When your Nordic blood no longer can sweat the sauna of Summer in PA, you migrate north to the refreshment of the Boreal forest in MI! Venture along on a virtual tour of the “UP”, otherwise known as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan; one of our nation’s “best kept secrets” for nature lovers- where botany, berries, birds, and breathtaking lakeside banks delight (and where Finns and Swedes found their home away from home).
Let’s begin down this marshy path just inland from Lake Superior to see what botanical beauties greet us.
Fringed sedge (Carex crinata), Northern Blueflag Iris (Iris versicolor), Wild sarsaparilla (Aralia mudicaulis), Red baneberry (Actaea rubra), Bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis), and Canadian bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) dance upon the forest floor.
Bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis)
Canadian bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Red baneberry (Actaea rubra)
Fringed sedge (Carex crinata)
Who is munching on this tree over here?... American Beaver!
The American beaver is one of several wildlife species that are commonly spotted when you stay in the UP. Whether you are exploring the waters by kayak or nestled in the woods for an observational hike, wildlife will surely be encountered. Beaver, toads, blue-spotted salamanders, loons, king fishers, eagles, lynx, moose, black bear, weasel, and Waxwing’s favorite- Cedar Waxwings- abound!
American Beaver in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Cedar Waxwings in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park
Exploring further, let’s go out to the sunny, sandy banks of Lake Superior and take notice of more familiar species, also growing in PA’s Piedmont on the cliffs of the Susquehanna Riverlands. What’s growing in these leaner, acidic, fast draining soils?
Northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera) stabilizes the sandy banks, Pussytoes (Antennaria howellii), and Crinkled hairgrass (Deschampsia flexuosa) fill in at roots of high shade trees that have selected the finest real estate along Lake Superior, with million dollar views.
Pussytoes (Antennaria howellii)
Northern bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
Lake Superior’s million dollar views are definitely not consistent, from day to day, often not predictable within the day! As an adolescent body of water, sometimes she is calm and contemplative with loons peacefully diving for dinner and in matter of minutes, rageful with waves of anger that nobody dares to enter (the sinking of The Edmund Fitzgerald ring a bell?).
A freshwater lake that acts like an ocean, carrying 10% of the planet’s fresh surface water. She holds a great responsibility in her waters, despite her young age. What personality do you sense of Lake Superior today as we venture down to the sandy shores and dip our toes into her refreshing, clear waters?
Back into the forest, for the budding foragers and avid agroforesters amongst us. Come be allured by the layered plant community of delectable berries and other forest grown trail snacks. Teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens), a diversity of serviceberry species (Amelanchier spp.), lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), American hazelnut (Corylus americana), and Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) will only begin to tantalize your tastebuds.
serviceberry species (Amelanchier spp.)
Teaberry (Gaultheria procumbens)
lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)
American hazelnut (Corylus americana)
To culminate the wild side of our UP trip together, grab 2 liters of water in your pack along with these fueling forest snacks for this next long 10-mile loop. Let’s go explore the final “B” of our trip; the breathtaking banks of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Waves, wind, and weathering sculpt these sandstone cliffs. What beauty from such a young artist! Lake Superior is a fairly young glacial melt body of water (even younger than some of our Earth's pyramids!). Do you notice any recognizable botanical beauties that selected the best lakeshore views?
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
As we head back into town to grab a bite to eat and kick up our feet after a full day of hiking with fresh lake air, the ecological gardeners amongst us will appreciate the handiwork of residents and restaurant owners in downtown Marquette, MI. Native plant communities tucked along sidewalks, hellstrips, and historic freighter docking sites.
Marquette, MI
Marquette, MI
Whether you are a botanist, berry picker, birder, or a seeker of breathtaking sculpted lake banks (yes, you can be that ;)), the “UP” is abundant with what your adventurous heart desires. Have you been to the “UP” or itching to fly north for a respite from Summer’s heat? Comment below and/or give this post some shares and love.
Happy continued Summer adventures, ecological gardeners!- Elyse