With the forest floor springing up Ladyslippers and Trilliums, can summer be far away? Leslie Saari and Nancy Nelson treat us to some flora they found when venturing in the woods. The Ladyslipper gives off such a vivid pink, adding brightness to the gray/green ground cover. The Trillium is showy with it's bright petals, reminding us of the snow that has just departed, while it's arrival points to the warmer days we're all looking forward to. Mother nature is easing the Keweenaw into summer at a slow pace this year, so we're thankful for these blossoms to enjoy!

Good Morning,

Wow, first one up this early. I've been catching up on my emails, and thought I'd check in. I hope everyone had a safe holiday weekend. I can't believe it is June already. Looking forward to our time up in Big Bay.
Have a great short work week.
GO PISTONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Morning from West Texas. Gonna be 90 today, but only 59 now. Have a great day.

Humid, 82 and on the way up here in south florida (Satan's armpit) at 6:30 this morning.

Where is the Bridge this morning??

Saw Trilliums in trip to Mass City last week. Thanks for the beautiful picture. Good Morning Norm.

Someone stole the bridge! Now THAT'S fog!!!!

Hi
Where were these? I was in the Straits Area last weekend, and the pink ladyslippers (by the way, they are a paler pink than in the photo) were not out. Nor were the yellow ladyslippers or columbine out in the woods near Mackinaw City where we usually see them around Memorial Day.

Hi Kathy,
I took the photo of the lady slipper in Wexford County (near Cadillac). I was out in the woods yesterday... and I saw numerous ones! Perhaps they aren't out yet further North?

If the sun isn't shining at the airport, they just turn on the florescent lights out on the apron!

Flourescent lights, huh? I thought it was two squadrons of UFOs.

Be sure to see Dan Urbanski's photograph of the Showy Lady Slipper at http://pasty.com/pcam/dannyu/Showy and Zman's focal point at http://pasty.com/pcam/album47/P6300165ttt . Dan also has a Trillium at http://www.quietlywild.com/qwpix/recentpix/Trillium.JPG for a professional photographer's view.
Regards,
Donn

They do look like eerie "skylights" in this photo. LOL. Feels like November outside.

Looks like a Yooper UFO. Actually that's how Toivo really travelled around North America last year.

It is going to be in the 90's again today for us also...is there a date on when spring might hit the U.P.??? Summer???? I am sooooooo excited to come up in July.

In memory of Rosealie Aldridge Rock who passed away because of Pancreatic Cancer on May 6th this year. She would have been age 65 on June 20th. Rosealie lived in Lake Linden when she was young.

Guess who just had a Pasty for breakfast?

Actually that's how Toivo really travelled around North America last year.


Speaking of which... I was supposed to get a shirt!

Great pictures. The Ladyslippers are so
beautiful and a hillside of Trillium is a treat
that reminds Spring is coming.

All Right Alex!!!!

Hi Judi, saw a trillion Trilliums up at the Porkies last week

I like the UFO idea also, and would further like to compliment them on their formation flying ability. I understand it's a prerequisite for all UFO'S from planet Zeno to demonstrate this knack/ability before taking extended trips to places like Earth and CMX.

Good Morning from hot and muggy houston. 95 today.......only 25 more days till I am enjoying the U.P.!!!

How was everyones holiday?

GO PISTONS !!!!

Good morning, it is still morning here in north east Iowa:> Well, I had an exciting last few days, starting with traveling to Duluth last Wed. Met my sis (Ahmeek Cliffdweller) and kids then on Thurs. we attended the decommission service for the Sundew. My the boat was all decked out and shiny. The service was almost 2 hours long, but went smoothly, even the old congressman wasn't too boring. When I lived in the twin cities, I didn't vote for him....
OK, so on the platform was the ol'Cliffdweller herself! Yes, she spoke. Read from some of our Dad's writings about life in the Coast Guard. If anyone needs a good speaker, there is one living in AHmeek, I would highly recommend her...course ya gotta pay! We were amoung the ones that were allowed aboard and went up and down all over the ship. Then partook of some good lunch.
I am so glad that I went. What a great experience.
Then I went on up on Friday to Lake Linden. Visited Mother and had a chance to catch up with some Suomi friends and my neice and classmated from LLHS.....BUT I did miss the coffee shops. No Starbucks here. No Java houses....in Houghton there is and a new seafood resturant and I went to Pilgrim River that was good. But, that was about it. Would someone PLEEEESE buy the Hut!!

Just got back from our cabin in the Ottawa National Forest near the Sturgeon Gorge. The white trillium were carpeting the forest floor along with the yellow marsh merigolds. It's been a pretty cold spring and we had to keep the wood stove going 5 days straight to stay warm. And when is all this rain going to stop? Back to the UP in a couple of weeks.

Leslie Saari and Nancy Nelson:

What truly gorgeous pictures you took of the Pink Lady Slipper and the Trillium! Thanks for such a treat to the eyes, and such a reminder of summer on its welcomed way!

Alex,now you are a true Yooper!!

I love the flowers. Years ago we use to pick them but I imagine now it isn't legal. Would hate for them to dissappear!

Hopefully someone can name the flower I saw this weekend in Crystal Falls, MI in Pewabic State Park. It was dark purple/black color. It was growing in the woods. It was growing from 3 leaves and on a stem. It looked somewhat like a calla lily. The top most part of it bent over the top opening.

Thanks!

Jennifer - What you saw is a Jack in the Pulpit. If you peak under the bent over portion you would see 'Jack'. I forget what part of the flower he is (Stamen?).

Thanks, Brian! And I did peak under the bent over portion...I did see 'Jack'

Thanks!

The flowers on 'Jacks' can range from light greenish (almost the color of the leaves) to the dark one that you saw. In the fall, there's a bunch of bright red berries.

No problem. Great description, by the way. I never thought of them as looking like a Calla Lilly, but they sure do.

The Lady Slipper is actually an orchid. I once heard a speaker at Van Riper State Park who had photographed the orchids that grow wild in Michigan. There were lots of them. Does anyone know that figure? I seem to remember 48 but I could be wrong. One bloom was so small that the image on 35mm film was larger than the flower itself. I was a teen at the time (1960's), and totally impressed with the presentation. I think about those orchids quite often.

Hi Louan - I just learned that lady's slippers are orchids. How fascinating. I did a search online and came up with this website. http://www.orchids.org/ooc/na_orchids/us_orchids_java.shtml It lists all the orchids found in each U.S. state. It looks like there are about 61 wild orchids in Michigan. Enjoy!

I LOVE this website!

Ned Aldridge, I grew up in LL, and although I am only 59 yrs old, I remember your sister, Rosalie. She was my sister's age. I remember her having a red haired pony tail, freckles, a great smile, and a wonderful sense of humor. I am sorry for your loss.

Greetings to the 4 sistahs - glad to hear the decommissioning went well. Paul and I think of and mention your Dad often. He was special. Sister #1, glad to hear the new hip is treating you right!!

Judy in Mi. Sorry the one I am looking for is in Muskegon. Thanks , tho. Lovely flowers. Glad Spring has sprung in the Yupper. Hi back Mary. Love the Website.

To Tot Malgren Peterson. Rosealie was my cousin, a member of the Ray and Sophie Aldridge family. Don Aldridge was her brother. I lived in Laurium, Harry and Patricia were my parents. Never the less, Rosealie's passing is a great loss for our family. Thank you for your thoughts.

Personally, I do not care for white flowers of any kind, give me COLOR. We see too much white 9 months out of the year. My 2cents.

So glad that everyone has enjoyed the photo! I particularly enjoyed photographing that flower; as for some reason there were absolutely NO mosquitoes around and it was warm and balmy and delightful in the woods!

May 'she' bloom next year as well!

Marissa, thanks for your info re: the orchid website. Very informative... I'll have to look even more carefully when I'm out on the next trip about!

Theresa in Colorado...hope you find the right Judy!!! I wish I lived in Muskegon. Rather landlocked here in Chesaning! Have the need to see lighthouses, crashing waves and freighters very soon!!!

When I was growing up in Manistique, I remember seeing all the trilliums in the woods by Indian Lake. Brings back good memories!

Piston won.

Just missed the moon over the Bridge. Caught the edge moving out of the picture. Will try again Wednesday. Portage bridge is beautiful at night!

Bring on the Lakers!
Way to go Pistons.
Goodnight all. It has been a very long, double shift day at work. Just think, I'll be there again before 10:00 a.m. I'll also be getting the high and middle school kids off early.
Now I can focus on the Detroit Tiger game. Watch for my family on TV. We will be in rows one and two right behind first base. Look for the girls in the Richmond High School Varsity jackets. Lets go Tigers.

The flowering crab is blossomed out and the apple trees in the back yard are, too. What a beautimous smell!! The lilacs are just ready to pop open. Trilliums are out, too. Kiitos for the pretty pix, ladies.

We have so many Trilliums around over here and many other wild flowers. Isn't it great we live in the U.P. and get to enjoy these wonderful wild flowers. Sorry to all of you who don't.