Monday, July 21, 2014

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Gorgeous Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore located in the northwest section of lower Michigan in the Grand Traverse area was recently voted the #1 Most Beautiful Place in America. In my humble opinion, it was and is still #1. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is such a beautiful area with huge sand dunes that seem to rise right into the heavens. Add to those overpowering sand dunes, the crystal blue waters of Lake Michigan and its beautiful beaches, and it is just a phenomenal place to spend a few days.

As I drove the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, I captured one of my favorite images of Sleeping Bear Dunes which features a huge sand dune off in the distance and gorgeous Lake Michigan, as well as the immediate sand dune with its varying flora and fauna. Flowering Baby's Breath bloomed in large patches all over the dunes making for a beautiful scene. Sadly, Baby's Breath actually destabilizes the dunes and invades the native plant species that stabilize the dunes. So an effort is under way to eradicate this flower from the dunes.

If you look closely while driving the Pierce Stocking Drive, you will see small patches of Butterfly Weed growing in the sand. I love the bright orange color and find it even more beautiful with the Baby's Breath.

A favorite stop along the Pierce Stocking Drive is the Lake Michigan Overlook which features a boardwalk that juts out into Lake Michigan. On this particular day, a lone sailboat was sailing across the lake. Everyone around me was busy taking photos of the dunes and walking out on the boardwalk, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to snap a few images of the crystal blue waters and this solitary sailboat. It has such a serenity about it that was irresistible. ENJOY!

4 comments :

  1. The terrain looks very similar to some of our south coastal dunes but the plant life is totally different. Sailing the wide blue yonder ... glorious.

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  2. Yes, super photos and the place to be. Down here in NZ, Baby's Breath or Gypsophila is a commercial flower, often used for wedding bouquets, and to see it there, with others to offset the white, wonderful. Cheers,Jean.

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  3. Gosh - you're right, the baby's breath looks great with the dune lily - too bad it's invasive. Love those blue vistas.

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  4. beautiful views Carol and I stop and wonder at the Dune Lily - it looks quite similar do you think to the plant I'm questioning on my butterfly post - I wonder if they're the same? Carole, at snaphappyonline.blogspot.com

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