Great Lakes and Land

Mother’s Day is on May 10^th – If you are planning to buy, and give, a live plant as a gift for a special Mother in your life, you might want to try this one. I found a plan for filling a large container with flowers designed to attract butterflies in an issue of Better Homes and Gardens. It will thrive most of the summer on a deck or patio with minimal care. Check out your local garden centers in the next few weeks and buy 3 “Chrystal White” zinnia angustofolia, 2 Heliotrope (Heliotropium “Marine”), and 1 Coleus (Solenostemum “Brilliancy”). If these plants aren’t available you can usually asked a knowledgeable salesperson for a butterfly attracting substitute. Or, find a container of Buttery Fly Seed mix, read the names of some of the flowers listed there, and look for those plants in the garden center. Plant them in potting soil designed for containers and enjoy! Here’s a photo of the results! Happy Mother’s Day! Linda 04-24-09

I was excited to see my first daffodils in bloom last night. Of course they weren’t in my woodland gardens at Fence Lake… they were in a friend’s garden, which is in a warmer spot here in the Upper Peninsula. Mine are poking out of the ground about 3 to 4 inches. They’re just starting to set some buds. I have been planting about 50 to 100 more daffodil bulbs around the bases of my trees each Fall. The squirrels, chipmunks, and deer leave them alone. Other deer-resistant plants that have worked well for me (here in our Zone 3 – Zone 4) are Amsonia, Bugbane, Butterfly weed, Columbine, Coreopsis, Evening primrose, Globe thistle, Lungwort, Penstemon, Purple coneflower, Russian sage, Thyme and Wild ginger. A quick note: If you need to divide any perennials this Spring, you’ll need to do that soon, before they get more than 4-5 inches high. They’ll suffer less transplant shock if they are still small. Linda 04-18-09

EARTH DAY - APRIL 22^nd, 2009 - In 1969 because of a new awareness of eco-activism, a new celebration started to take place – Earth Day. In some places Earth Day is celebrated on the March equinox. In many parts of the northern hemisphere it is celebrated on April 22^nd. I hope on that day you will think about, and appreciate, the beautiful land in Michigan we have! Linda 04-17-09

TOP OUTDOORSMAN TOWNS NAMED BY OUTDOOR LIFE MAGAZINE

Last year about this time, Outdoor Life magazine ranked the top towns for hunters and anglers to live in its April 2008 issue. They used extensive data to score 200 towns on available sporting opportunities and quality of life. The 7^th best place to live noted in the Outdoor Life’s “Best Places To Live” category, was our very own town of Marquette, Michigan! As I was born there, that makes me very proud. I wonder if we’ll make the list in 2009? Linda 04-16-09