Fall floating away
November 10, 2008
Fall floating away, photo by ahannink.
Snow fell across the state yesterday, and it looks like our long, glorious run of fall weather is coming to a close.
View it larger in ahannink’s Nature set slideshow.
Fall light at Holloway Reservoir
October 27, 2008
Sunlight Dark Clouds, photo by Sentrawoods.
Holloway Reservoir Regional Park is a 5500-acre park near Columbiaville in Genesee County. The park includes the 1,975-acre Holloway Reservoir and provides opportunities for fishing, canoeing and other recreation.
This photo is available “background-sized” and is part of Ken’s Holloway Reservoir set (slideshow).
Michigan is Wine Country
October 25, 2008
Wine Country, photo by smiles7
Last night I had dinner with a writer from England who is exploring vineyards in Leelanau by bicycle for a story. He was asking me some questions about how Michigan ranks nationally in grape & wine production. I didn’t have all the answers, but fortunately there’s the great Michigan Wines web site from the Michigan Grape & Wine Council.
From their fast facts page, I learned that Michigan has about 1,800 acres of wine vineyards, making Michigan the eighth largest in wine grape producer in the nation (if our juice grapes are factored in, we’re 4th largest). We’ve increased our vineyard area over 60% in the last 10 years. Michigan is 13th in wine production with 56 commercial wineries that produce over 425,000 cases of wine annually. The state’s wineries are also popular tourist destinations, attracting more than 800,000 visitors annually.
Most of Michigan’s quality wine grapes grow within 25 miles of Lake Michigan. Here, the “lake effect” protects the vines with snow in winter, retards bud break in spring helping avoid frost damage, and extends the growing season by up to four weeks.
Michigan has four federally approved viticultural areas (AVAs). In the northwest part of the state, near Traverse City, lie the Leelanau Peninsula and the Old Mission Peninsula. This area has a growing season averaging 145 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,350 growing degree days; 51% of Michigan’s wine grapes grow here. In the southwest part of the state lie the Lake Michigan Shore and Fennville appellations, where 45% of Michigan’s wine grapes are grown. This area has a growing season averaging 160 days and an average heat accumulation of 2,750 growing degree days.
You’ll also want to check out their history page for the very interesting story of Michigan’s winemaking history. Here’s the vineyard slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool and you can get lots more features and links for Michigan wines from Absolute Michigan.
through the viewfinder and up the apple tree
October 24, 2008
Untitled, photo by Jenny Murray.
Speaking of Through the Viewfinder (aka TTV) (which we were the day before yesterday) here’s one of Jenny’s.
change (your background)
October 21, 2008
I am continually surprised by how popular Michigan in Pictures (in particular this post) is for searches for “fall backgrounds” or “fall wallpaper“. Every day about 100 people end up here, and I feel it’s sort of a duty to find a nice big photo every few days … sort of like feeding the fish.
Nicole took this photo on an Exposure.Detroit photo safari at Stony Creek Metropark on Saturday. You can purchase some of her photos in her etsy shop.
More fall wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures and also check out the Michigan autumn slideshow from Absolute Michigan!
Tornado over Black Lake from The Weather Underground
October 18, 2008
Black Lake, Michigan tornado, photo by Nathan Krinsky
About this tornado that was part of the October 18, 2007 tornado outbreak, Jeff Masters, Senior Meteorologist and founder of Michigan-based weather super-site The Weather Underground writes:
This tornado was rated EF1 with winds up to 94 mph. Damage consisted of a barn destroyed just north of M-68. The sporadic damage path up through Black Lake was 1/8 mile wide and around 10 miles long. Some tree damage was seen around Black Lake. The photo taken by Nathan Krinsky from the back deck of his home on Black Lake in northern Michigan, 15 miles southeast of Cheboygan. The sun was setting at 5:25 pm EDT when this photo was taken, and if you look closely, you can see a rainbow, thanks to the spray kicked up by the tornado.
You can click through to see a few more awe-inspiring tornado photos such as this one and see some more great pics of the Black Lake tornado that show the rainbow even better from another photographer.
wunderground.com offers many more cool Michigan weather-related photos too – currently fall color is the theme!
Yellow & Green
October 17, 2008
Yellow & Green, photo by nasunto.
Mulberry Grove, Greenfield Village. This is part of Nina’s Greenfield Village set (slideshow).
She also has a cool blog about camping, hiking, nature and Michigan that I think you’ll enjoy.
A walk in the Park
October 16, 2008
fall images
October 13, 2008
fall images, photo by buckshot.jones.
This photo of the reflected and swirling color on the Manistee River is part of Scott’s Fall color 2008 set (slideshow). He writes:
For some reason this year the colors seem particularly robust. Maybe it is the weather, warm days, cool nights and not much heavy rain, or maybe I’m just more in tune this year. Either way, I am diggin’ it.
Fall in Michigan, my idea of paradise. No other place I’d rather be.
After a drive from northwest to southeast, I can deliver a 10-4 on the color this year along with a hearty “me too” on the no place I’d rather be.
…and yes, they are available at “biggie-size” – get much more autumn awesome on the Michigan fall wallpaper page!
Fall color from the top of Michigan
October 11, 2008
Fall color from summit peak, photo by mtsn.
Well, Summit Peak in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park isn’t the highest point in Michigan. However, as the very detailed article on the Porcupine Mountains at climbing, mountaineering, hiking site SummitPost explains:
The Porcupine Mountains rise from the shore of Lake Superior in the far western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They are not remarkably high by some standards but for this part of the midwest they represent some of the most rugged terrain around. The “Porkies,” as they are known by locals, are actually a series of three ridges that lie parallel to the shoreline. The mountains are preserved within the borders of Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
The first ridge rises 1000 feet directly from Lake Superior to a maximum elevation of around 1600 feet. The lake-side of the escarpment rises steeply but gradually while the south side is a 300-500 foot cliff overlooking the Big Carp River valley and the famous Lake of the Clouds.
The second ridge is a bit higher, reaching an elevation of 1850 feet at Government Peak. Again, the north slope of this ridge is gradual but steep. The south side however does not drop off like its neighboring ridge to the north. the two Mirror Lake sit in this high valley at about 1500 feet in elevation.
The third, and southernmost, ridge is the highest. The height of land is known as Summit Peak and it is the 3rd highest point in Michigan at 1958 feet. Climb the 50 foot observation tower at the summit, however, and you will be standing higher than even Michigan highpoint Mt. Arvon. Summit Peak does command an impressive view but does not rise from its surroundings as drastically as the ridges to the north because the terrain here averages around 1500 feet in elevation.
Read on for lots more information about hiking in the Porkies, links and photos. For some reason their map didn’t work for me, so here’s Summit Peak on the Absolute Michigan Map!
Speaking of photos, the one above was taken on Tuesday (Oct 7) and is wallpapery fresh for all your computer background needs. Kiyo has plenty more in her Porcupine Mountains State Park set (slideshow). She also operates a Japanese language site with Michigan tourism information.
