chicago, Erie, Montreal and Detroit residents as a summer retreat for vacationers who arrived by lake steamer and by rail from across the continent. At its opening, nightly rates at the hotel ranged from US$3 to US$5 a night.

Grand Hotel’s front porch is purportedly the longest in the world at some 660 feet (200 m) in length, overlooking a vast Tea Garden and the resort-scale Esther Williams swimming pool.

Also see the History photo gallery from The Grand Hotel and a cool old travelogue on Mackinac Island.

Be sure to check Randy’s great panorama out bigger and in his Mackinac Island slideshow.

Rainbow Wheel over Lake Charlevoix

Posted on by farlane

Rainbow Wheel over Lake Charlevoix, photo by Julie Christiansen

Regular Michigan in Pictures contributor Julie Christiansen was featured yesterday on one of my favorite blogs, NASA’s Earth Science Picture of the Day aka EPOD. The blog showcases earth science topics through photographs from all over the globe with a short summary and lots of links to help you dig deeper. Every so often, the feature is from Michigan as is the case with Julie’s rainbow wheel:

The photo above shows a beautiful double rainbow consisting of primary and secondary rainbows as well as an infrequently seen rainbow wheel. It was taken from Lake Charlevoix, Michigan in the early evening of May 28, 2012. A rainbow wheel can be observed near sunset or sunrise when anticrepuscular rays merge with a rainbow – the rays are the spokes of the wheel. Both rainbows and anticrepuscular rays have theantisolar point as their focus. If a rainbow is visible high in the sky, look closely to see if might contain curious “spokes.”

Click over to EPOD to see it bigger and see more of Julie’s photos from the area in her Charlevoix slideshow!

Take a friend to the National Cherry Festival

Posted on by farlane

Untitled

Untitled, photo by *Alysa*

The National Cherry Festival (July 7-14) kicks off today in Traverse City. From Black Diamond jets screaming across the skies to Cherry Queen candidates parading across the stage to all manner of parades, tasting events, concerts and games for all ages, this is the biggest party anywhere in celebration of Michigan’s mighty cherry!

One downside is that Michigan’s cherry crop was devastated by our wacky spring, but hopefully we’ll be back at the top of cherry production in 2013. Also see more about the Cherry Festival from Michigan in Pictures.

Check it out bigger and in Anna Lysa’s CWD slideshow.

Sundews!

Posted on by farlane

Sundews!

Sundews!, photo by Sundews! by I am Jacques Strappe

English sundew (Drosera anglica) is also known as Great sundew. This sundew guide from MSU says that there are 4 species of sundew in Michigan.

Similar to Sarracenia purpurea (pitcher-plant) and Pinguicula vulgaris (butterwort), sundews are carnivorous plants, capturing insects (primarily) with their nectar-like, mucilaginous secretions to supplement nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are otherwise in low availability in their habitats. Sundew leaves curl around their insect prey, when captured, to digest it.

Sundew are all species of special concern in Michigan so look but don’t dig them! Wikipedia’s Drosera anglica entry has more information including a cool photo of a sundew eating some damselflies.

See Jorie’s photo bigger and in her Native Flora slideshow.