Take a Michigan Fall Color Tour

UPDATE: I created a new page with the latest Michigan Fall Color updates and a rather comprehensive listing of Michigan Corn Mazes and Michigan Apple Orchards - Michigan Fall Colors. Taking a Fall Color Tour in Michigan is a great way to really get familiar with our state. You don't partake in a fall color tour by zipping up the freeway. You take the roads less traveled. I personally recommend taking U.S. 31 out of Traverse City on up to 119 (the tunnel of trees) out of Petoskey for one of the most beautiful color tours you will ever take. For just a glimpse of the beauty of this drive, see this wonderful photo.

U.S. 2 along the northern shore of Lake Michigan is excellent as well. There are a plethora of great spots to pull off and enjoy the view as well as take pictures. The Cut River Bridge has a nice picnic area and trails that take you down to the beach. Walk across to the middle of the span and take an awesome photo (like this one).

Another favorite of mine is along the shore of Lake Superior on M-28 in the U.P. Head in to Marquette and on up to Mount Marquette for a breathtaking view of autumn colors with Lake Superior as the backdrop (see this great photo). Take 550 out of Marquette on up to Big Bay to see some of the most beautiful country around (you have to see Yellow Dog Falls in the fall). I can't believe more people don't visit the U.P. So much to offer, yet so few take advantage.

Plan when you want to go using this Michigan Fall Color Map that projects when the color reaches its peak across the different parts of Michigan -

If you choose one of the three routes I mentioned above you will get the joy of stopping in towns like Elk Rapids, Cross Village, Naubinway, Manistique, Munising, Marquette and Big Bay. Places unique to Michigan that you probably wouldn't have set out to stop in as a destination, but you're glad you found them.

Notes from the garden as the season winds down

August is 2/3s gone and school starts in less than two weeks. Where has the summer gone? Normally at this stage of summer we are enjoying a bumper crop of tomatoes. Not this year. Yeah, my favorite summer staple did not do so hot this year. There could be any of or a combination of three different reasons; the soil - too much composted cow manure, the heat - blossoms won't be pollinated when it is too hot, poor seedlings.

I redid the makeup of the soil in our raised beds this spring. I sifted out the larger rocks and added peat and composted cow manure to each bed. Perhaps I overdid it on the composted cow manure. If there is too much nitrogen in the soil tomato plants will not set fruit.

When nighttime temperatures hover around the 70s and daytime temps hit the 90s - tomato plants won't set fruit. The heat makes the pollen sterile. We had a ton of blossoms on our tomato plants when we had the one to two week stretch of daytime temps in or near 90 and nighttime temps in the 70s.

Our favorite greenhouse did not open this year due to the increased costs of propane which they use to heat the greenhouse. So we went with an untested supplier and I was not really happy with any of the plants we purchased in addition to the tomatoes. We were going to grow our own seedlings like the previous year, but time got away from us and we were too late. I won't make that mistake again.

We'll be purchasing our seeds from Park Seed once again. They have a great selection and I've been extremely pleased with the results in previous growing seasons.

Finally, something going up besides the price of gas

With the benefit of a wet April, the Great Lakes water levels have begun to rise. The lake levels are projected to be no worse, perhaps even better than last summer. This is one increase that I am sure all Michigan natives (and tourists to the Great Lakes State) can get excited about. Each day we hear about rising gas prices, unemployment levels, and pretty much the cost of everything else do to the rising energy prices.

With Michigan's agriculture and tourism economy so intertwined with the Great Lakes it's nice to hear that even though they are below their long-term averages that at least they shouldn't be at the record lows of last summer.

Read the entire Detroit Free Press article on rising lake levels

GPS snowmobile maps available from Michigan's DNR

Michigan has over 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails and these maps represent a significant upgrade from previous maps. The maps are in PDF format and are updated as trail additions, reroutes and closures take place. Get the most recent map at www.Michigan.gov/dnr.

Important Michigan Snowmobile links:

• Michigan Snowmobile Regulations
• Who Needs to Take a Snowmobile Safety Course?
• Safety Tips
• Snowmobile Registration
• Snowmobile Trail Permits
• Snowmobile Trails in State Park and Recreation Areas
• Snow Depth Reports

Snow worries, Michigan's snow-related attractions are open for business

Winter-related businesses in Michigan are enjoying the snow and cold we have had as of late. Ski resorts across Michigan have been able to pump out snow to help add to what comes down naturally and snowmobilers across the U.P. have the chance to get their sleds out before Christmas for the first time in a couple of years. This is great news for the many Michigan businesses who depend on cold and snow as a major part of their income. Michigan's economy can use all the help it can get these days so it's nice to see a good start to Michigan's winter tourism industry which has suffered the past few years due to warm temps and a lack of snow.

See these articles for more information -

The Mining Journal - Early Snow Welcomed Traverse City Record-Eagle - No Business like snow business