Benzonia and Betsie Valley

The bulk of the day was spent at the Benzonia Holiday Gift Market. They had a lot of vendors stuffed into a smallish room, but it did boost the impression of a busy event. And I did pretty well, so I have no real complaints.

This quilt is being raffled in December. I think by the Grow Benzie group. Yes, it's gorgeous, but it's 100% machine made and so perfect I wonder if it was a kit, so I have mixed feelings.

After the event was over, I went to hike a bit of the multi-use Betsie Valley Trail. Finding one of the parking areas turned out to be a challenge. My map wasn't detailed enough. Google couldn't seem to tell me. The local gas station folks... well, the guy couldn't even read a map. The lady directed me to a parking area that wasn't the closest one (there should have been one in town), but anyway. I did find the trail and a parking area.

It's a wide graveled trail. My goal was really just to get in some fast walking exercise, so that was fine.

I chose to hike back toward town. I knew this section crossed a developed area where the trail has an easement, so there were quite a few houses. But it is also the section that goes along Crystal Lake, which was what I wanted to be able to see.

Found a few things of interest. I always love the tamarack (larch). They turn bright yellow in the fall and lose their needles every winter.

Do you recognize this one? It's a closeup shot of the seed pods for wild clematis (aka old man's beard, aka virgin's bower).

Since it took extra time to find a trailhead, I wasn't sure how long the light would last. I walked 30 minutes along the lake, then turned around. That gave me 3.6 miles when I got back to the car. There was still plenty of light, I went the other direction to M-115 and back which got me to 4 miles. In 1 hr 15 minutes. Nice brisk pace to match the nice brisk air.

There is a Nature Area named Railroad Point right there as well. That trail is less than a mile long, but it's supposed to have a good view of the lake. Maybe another time.

Got home a bit after dark, ate dinner. Not sure how much else I'll accomplish today.

Miles hiked in 2025: 437

Betsie Valley Trail, M-115 to Country Farm Road and back (parking at Molineax Rd). 4 miles

See Lake County Museum Quilts

Five Miles with Cathy

 

I was hoping Cathy might be free to do a fast road walk this afternoon, and she was! This was great, because it makes the pavement miles seem to go much faster. You aren't thinking about your feet when you are visiting.



And I got to see some miles I don't walk as often because we went out from her house instead of mine.

I've showed you wild clematis seeds (Old Man's Beard) before, but not for a long time, so I guess you won't be tired of it.



Next mile had a couple of handsome horses.



The geese were moving and honking overhead. Not sure if these are some late migrators or just a local bunch that stays.



We didn't start walking till 4 pm, so it was getting on toward dark when we finished. I like the sun on the trees.



Same time as yesterday- 90 min for 5 miles, which is 18 minutes a mile. Not bad. It's a real treat to have these relatively mild days in December. I'm happy to get limbered up. Too much sitting this month.

In other news: I wrote in the morning and did more formatting in the afternoon. Went to the grocery store after we walked. Hopefully that is that last shopping before Christmas. You may remember that we pretty much celebrated at Thanksgiving when Steve was home. However, we got stuff for a nice meal on Wednesday, and have some activities tomorrow night. All will be calm, and that is FINE with me.

See Singin' Between the Rains

Paying Attention

 
Sometimes the most important thing to learn about little adventures like yesterday is to just pay attention. For example, if you had asked me where was an easy place to find some tamarack trees (larch), I would have said you'd have to drive about 30 miles away.

Not so. There are several just north of Ludington. I've driven past them at least 1000 times since we've lived here and never noticed. But yesterday, I was actually looking at the trees and hills and plants near the river.

I always love how the tamarack turns golden in the fall. It's one of the few conifers that loses its needles.



Across the way was this rich, rusty hill covered with trees. Probably oak.



At another road crossing, I found old man's beard, wild clematis gone to seed. Maybe I'll remember to go get some pictures of the flowers next summer.



What I paid attention to at home was making a pot of stew. Yum. Great for a cold rainy day.



I've neglected to cover the other news for the past few days. Got a few chapters written. Voted.

	See More About the Tamarack
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Dow Gardens - Color

 
There are so many beautiful individual plants I could show you! Dow Gardens is like a big flower show... the good stuff just keeps coming.

But I can't move away from it just yet. Today I'll show you some of my favorite pictures that exemplify COLOR. It's no surprise that several of them are coleus (now broken into two genera, so I didn't capitalize it). We probably all know coleus... it's that great planter specimen that features beautifully variegated leaves. They are a relative of mint, but without the minty smell. They are great for showy gardens because if you pinch off the blossoms, the gorgeous leaves just keep their beauty all season long.

Here are two varieties side by side in a planter. Everything from bright and splotchy to dark and geometric



How about the 'stripe-me-pink' oyster plant? This is a variety of my Moses-in-a-boat with colored leaves. Technically Rhoeo discolor or Tradescantia discolor (names are changing faster than one can keep up).



Back to coleus for an interesting salmon color variety.



I debated whether to show you this one under "color" or hold it for "design," but you get it today. This is some variety of Clematis.



Finally, we're back to another display of coleus. This one is in the colors I was trying to pair in my own flower garden, maroon and yellow. So I particularly like this.



In other news: My writing workshop ended today. Great stuff! I'll be doing a post about it on the other blog.

	See Philadelphia Flower Show 2011 Coleus See Oyster Plant
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Swamp Leatherflower

 
Another new plant from Alabama. And this isn't even the last of them.

This is a southern wetland plant. It's actually a wild clematis, Clematis crispa. It has a ton of common names: marsh clematis, swamp leatherflower, blue jasmine, blue curls. That flower is almost 2 inches across. Nice and showy!



This is actually a native plant, so I can say I'm happy to see it. Pretty common in the SE, from southern Illinois on down to the Gulf.

The bud is as pretty as the blossom.



It's actually poisonous. I'm not sure to what extent. It can even cause a rash in some people from touching it. Apparently, I can get away with handling this one, since I did with no ill effects.

As usual, common names can get one in trouble. I've linked to posts about completely unrelated leatherleaf and leatherwood.

In other news: Did laundry, worked on the Long Distance Hiker files, transferred the rest of the notes about Dead Mule Swamp Mistletoe that I had made in the car to my writing files. The weather was delightful, and I am not sad about that!

	See Leatherleaf See Leatherwood
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