Empire Bluff 6/2020

by Jules · Published June 12, 2020 · Updated June 12, 2020

On the roadside to the bluffs. . . .

Driving to the trail – wild irises? Never have I seen irises growing wild. When I stopped to takes pictures, so did a gentleman. He asked if I would like a little history on how they came to be. He was an excellent source for history, as he was a retired national park ranger. Apparently, before the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park came into existence, a family had a barn where they housed bulbs for their nursery business. When the park took over, all that remains as evidence are the irises that survived and now grow wild and wonderful on the roadside.

Shades of greens and blues – any wonder why they are two of my favorite colors?

My favorite place to go to lose my mind and find my soul!!!

And the adventure begins . . . .

The trail was an easy one mile walk – with a variety of surfaces to make in interesting.

The floor of the forest has the most beautiful carpeting.

Located in the middle of the forest was a “Thing-a-ma-gig”. Given the steep hillsides, I can’t image riding on this “thing-a-ma-jig” being pulled by a horse.

SECOND PLACE FAVORITE FLOWER! (nothing will beat a daisy)

My second favorite flower in the world has gone to seed. Yes, the dandelion is viewed as a weed by many but it is a beautiful and magical flower. The dandelion is the only flower that represents three celestial bodies the sun, moon and stars (I need say no more why it is a favorite). The yellow flower represents the sun, the white puff ball the moon, and the dispersing seeds the stars. Although, they are viewed as a weed, they should not be exterminated. In fact, up until the 1800s, people would pull the grass to make room for dandelions. They are a food source for early spring pollinators, thus destroying them makes food for bees scarce when they wake up from their winter nap. They have also been used for medicinal properties and are a great source of food for humans; everything from the flower to the leaves and all the way to the roots is edible and surprisingly delicious.

A little known fact, dandelions can help you tell the time of the day and the weather. The yellow flowers opens at sunrise or about 5 am and closes at dusk (known as “Shepard’s Clock’). For the weather, the ball is fully extended when it is fair but when rain is approaching the ball shuts like an umbrella. And dandelions grant wishes.

The story goes, that if you blow all of the seeds off a dandelion in one breath, the person you love would love you back, if some seeds cling to the stalk, then your love interest has reservations about the relationship. However, this has evolved into if you make a wish immediately before blowing the seeds of a dandelion, your wish just might come true. Each time you wish upon a dandelion you are sending anywhere from 54-172 seeds into the air. Each seed is viable for up to 5 years and if is the seed takes root, the plant can live up to 13 years.

And that concludes your history lesson and my support for not destroy the beautiful dandelion.