Frozen Adventures in Pictured Rocks

Posted on by farlane

Ice Column / Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Ice Column / Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, photo by DIsnowshoe

Jay writes:

Many have cursed the cold of this winter that is almost over now though spring seems a long way off. It has caused hardships and pain but has also given rare opportunities to many who have been willing to bundle up and seek the wonders the cold has brought about.

A few weeks ago a friend asked me on somewhat short notice if I’d join him for a walk along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I’d walked the cliffs above the Lake before but the extreme cold of this wonderful winter granted us the opportunity to walk on even the Greatest of Lakes. We had two nights out with no fire to warm us but it was well worth it and a most amazing hike.

View his photo background bigtacular and definitely check out more stunning photos from his Pictured Rocks adventure.

Much more from the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and more winter wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures!

Cherry Blossom Season all across Michigan

Posted on by farlane

Cherry Blossoms II

Cherry Blossoms II, photo by leelanau2010

A run of warm weather has the cherry trees in Michigan ready to blossom. Due to their pent up demand to bloom, we should see blossoms all across the state this weekend. Up here in the “Cherry Capital of the World” near Traverse City, we saw leaves pushing out over the weekend and the first buds are getting ready to burst. The same is true in Southwest Michigan.

Even better news is that despite a little flirting with the 30s expected for the coming weekend, we aren’t likely to see full-on frost in 2013. This is a welcome change from 2012 when Michigan saw near total losses across a broad range of fruit crops due to our “summer in March.”

Check David’s photo out background bigtacular and see more in his Spring 2008 in Leelanau slideshow.

More blossoms and also more spring wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures.

Sign of spring #77: Trillium in the Woods!

Posted on by farlane

Trillium

Trillium, photo by karstenphoto

One of the many signs of spring in Michigan is the appearance of the endangered trillium flower in the woods. In Plant Focus: Trillium, George Papadelis of the Michigan Gardener writes that for hundreds of years, this plant and its name have been used to symbolize purity, simplicity, elegance, and beauty.

In Ohio, where all 88 counties have masses of wild trillium, it was selected as the state’s official wildflower. Its flowers have twice graced a U.S. postage stamp. Even our Canadian friends across the bridge have declared white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) the official provincial flower of Ontario. Other parts of the world share our passionate admiration for this plant. In Europe, where trilliums are not found in nature, gardeners dedicate vast amounts of time and money acquiring them, especially rare species. In Japan, a cult-like interest has developed towards trillium.

The most readily available species is Trillium grandiflorum or white wake-robin. This has large, pure white flowers up to 5 inches across. These develop in great abundance throughout the northeastern U.S. Its flowers usually fade to a dull pink and sometimes red. Trillium erectum is a much more diverse species with flowers ranging from red to purple to yellow-green and beige. It also grows wild in the Northeast and Michigan. Trillium luteum is the most common yellow species. It originates from areas around eastern Tennessee. One of its most notable features is the beautiful dark green leaves decorated with pale green markings. The flowers are relatively small. Trillium recurvatum bears maroon-purple to clear yellow flowers with strongly curved petals.

Read on for information about how to legally grow trillium.

Check this out background bigtacular, check out his Spring slideshow and see more from Steve on Michigan in Pictures.

More spring wallpaper…

Spring Return: Eastern Redbud

Posted on by farlane

I'll Return With Spring

I’ll Return With Spring, photo by MightyBoyBrian

On AnnArbor.com Rick Meader writes:

When you think about popular, colorful ornamentals, Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) often comes to mind. It’s a real crowd-pleaser, with a graceful, ornamental shape that puts out a “bouquet on a stem” look, with thousands of tiny pink/purple flowers lining its branches in early spring before its leaves emerge.

And, the best thing about it is, it’s native to southern Michigan, as well as most of the eastern half of the United States south of here. Furthermore, as a member of the Pea family (Fabaceae) it’s a cousin to the previous pod-producers we’ve learned about, Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) and Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioica).

As mentioned before, Eastern redbud is native to southern Michigan, occurring naturally up to a line across the lower peninsula from Kent County to Genesee County.

…If you want to use it in your landscape, it is fairly flexible in terms of where it will grow. It naturally occurs in rich soil along stream and river banks but is tolerant of a wider range of conditions. It likes sun or partial shade and can do well in most soils except waterlogged soils and dry, sandy soils.

Read on for more including Rick’s advice to make sure your tree comes from a northern nursery because trees from southern nurseries often are killed off by Michigan’s cold winters.

Brian’s photo is the first background we selected for the new Absolute Michigan, and  as you can see from past features of his work on Michigan in Pictures, he’s a really talented photographer who uploads big enough for backgrounds. See this shot from April of last year background bigilicious and see more in his Nature slideshow.

More spring wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures!

Hepatica … and other Michigan Wildflowers

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Hepatica by Diane Charvat

Hepatica, photo by d charvat.

Wikipedia says that Hepatica was named for its leaves, which, like the human liver (Greek hepar), have three lobes. It was once used as a medicinal herb. Owing to the doctrine of signatures, the plant was thought an effective treatment for liver disorders. Although poisonous in large doses, the leaves and flowers may be used as an astringent, demulcent for slow-healing injuries and as a diuretic.

Check this out background bigalicious and in d charvat’s Michigan wildflowers slideshow.

More spring wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures!

First Bloom of Spring, 2010

Posted on by farlane

First Bloom of Spring
First Bloom of Spring, photo by Kevin’s Stuff

While Northern Michigan still has lots of snow, Kevin says that with the over 40 degree temperatures of the past few days, the snow has been melting pretty steadily in West Michigan and the crocus have been coming up, presenting actual flowers yesterday afternoon!

Check it out bigger in his slideshow.

See more crocus on Michigan in Pictures and if you want to go all spring on your desktop, we have that too!

Houston, We have Tulips!

Posted on by farlane

We have tulips!

We have tulips!, photo by StormchaserMike Photography

Holland’s 2009 Tuliptime Festival starts today and runs May 2-9, 2009. In addition to parades, music, celebrations of Dutch heritage, kids events and fireworks and somewhere around 6 million tulips, they are celebrating the 80th anniversary of Holland’s signature celebration this year. All who attend are entered to win all kinds of prizes including a trip to Mexico, $1000, dinner for 6 at the B.O.B., a night at the JW Marriot and a party at New Holland Brewing!

You can get Mike’s photo bigger or check out his whole Flower set (slideshow).

If you’re still feeling tulip mania, check out past tulip posts from Michigan in Pictures, the tulip slideshow from the Absolute Michigan group and Absolute Michigan’s tulip page.

More spring wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures

Holy Spring, Batman!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Holy Spring, Batman!

Holy Spring, Batman!, photo by Rudy Malmquist.

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, Bokeh!

Be sure to and get yourself a Bokehlicious Background from Michigan’s Perspicacious Prince of Pictoral Presentment.

Biff!, POW!!

More spring wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures

There’s music on the Spring Wind

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

music

music, photo by yodraws.

Love calls like the wild birds, it’s another day.
A Spring wind blew my list of things to do … away.
~Greg Brown, Spring Wind

In celebration of the first day of spring and the vernal equinox, I went looking for a photo of “spring” in the Absolute Michigan pool. With almost 2000 photos, it’s practically a synaesthesia inducing experience. It also shows the riotous glory that is Michigan in springtime: flowers, flowing water, new shoots covered with snow and people who don’t care that the water is too cold for sensible folk to wade in.

Be sure to check this photo out bigger and in Yolanda’s Nature sideshow.

Check out one of my very favorite songs, Spring Wind by Greg Brown on YouTube and enjoy the return of spring.

More spring wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures