Photo of the Week: Heat Doesn’t Stop Fall Colors in Michigan

brilliant gold and red maple sapling leaves stand out in the shade and dappled sunlight

While we’re experiencing an unexpected heat wave throughout Michigan for the first week of fall 2017, the trees and shrubs know fall is here.

It was a treat to hike the trails at Phoenix Lake, part of Edward Hines Park; every bend in the trail had another impressive display of color.

Leaves are already changing to golden yellow on the Honey Locust, Shagbark Hickory, and Sassafras trees.

Plants and saplings in the understory and forest floor are also displaying gorgeous red and orange foilage. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Heat Doesn’t Stop Fall Colors in Michigan

Photo of the Week: Point Pelee National Park

the wooden boardwalk seems to disappear into the golden cattails shining from the setting sun.

Though the official start of fall is a few days away, the color changes of the marsh plants, and the warm glow of the setting sun made it feel like fall as I peered over the marsh boardwalk last night at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario, Canada.

The southernmost part of continental Canada, Point Pelee juts out into Lake Erie, attracting birds and butterflies before they make their flight over Lake Erie during spring and fall migration. Continue reading Photo of the Week: Point Pelee National Park

Photo of the Week: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

White day lily glass art stands out against the dark background, in a pond with faint reflection of the lily below.

While I was in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania this weekend for WordCamp Pittsburgh, I took time to visit Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens near Carnegie Mellon University.

Part of Schenley Park, the steel and glass Victorian greenhouse built in 1892 is a historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Continue reading Photo of the Week: Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens