10/09/08 GREAT LAKES, GREAT CONFERENCE, GREAT TRIP

Wednesday, 7:30 AM, Bayfield. 39 degrees, wind W, calm. The channel is mostly calm, the sky partly cloudy. The barometer predicts more rain, and there is an inch in the rain gauge. The colors across the UP were magnificent, but hard to photograph. They were of course not so advanced in lower Michigan and northern Ohio. One interesting tree, which I could not photograph from the moving car, was the burnt-orange fall color of the sassafras, prevalent in hedge rows in northern Ohio but disappearing about at the southern border of Michigan. The colors in the Bayfield area should be at their peak this weekend, and with any luck will last a couple of weeks, beautiful even as some species loose their leaves and others reach peak color.
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is unique in that it is surrounded by the waters of both Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, and one can view both these inland seas traversing it. And, it is always a thrill to cross the beautiful and amazing Mackinac Bridge, which opened in 1957.
The America in Bloom meeting was a great success with 30 cities from across the United States receiving recognition for their beautification and environmental efforts. The group toured a number of Columbus gardens, including neighborhood vegetable gardens, which are a terrific way to revitalize urban communities. We had a great if short visit with daughter Greta and her retrievers, and a fine visit and Sunday dinner at the home of her friends Lorena and Michael and second grade daughter Gabrielle.
It was a busy, rewarding nine days, but we are happy to be back at home and plunge into the work which awaits us. This is daffodil planting time, and this morning I will transport 2400 bulbs from where they are stored in the Hauser Orchard barn to the Chamber office where folks who have purchased them at a discount will pick them up to plant in their yards (in a few days we will plant 5,000 more bulbs along Hwy. 13 through Bayfield). We also have a donated tree to plant in the new playground park on 7th and Mannypenny Ave. And, our lawns need to be mowed once more before leaves fall as well.
The photos are random shots of the lakes, the view from the great bridge at sunset and some of the activities in Columbus. Photos just do not do justice to the sights we encountered.