Michigan

We drove 9,000 hours to the upper reaches of Michigan this past weekend.

Think Traverse City.

Keep going.

A pretty place, far, far away.

(Three hours is the limit of my staying power in a car. This trip was more than twice that. I would have made for a crappy pioneer, that's all there is to it.)

The trees have yet to come into their full glory up there, but the water is fantastically blue.

Lake Michigan is that azure and turquoise band at the center of this shot of Fish Town. The tree is what's left of a Cottonwood.

All over town are baskets of chrysanthemums. This multi-color version is completely new to me. Any insight from my horticultural pals is appreciated. (And while we're at it, thank you for creating/potting a fall mum that is not purple or yellow. Can there be a worse color combination?)

 

Spectacular, no?

This house had a fabulous garden of zinnias.

Clearly, Michigan got all of Illinois's rainfall this year.

I am suffering pure, unadulterated garden envy. (Also punctuation indecision. Is it Illinois's or Illinois'?)

We visited Kilcherman's Christmas Cove Farm, which specializes in growing heirloom apples. Care to bite into the same variety of apple as Thomas Jefferson? Maybe something that was blooming in the 16th century? One harvested by the Etruscans?

Orchard archivist may be my new favorite profession.

(As you can see, the owner also has a small interest in collecting soda pop bottles.)

This morning, I will deviate from applesauce-making tradition (Jonathans) for a combination of Paula Red and Duchess apples. I'll report back.

Meanwhile, our thanks to Sally, Steve, Bill, Quinn and Josie for the lovely getaway.