From Winter to Summer

As I am writing this blog (May 22nd) it is a very chilly morning (close to freezing) here in northern Wisconsin. Looking out of the window though it looks like early summer. Not too long ago we still had some ice on the lakes and all trees were bare. 

Earlier I wrote a blog about the Never Ending Winter (https://soulcenteredphotography.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-never-ending-winter-2022.html)

In the second week of May we had unusually warm temperatures, up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (30 C) and Nature just exploded. The woodland wildflowers or spring ephemerals popped up so fast and were done blooming within a blink of an eye. The Trilliums are still in bloom right now but due to the dense tree canopy they won't last long.

I feel like we all got "cheated" out of spring and went straight to summer. But I won't complain as the fresh greens are a welcome sight and the humming birds and Orioles  are back and regular guests at my feeders. I enjoy my walks with my dog Shanti and listen to the song birds and frogs. Shanti found a new passion - going for swims wherever he can, regardless how cold the water temperature is!

The following photos span the time frame from end of April until May 20. 

Click on the photos for a larger view.

Enjoy, Susanne

Chippewa River near Bruce, 4.24.'22

Still some ice at Audie Lake, 4.27.'22

Beautiful patterns on a thin layer of ice

A floating bog  on Audie Lake, 4.27.'22

Morgan Falls, 5.2.'22

Lake Superior ice near Ashland, 5.2.'22

At Houghton Falls, snow along the creek, 5.2.'22

Pink Hepaticas, 5.3.'22

Hepaticas, 5.3.'22

White Hepaticas, 5.3.'22

Sunny day at Audie lake, 5.3.'22

Blue Hepaticas, 5.4.'22

At the Ice Age trail Center near New Auburn,  5.4.'22

At the Ice Age trail Center near New Auburn,  5.4.'22

Blue Hepaticas, 5.4.'22

Bloodroot, 5.7.'22

Bloodroot, 5.7.'22

new spring leaves, 5.11.'22

Daffodil, 5.11.'22

Spring scene at the Chippewa River, 5.12.'22

Spring morning, 5.14.'22

Spring morning, 5.14.'22

Trillium close-up, 5.14.'22

Young Maple leaves, 5.14.'22

Beautiful spring day at the Chippewa river, 5.14.'22

Beautiful spring day at the Chippewa river, 5.14.'22

Fishing boat at the Chippewa river, 5.14.'22

Magical Creek in the Blue Hills, 5.20.'22

Magical Creek in the Blue Hills, 5.20.'22

Magical Creek in the Blue Hills, 5.20.'22

Dutchmen's Breeches (Dicentra), 5.12.'22

Shanti at a Lake

Madeline Island, Wisconsin, early March 2022

 It's been many years since I had been on Madeline Island in the winter time. Driving on the ice road from Bayfield, Wisconsin,  to the island is an experience in itself. Not every winter Lake Superior freezes up enough that you can drive on the ice. 

When I heard that the ice road was accessible I had to go! 

A week ago (March 12. 2022) we made a trip up north - it was a chilly March day and when we arrived on Madeline Island's Big Bay State Park the wind was relentless! But the sights and sounds of the moving ice (and wind) was worth all the effort. 

We walked the trail along the sandstone bluffs which of course were all covered with snow and ice and looked like some ice castles or creatures, with icicles hanging on the sides. I was so glad we went for this outing just in time before the warmer temperatures arrived. It was the perfect ending of a long but beautiful winter in the north country. We still have a lot of snow on the ground but it is melting fast and spring is coming!

Information I found on the web about Big Bay State Park: On the eastern side of Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands archipelago, Big Bay State Park features picturesque sandstone bluffs along 4 miles of Lake Superior shoreline. The park also has a 1-mile boardwalk, sandy swimming beach, hiking trails, large family campground and two group camps. A short ferry ride from Bayfield to Madeline Island is needed to reach the park.

Enjoy the photos and thanks for viewing. Susanne

Click on the photos for a larger view.

Ice road towards Madeline Island; 3 eagles in the sky 

Ice road at sunset heading back to Bayfield, wind blowing snow across the road

Sparkly Winter Wonderland at Lake Superior, part 2

Here is part 2 of the amazing winter trip to the north shore of Lake Superior.

You can find part 1 here: http://soulcenteredphotography.blogspot.com/2022/03/sparkly-winter-wonderland-at-lake.html

We started out at Tettegouche State Park and worked our way up north along Hwy 61, stopping at various places. It was a gorgeous sunny day with blue sky, plenty of snow and ice transforming the world into a sparkly winter wonderland!

At Sugarloaf Cove we found some huge chunks of blue ice half buried in snow.

One of my favorite places, "The Tombolo", a little island near Grand Marais was surrounded by piles of snow and ice. 

At Hollow Rock near Grand Portage  it looked and felt like being in the arctic, with a cold wind blowing.

The following day was cloudy and we stopped again at Tettegouche State park and at Stoney point. With the overcast day the diffused light made the ice appear even more blue! We couldn't resist but had to take more ice photos!!

This was an unforgettable trip and when I close my eyes I can still see and feel the ice crystals and the blue ice. 

Enjoy, Susanne

Click on the photos for a larger view

A small Sea Stack at Tettegouche State park

View towards Palisade Head

A hidden stone arch near Tettegouche State park

A hidden stone arch near Tettegouche State park

A hidden stone arch near Tettegouche State park

I crawled into a small ice cave to get this image

I crawled into a small ice cave to get this image

more ice nuggets 

Reflections - at Sugarloaf Cove

Bill and Shanti - having a great time

huge blue ice block buried in snow

Shanti patiently waiting

a different world at The Tombolo

a different world at The Tombolo

I felt like being at the Arctic - Hollow Rock

at Hollow Rock 

Sunset at the Tombolo

Sunset at the Tombolo

a sea of ice shards surrounding The Tombolo

Blue Hour at the Tombolo

Sunset and blue ice

a moody Lake Superior scene, Tettegouch State park

 a moody Lake Superior scene, Tettegouch State park

a wall of icicles at Tettegouche State Park

a wall of icicles at Tettegouche State Park

a wall of icicles at Tettegouche State Park, Shanti and myself (photo by Bill Hammes)

more blue ice at Stoney Point

blue ice shard

blue ice shard, up close

Bill showing a piece of ice as clear as glass