October in Michigan

October, I love you so! I've often said that the fall season is my Super Bowl. I look forward to it all year, and when it arrives, I am out and about enjoying every minute of it. We started October by taking a trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where the autumn colors were in full bloom. It was glorious! By the time we got home, we expected the fall colors to have followed us. But alas, autumn was late this year. It's been unseasonably warm with lots of sunshine, and until we had a few frosts, the colors refused to come here in the Detroit area. It's only now, the last week of the month, that we're finally seeing the show. Worth the wait, I suppose. 

Since this blog is called Life in Robin's Nest, let's look around to see how the Nest itself is looking in fall. First things first, look at the glory of my Sheffield mums. The three small plants I put into the ground in June have just recently bloomed into this massive mound of mums. I swear, every bee in town is out there having a feast. Sure, there are other autumn things to see here at home, but it's hard to look away from these. 

When the colors peak, with the weather so perfect, my indoor pursuits get set aside. I'm still working on that same Christmas afghan, but haven't otherwise been crafty. I've barely even cooked or baked either! There's time enough for being inside when the weather turns.  

Like I said, we finally took a trip to the Upper Peninsula to see the fall colors. We have been in the UP briefly a few times, but never really took the time to explore it. And we had never seen the northern part where Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore sits. But we finally made this dream trip, and it was worth every moment. What a beautiful place! The fall foliage was stunning, and at times, seemed almost neon. Unfortunately, the windy weather canceled all the boat tours of Pictured Rocks, so we drove to whatever parts were available. I highly recommend this excursion! 

However, our usual thing is to visit the NW corner of the lower peninsula in autumn, so we made it part of our return trip. This whole area is special to me, and filled with lovely little spots to explore. You can't go wrong up there! We also stopped in Grand Rapids to see the Meijer Gardens. This is another must-see spot for me. I've seen a number of public gardens, but personally, I think their landscape architects is one of the all time greats. It is absolutely gorgeous at all times! 

Once we returned home, I made a point to drive around exploring, looking for new-to-me spots where fall colors might be seen. Sometimes, I found such spots right in my own subdivision. Other times, I pulled into parking lots to snap pictures. There's always something to see if you just look. 

I went again to the Henry Ford estate, called Fair Lane. It's my understanding that this home in Dearborn along the Rouge River was his summer home. I wanted to see fall colors along the river, but also found dahlias still in bloom, and a very confused lilac tree full of highly scented blooms. Never thought I'd smell lilacs in October! 

Going to Matthaei Botanical Gardens is a common thing for me. It's easy to pop in there to see how autumn progresses. I stopped there the other day and happened to catch them doing a prescribed burn, which was cool to see but a little frightening. It didn't make for very good photos, so I'll have to return soon. 

My other local favorite is Lower Huron Metropark. The colors there this week are stunning! 

I also enjoy Gallup Park in Ann Arbor, although it's so popular with locals that sometimes it's too busy for me to enjoy. I've decided that weekends are for the crowds, and I can wait for weekdays! 

One of my explorations led me to a small, new park in Northville simply called River Park. It's a great spot for walking, and the colors are top notch. 

And so I have to say goodbye to my favorite month, October. With so many clear days, the more interesting sunsets have been lacking. But I caught a few off the deck. Thanks for enjoying the October fall foliage festival with me! It's the highlight of my year, and I'm glad I could share it with you. Come back again in November, and we'll see what we can see together. Till then!