Quite a view from the top of a Michigan–not California–Vineyard, photo by k2tibaldi.
April is Michigan Wine Month, a great time to Celebrate Michigan wine & wineries.
Wineries like this one on the Old Mission Peninsula* are every bit as lovely as those in other great wine regions and Michigan’s vineyards are producing award-winning wines that are the equal of any in the world.
*I am guessing Old Mission. Looks like Power Island in Grand Traverse Bay.
Provided by the SeaWiFS Project, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, and ORBIMAGE (via Wikimedia)
I am not even going to tell you how long I agonized over the perfect photo with which to mark World Water Day. Water is one of the things that defines Michigan above all others. Industries may come and go, but (assuming we can take care of it) Michigan’s water is forever.
Here’s hoping…
St. Joseph, Michigan outer light, photo by Dan Sheehan
Dan says he captured this photo during a break in lake effect snow squalls. He lives in St Joseph, so he has a lot more photos of this lighthouse (and tons of other Michigan ones). In addition to lighthouses and nature photography, Dan also has numerous photos of military aircraft all available at gearupsix.com.
The Salmon Trout River on the Yellow Dog Plains, photo by savethewildup.
Somewhere there are lines, and I’m pretty sure that today I will cross a few. Over the life of this blog, I have stayed away from things that have sides, because sides too often divide us and this blog is really all about loving Michigan.
In my day job, I build web sites. A short while ago, I and some really talented people put together a new site for some people that have spent the last few years at a hard and lonely task: speaking up and standing up for Michigan’s rivers and lakes against the terrible risks posed by metallic sulfide mining and acid mine drainage. 
They have been focused on the Salmon Trout River on the Yellow Dog Plains, but that is just the first of many that will follow. To be very clear: There has never been a metallic sulfide mine that has failed to pollute its watershed. You can read more from Save the Wild UP … and scroll down for a special treat featuring tons more photos and music from Greg Brown’s upcoming CD, Yellow Dog.
More photos of the beauty of the Yellow Dog Plains and Salmon Trout River can be seen at Save the Wild UP’s web site.
If you are a photographer who loves Michigan’s water and wild, please consider making them available to be used in fighting metallic sulfide mining and other threats to Michigan’s legacy of unspoiled water and add them to the Save the Wild UP photo pool.
Encrusted Lighthouse, photo by taterfalls.
The bitter cold has frozen Lake Michigan and allowed Tate King to grab this awesome view of the light at Grand Haven. You have to check this one out bigger!
Here’s a post with another view & more information about the Grand Haven Lighthouse.
run~~~~~~~~~~~~, photo by noxipoo.
According to the DNR’s Park List, Warren Dunes State Park provides 1,952 acres of recreational opportunities along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan in southwestern Michigan. The rugged dune formation rises 260 feet above the lake and offers spectacular views and excellent for hang gliding. The park has three miles of shoreline, six miles of hiking trails and is open year-round.
So you could go out there and enjoy the dunes in winter too … just be sure to dress a little warmer. This photo makes an excellent background for seasonally affected desktops as well!
ice forms, photo by taterfalls.
Taterfalls (Tate King) says that this photo is of bushes that have been sprayed by crashing Lake Michigan waves at Pt. Betsie.
And speaking of Muskegon bald eagles, which we were very recently, he has a great shot there too!
P2190088B, photo by jsorbieus.
According to Life Along the Manitou Passage’s page on the Pt. Betsie Light (developed in 2001):
The light was constructed in 1858 at a cost of $3,000 and was called the “Point Aux Bec Scies” lighthouse. This point of land is translated from the French as “sawed beak point”. The original 37 foot tower was replaced by a 100 foot structure in 1880 and houses a Fourth Order Fresnel lens. It was not fully automated until 1983, and is the last manned lighthouse on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
Time has marched on and in June of 2004, ownership of the light was transferred to Benzie County and is operated by the Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse. They have an excellent timeline and a wealth of other information about the lighthouse, including their plans for restoration and some great historical and modern day photo galleries.
As is usually the case, Terry Pepper has an excellent narrative on Point Betsie’s history. Thanks also to Jim for uploading this large enough to be my computer wallpaper! ;)
Michigan in Pictures 