Autumn Sunshine by Glen Suszko
As you can see from the Weather Underground forecast, Michigan is looking at a nearly unbroken run of sun over the next week!
Glen took this shot the other day in Southeast Michigan. See more of his finest photos in his Explored gallery on Flickr & for sure follow him on Facebook for his latest!
Forest Elders by Aaron Springer
Foggy morning out there for me in Southeast Michigan, though we definitely have a lot more color on the trees! How are things looking where you are?
Aaron’s photo from way back in fall of 2016 really jumped out the other day when I was looking for a pic in the Absolute Michigan photo group on Flickr! See more from Aaron in his showcase.
Autumn Fire & Color Season by Bobby Palosaari
I was looking for a good fall quotation for another photo, but this one was so good I had to share it. If you want to read more about the Science of Fall Color, Michigan in Pictures has you covered!
Bobby took these over a decade ago but the colors still pop! Check out some of his most popular photos on Flickr.
It’s that time when the trees are changing. If you’re like me & wondering when this or that tree will change, MSU Extension would like to share a little of the science behind how weather can affect fall color:
Leaves on a tree change color mainly in response to the decrease of daily sunlight … When chlorophyll is reduced, other pigments in the leaves begin to show or are produced. For example, the length of leaf color display time, as well as the extent of red color in the leaves, is directly related to temperature and moisture conditions that occur before and during the period when the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves is diminishing.
The most brilliant leaf displays follow a period of cool nights and warm days filled with sunshine. During this weather cycle, leaves photosynthesize and produce an abundance of sugars during the sunny days. The cooler nights and the gradual narrowing of leaf veins mean most of the sugars produced stay trapped in the leaf. This abundance of sugars, coupled with full sun, leads to the production of anthocyanin pigments, which produce red, purple, and crimson colors. The red hues are most vivid in leaves that receive full sun as the pigment helps protect the photosynthetic structures from damage by the bright sunshine.
Conversely, yellow and gold leaf colors result from carotenoid pigments which are always present in the leaf and only become visible when chlorophyll breaks down. We can always count on the yellow and gold fall leaf colors while red colors rely on the aforementioned weather conditions to present with vigor.
Read lots more about how weather affects fall colors.
I originally shared this photo as a cover for the Michigan in Pictures Facebook page back in 2017. Figured I’d bring it back for a post! Follow Jimmy Yeh Photo on Facebook for the latest.
The Ashes of Canada by Bill’s Pictures
“It started life as a sapling, growing over the decades. It avoided fires until now and the last remnants of its being floated all the way here to land on you. That’s saddening. A beautiful tree to ash.” – A.S.
I live in southeast Michigan hundreds of miles from the fires that are choking our skies, but last night a solitary ash floated down & landed on my glasses. When I texted my best friend yesterday to tell them, they replied with the heartbreaking words above 😔
Bill took this photo yesterday in Plainwell & shared it in the Michigan in Pictures group on Facebook. I hope that you will share your pictures of what you’re seeing today and every day in there & that you follow Bill’s Pictures on Facebook!
The Son Dials by Aaron Springer
I want to wish all the dads & grandads out there a very Happy Father’s Day this weekend!
Aaron shared this photo 11 years ago saying “There are a few places I am drawn to again and again, this being one of them. Having spent a great Fathers Day with my dad, I felt like capping the day off with a visit to a place that has struck me with a sense of family in one way or another with every visit. A small tribute to a man that casts a long beautiful shadow himself.“
See more on Flickr in Aaron’s showcase.
Mt Arvon – Michigan’s Highest Point by Gowtham
WDET-Detroit shares a Quinn Kleinfelter interview about the announcement tht Michigan’s highest peak Mt. Arvon will become old-growth forest in massive conservation project thanks to a conservation easement. They report that the project covers a much larger area (about 73,000 acres) in in the Upper Peninsula and will permanently protect Mt. Arvon and surrounding forestland in the Michigamme Highlands while allowing continued logging, recreation and public access.
I’ve featured this photo by Gowtham before, specifically on the post about Mt. Arvon being Michigan’s highest point. I have a couple more pics he’s shared in the Absolute Michigan photo group on Flickr & you can see more in his Michigan gallery.
Spring Blossom by diane charvat
I created the Absolute Michigan photo group on Flickr way back in April of 2012. Since then, the group has grown to nearly 4,000 photographers and earlier this week, one of them added the three hundred thousandth photo was added to the group which I think is pretty darned cool!!
Diane Charvat took the photo the other day at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, and I was very happy when I learned that the 300,000th picture posted was by a longtime contributor to Michigan in Pictures whose work has been featured so often. You can see more great shots in her Frederick Meijer Gardens gallery and for sure view her latest on Flickr.
Speaking of the Absolute Michigan group, it’s a great place to check out photos of literally anything in Michigan with just a search. Here’s the most interesting pics shared of May in Michigan!
Ghost Apple on Fruit Ridge by Andrew Sietsema
Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery shared this photo taken several years ago by Andrew Sietsma on West Michigan’s Fruit Ridge, asking Ever seen a Ghost Apple?
This rare winter phenomenon was captured in the Fruit Ridge area of Kent County, Michigan when freezing rain coated apples still hanging on the trees. The fruit eventually fell away, leaving behind these wild, hollow ice apples ❄️ Moments like this are uncommon, these photos were taken several years ago during just the right conditions 🧊🍎
I confess that even though I grew up surrounded by orchards that I have not, and it is extremely cool! Here are a couple more shots from Robinette’s Facebook post!
Soybeans and fall color. Pleasanton, Michigan by Mike Carey
The Pure Michigan Fall Color Report for October 14-21, 2025 says that Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will be at or near peak color this weekend. As always, color moves slower along the water in the UP and the Lower Peninsula. In Northern Michigan they say color is at about 50%, but I am going to trust MyNorth & TV 9&10 who are saying inland areas in Northern Michigan are at peak & shoreline communities like Traverse City, Petoskey & Tawas are fast approaching optimal color (especially because the folks at Crystal Mountain who are very on the ball are reporting color at 80-100%. Southern Michigan is close to halfway in most areas, but as always, please share your observations & photos!!
Mike took these yesterday in Pleasanton, which is located slightly inland in Benzie County midway between Manistee & Frankfort so yo can see how the color is really close to peak! See more in his Fall Color MI 2025 gallery on Flickr & for sure get out there to see some of this beautiful color before it’s gone!!
So much more Michigan fall color on Michigan in Pictures!
