Mary Oliver’s Blue Iris

 

“It doesn't have to be the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention…” 

 

 

FIRST CUTIES ARRIVE

 I spotted a family of geese near a farmland pond.  The goslings were so fuzzy and cute as they followed their parents pecking for food and taking a swim.  What spring newbies will I see next?

 

 

FARMLAND SUNSET

Gracie and I headed out in the evening, hoping to see the first fawns of the season.  She hung out the car window watching.  As we drove through the woods, I could see the sun beginning to set.  I had fun changing my camera settings to get starbursts.  We finally reached a hill where we watched a beautiful sunset.  No fawns, yet.

 

 

 

FIRST HERON

 I’ve been waiting for herons and egrets to arrive from their winter homes.  Finally, I spotted this green heron on a branch near the Anderson Creek wetlands, not far from Kingsley.  I watched it preen, scratch, and stretch until swarms of mosquitoes drove me away. 

 

 

LUSH GREENS RETURN

  Oh, how we’ve missed you!

 

 

BLOSSOM SEASON WINDS DOWN

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRILLIUM FILL THE WOODS

 

 

CHERRY BLOSSOMS POP

 

 

DID YOU KNOW?

  

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the Crystal Highlands corridor, the strip of land between Platte Lake and Crystal Lake. But did you know it’s also the site of a proposed scenic road that would run between U.S. Highway 31 and M-22?  This gateway road, dubbed the Benzie Scenic Road, will eventually take visitors from Beulah into Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.  While part of the Park Service’s original plan, this road has been slow to develop because the land must be acquired from willing sellers rather than by government purchase and condemnation, as with the early park.  Still, the whole idea of another scenic road has piqued my interest, and I’ve been exploring the corridor’s backroads as they currently stand.  The land is mostly dense hardwood, very hilly, with spectacular glimpses of the lakes and distant dunes.  With only 50% of the land currently purchased, I know the Benzie Scenic Road won’t be built in my lifetime, but it’s been fun getting to know the corridor anyway.