michigan

Guerilla Gardeners bringing beauty to Lansing

Posted on May 5, 2025May 5, 2025 by farlane

Hello Beautiful by Lansing Area Guerilla Gardeners

Last week’s post about Lansing’s truck-eating bridge Big Penny was the most popular post of 2025 so far, but it may convey an overly aggressive image of our State Capital. Fortunately, I found the perfect antidote for Big Penny through Stupid Lansing, the folks who tipped me off to Big Penny: the Lansing Area Guerilla Gardeners!

WKAR explains that guerilla gardeners across the globe care for public or neglected land, often without formal permission:

(Shawn) Dyer and his friends adopted the Guerrilla Gardeners label in 2021, although they’ve been leading stealthy community cleanups and carrying out surprise acts of gardening for years. We sneak in, we garden, we make it look better and then we leave.” As Jana Nichol described it: “We sneak in, we garden, we make it look better and then we leave.”

Just love this – check out their work below & on their Facebook page!!

Congratulations to the Detroit Pistons!

Posted on May 2, 2025 by farlane

Detroit Pistons Game 6 2025 by Montez Miller Photography

I was having a hard time summarizing my feelings about the Pistons’ heartbreaking loss to the Knicks last night. Fortunately, my friend Montez Miller shared the perfect photo & words with me. We will be back!!

According to the game, the Detroit Pistons lost, but considering their journey, it’s clear that losing isn’t the full story.

In the 2023-2024 season, they finished 15th with 68 losses. However, in the 2024-2025 season, they rebounded to win 44 games, finishing 6th and earning a spot in the playoffs. That’s not just losing — that’s a remarkable comeback and a clear sign of progress and WINNING.

CONGRATULATIONS, DETROIT PISTONS FOR A WONDERFUL SEASON. 🏀❤️🏀

Follow Montez on Facebook, learn more about her & her work as a photojournalist on her website, and GO PISTONS!!

(almost) Tulip Time in Holland!

Posted on April 29, 2025April 29, 2025 by farlane

Tulip Time Photo Walk by Donna Henderson/Tulip Time Festival

Holland’s Tulip Time has been an annual celebration of Dutch culture & tulips since the founding of the festival in 1929. Tulip Time returns for the 96th year May 2-11, 2025. Here are some photos from recent years (and one throwback) via the Tulip Time Facebook.

Big questions about Giant sequoia

Posted on April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 by farlane

Sequoia Redwood Tree by Charles Bonham

My post last week about the planting of Giant sequoia trees in Detroit by Archangel Ancient Tree Archive & Arboretum Detroit got a lot of commentary. While it was generally positive, a common theme of criticism was that we shouldn’t plant things in places where they aren’t native because they don’t belong or can’t survive. On the “can’t survive” front, I give you the 116+ foot tall Lake Bluff Arboretum Giant sequoia tree in Manistee that was planted in 1949.

And while I agree that planting non-native trees is generally a bad idea, the second paragraph of the Bridge Detroit article I linked to explains that it is the environmentally responsible thing to do to allow these forest titans to survive into the future: “The project on four lots will not only replace long-standing blight with majestic trees, but could also improve air quality and help preserve the trees that are native to California’s Sierra Nevada, where they are threatened by ever-hotter wildfires.“

And even if clicking a link is two hard, the 2nd of the two paragraphs I chose for the excerpt reads Giant sequoias are resilient against disease and insects, and are usually well-adapted to fire. Thick bark protects their trunks and their canopies tend to be too high for flames to reach. But climate change is making the big trees more vulnerable to wildfires out West, Kemp said. “The fires are getting so hot that its even threatening them,” he said.

You simply gotta read folks. At least if you want to make intelligent critiques.

I had shared a photo of the Giant sequoia in Manistee that Charles took in ~~2002~~ 2022, but I decided to go back to see what else he had. Lots!! Check them out below and see lots more in his Trees gallery on Flickr.

Planting the Forests of the Future in Detroit

Posted on April 24, 2025April 28, 2025 by farlane

Giant Sequoia in Detroit’s Circle Forest by Andrew McFarlane

“Here’s a tree that is bigger than your house when it’s mature, taller than your buildings, and lives longer than you can comprehend.”

-Andrew “Birch” Kemp, Executive Director, Arboretum Detroit

The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive & Arboretum Detroit have partnered on a truly incredible effort that is planting giant sequoia in Detroit! Bridge Detroit shares that these colossal conifers can live for more than 3,000 years and reach heights in excess of 300′ tall with a circumference greater than 30′ at the base.

The sequoias will eventually provide a full canopy that protects everything beneath, he said. “It may be sad to call these .5- and 1-acre treescapes forests,” Kemp said. “We are expanding on this and shading our neighborhood in the only way possible, planting lots of trees.”

Giant sequoias are resilient against disease and insects, and are usually well-adapted to fire. Thick bark protects their trunks and their canopies tend to be too high for flames to reach. But climate change is making the big trees more vulnerable to wildfires out West, Kemp said. “The fires are getting so hot that its even threatening them,” he said.

You can read lots more in Bridge and at the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, which I encourage you to support with your donations & by spreading the word about their amazing work!

Here are some pics I took yesterday afternoon along with some pics from the Archangel Facebook page. The big tree is the Stagg giant sequoia tree in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains – fifth largest tree in the world – and the shot of the guys in the tree shows Archangel’s Jake Milarch & Aaron Johns actually inside the 3000+ year old tree! The one of the burned tree shows the 3,000 year old “Waterfall Tree” Giant Sequoia before and after the 2020 Castle Fire.

Continued (apparently) in Big Questions about Giant Sequoia on Michigan in Pictures!

Happy 55th Earth Day, Michigan!

Posted on April 22, 2025April 22, 2025 by farlane

Happy Earth Day by Paul Bruce

Today is the 55th Earth Day, and this holiday that is celebrated across the planet was born right here in Michigan! I hope that you are able to take a little time today or this week to think about how you and your family, friends & neighbors can help create a future where humans live in harmony with the world around us because it really is the only one we’ve got. 🌏✌️💙

Paul took these at the Reid Lake Foot Travel Area near Harrison in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in the northeast Lower Peninsula. The US Forest Service says the 3000-acre area includes 13 miles of gently rolling trail around Reid and Little Trout Lakes, the shoreline of Big Marsh, and views of Fanny’s Marsh and Mossy Bog. There are also 9 designated first-come first-serve campsites available. Check out his photos from last Earth Day & many more in his Reid Lake gallery and for sure follow him on Flickr for more!

Many more Earth Day photos on Michigan in Pictures!

Pope Frances Passes

Posted on April 21, 2025April 21, 2025 by farlane

Copper Top by Rudy Malmquist

I’d like to share my condolences to those mourning the passing of the Pope. The Associated Press shares that Pope Francis, the Catholic Church’s first Latin American pontiff, has died.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born Dec. 17, 1936, to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of five children. He was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969 and led the religious order in Argentina during the country’s murderous dictatorship from 1976-83. He became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and elevated to cardinal in 2001 by St. John Paul II. He was elected the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, on the fifth ballot.

Francis’s first included:

The first pope from the Americas.
The first from the Jesuit order to be elected pope.
The first to take the name of Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi.
The first to visit Iraq, meeting its top Shiite Muslim cleric in 2021.

Rudy took this photo of the Basilica of St Adalbert in Grand Rapids back in 2010. Head over to Flickr to see his latest.

Iced Over on Mackinac Island

Posted on April 14, 2025 by farlane

Iced Over by Joann’s Fudge of Mackinac Island

Today is one of those days when I see the photo first and go looking for the post because honestly WOW! So here are some updates:

Last week Gov Whitmer met with President Trump & officially requested a Presidential Emergency Declaration for 12 counties and the Little Traverse Bands of Odawa. The request has nothing to do with FEMA actions or the ongoing process to pursue a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, which is required to access longer-term recovery programs.
mLive shares that nearly 1,000,000 acres of state forest were impacted by the ice storm. As recovery efforts continue, more than a dozen state parks are closed along with all state-managed trails in the 12 affected counties.
The State of Michigan has some vetted places for your donations.
Bridge shares that Tax Day is tomorrow, but ice storm victims can request additional time for their taxes
Also from Bridge, Michigan likely lost 1/3 of our 90,000 gallon maple syrup crop – we’ll just buy it from Canada, right?
And finally, Mackinac Island shared that while some roads & trails may be closed, they will be ready to welcome visitors starting April 25th.

When the huge ice storm hit, Joann’s Fudge of Mackinac Island shared this photo & noted they might suffer some shipping delays. In addition to a donation to one of the places above, consider buying a little fudge from Joann’s! Here are some more great shots including one of them taking advantage of the ice storm by playing hockey and some great lilac photos from the upcoming Mackinac Island Lilac Festival (June 6-16, 2025). See lots more of their pics on their Facebook.

Seeing the Soul of Sleeping Bear

Posted on April 10, 2025 by farlane

The sun’s brush paints the day’s end with strokes of flowing orange and opalescent coral. Sleeping Bear Dunes, guardian of the coast, stand silhouetted against the celestial masterpiece. As the sun descends, the waters of North Bar Lake become a mirror, reflecting the heavens in all their fiery glory. A ribbon of liquid cuts through the sand, mirroring the sky’s vibrant hues. The wet sand, kissed by the setting sun, flows with ethereal light, a testament to the sun’s final performance. The air, still and hushed, is filled with the gentle lapping of waves against the shore, a soothing melody that accompanies the visual symphony.
Mark Lindsay from The Soul of Sleeping Bear

Leelanau.com shares that photographer Mark Lindsay (whose work you may have seen on Michigan in Pictures) has released his first book, The Soul of Sleeping Bear. It’s a beautiful, coffee table book that blends Mark’s gorgeous photography of the Sleeping Bear with writings on what these vistas can spark in your heart.

Click for more on the book!

Return of the Turtle: Detroit Tigers Opening Day

Posted on April 4, 2025April 4, 2025 by farlane

Opening Day Flag Downtown Detroit Partnership

Opening Day Anthem by Downtown Detroit Partnership

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

Friday, April 4th 2025 is the 124th Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers. As a resident of Midtown in Detroit, I can tell you that this is unquestionably one of the biggest holidays of the year for us. Already the streets are filling with cars as baseball fans from all over Michigan and the world get ready for Tiger Baseball to return to the Motor City!

I’ve rounded up some of the highlights with a laser focus on FREE including and Opening Day party at Grand Circus Park by the City of Detroit and a Wisconsin manufacturer of watery beer that features a LOT of great food trucks, DJ Invisible, and lots of video walls and screens. There’s another free party from noon – 6pm just across Woodward at one of my favorite venues, The Fillmore with giveaways, WRIF and the game on their MASSIVE screen (tell the security guys Andy sent you and they will laugh). Also on the free front are a party at Gilly’s with giveaways, raffle, face painting & DJ Ray Ya Dig (official DJ of the Lions) from 9 AM–4 PM. I think that the Opening Day Party with my friends The Honest to God Jug Band is free, but they’re so fun and Cliff’s Bells is SO cool that I think you won’t mind if there is a cover.

And everywhere there are giveaways, giveaways, giveaways including the House of Faygo Pop-up at Campus Martius this Friday – Sunday.