So, in continuing reading books related to the Trojan War I recently read two books by Dan Simmons – Ilium and Olympos. These strange, convoluted, but interesting books were “loosely” about the Trojan War, but also included aliens, modern and post-modern humans. Essentially, there were four or five distinct and quite different stories being toldContinue reading “Books and book reviews”
Author Archives: makielb
Downtown Ann Arbor
We spent Sunday morning, before the thunderstorm in downtown Ann Arbor. We met a friend at Jagged Fork for breakfast, then we walked around town. A favorite mural near the downtown library. When you line it up perfectly he’s holding the lamp post. I think it is quite clever. Nichols Arcade. Always fun visiting toContinue reading “Downtown Ann Arbor”
How does your garden grow?
Our garden in Ann Arbor, Michigan is doing quite well. So far we’ve collected 150-200 garlic scapes, which means that potentially we will have a lot of garlic this year. Herbs are doing well – cilantro has started flowering, parsley is turning into a small bush. Chives, rosemary, dill and thyme are all waiting forContinue reading “How does your garden grow?”
A southern Michigan bog
The other day we visited the bog at the Eddy Discover Center in Washtenaw County, Michigan. It’s a favorite place for us in June. It’s probably a mile walk from where we were parked to the bog. The trail goes through a beech-maple forest and ends at the bog. Near the bog the trail becomesContinue reading “A southern Michigan bog”
The garden – June, 2026
Yesterday we had some rain late in the day, which was really good for the garden, which is doing quite well after being neglected for almost three weeks in May. The bed with zucchini and my figs. All of our bed had flowers as well as vegetables. The bed bordered by mint (which we cookContinue reading “The garden – June, 2026”
Looking for a rare bird
Yesterday we went to Fourmile Lake in Washtenaw County in an effort to see or at least hear the King Rails that are there. The lake was smooth as glass and after about 30-40 minutes we heard the rails. We never saw them, but that was OK. There was plenty of other things to keepContinue reading “Looking for a rare bird”
The first orchid walk of 2026
Since we were in Cedarville, Michigan we were only eight miles from one of our favorite orchid sites in the state. In the afternoon, after visiting Narnai we treked out after Calypso Orchids. We knew that we were in the correct spot when we saw the Lakeside daiseys. Walking into the typically wet cedar woods,Continue reading “The first orchid walk of 2026”
Finding interesting ferns
Susan found a trail that she wanted to walk just east of Cedarville, Mackinac County, Michigan. She said it was the Narnia Trail, but when I found it on an map it was called the Bush Bay Trail, Needless to say we went there and it was spectacular. Susan taking a scenic photo with herContinue reading “Finding interesting ferns”
Stopping to look for a state threatened flower
The other day we made a stop at Point Labarbe to look for dwarf lake iris. Not only did we find it but we also found other interesting things. Bird’s-eye primrose (left) and Indian paint brush (right) But we found the “mother load” of dwarf lake iris. This little beauty is perhaps 2 inches tallContinue reading “Stopping to look for a state threatened flower”
Tahquamenon Falls
The other day we spent the morning at Tahquamenon Falls, both the Lower and Upper Falls. The trails are excellent and the new ramp at the Upper Falls is a nice way for people with walkers or wheelchairs to get a better and closer look at the falls. The entrance to the trails The firstContinue reading “Tahquamenon Falls”
Michael's Place 