To the Bluffs.................

Thursday we decided to try the Bluffs. Empire is a small village in Leelanau county. It sits amidst the Sleeping Bear National Park. The whole of Leelanau county is wonderful, in fact the whole of Western Michigan is wonderful. A huge playground for us. Well anyway Empire Bluffs is a beautiful spot and somewhere I have meant to go for a long time. Laura had not been there so it was a beautiful day for it. Warm but not humid.

The walk to the bluffs is through lovely woodlands

No mosquito's yet. Then look at the view Nanny

A break in the trees did show us a lovely vista.

The parks have put up boardwalks now and it is a lot safer than it used to be.



There is an abundance of wildflowers growing on the slopes of the Bluffs. I was thrilled to see such variety



Too many to show........after we had our fill (oh how I would love to sit up there alone)we went back down and had a picnic. Tristen says it's not a picnic if you dont sit on a blanket so we parked them on a blanket

What to do next? Well we drove through the back roads to the old farmsteads we enjoyed last year. We just wanted to go run in the meadows there. It was so beautiful




There were many wildflowers again there in the meadows, poppies in bloom, brilliant in the sun.



Beautiful butterfly hovered around the flowers. A bush of Mock Orange smelled exotic. The butterfly loved it. So did we. I have not smelled Mock Orange since I left England.




When we were done frolicking (hehe) in the meadows we walked back to the car and drove along the quiet roads and saw this baby hiding just a little way away.

We got back on track and to the main roads again, stopped for ice cream before taking the drive up the dunes.

The kids had so much energy left. Where does it all come from?


The rasberries will be out soon

The kids rolled down the hills screaming and yelling. I don't know why ours have to be the loudest, they are always just so full of it.

The Monarch was unimpressed and was looking for Butterfly weed.

and even after all that the kids still wanted to climb the dune climb.........

In fact several times. Laura and I sat in the car.
Then headed homewards, we did stop at the lovely Wildflowers store. I have to stop there when I pass. They have unusual garden ornaments and wonderful flowers.
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