Pink Flowered Tree in Hancock

While strolling through Hancock on Saturday, we came across a beautiful ornamental tree in the Veteran’s Memorial Park (next to Citizen’s Bank – formerly D&N). The flowers were so vibrant.

I tried searching the internet to find out what kind of tree this is, but I came up empty. None of the pictures I saw quite matched the flowers. Anyone happen to know the name of this tree?

The Ranger III, the Portage Canal Lift Bridge and a Special Model

Yesterday we were walking through downtown Hancock when we heard a loud series of honks. We stopped in our tracks and I yelled, “Boat!” My son and I started running to get to a spot where we could view the bridge. We even had to cross four lanes of US41 during a busy Saturday afternoon, but we made it – we were able to catch the Ranger III going under the lift bridge.

It’s always amazing to watch the bridge perform its magic. It also left a lasting impression on my son. After the Ranger III passed through and we headed back to downtown Hancock, he told me that he was going to create a lift bridge and a boat with his blocks when we got home.

We didn’t discuss it any more during the rest of our outing and when we got home he went straight to his blocks. Here’s his “model” of the Portage Canal Lift Bridge:

We took a pic of it in the down position and in the up position. The boat going underneath the bridge is his freighter. He was so proud of his creation that he made sure that I sent the pics to his grandparents to see ASAP :)

The Portage Canal Lift Bridge – A Different Angle

I think it’s probably safe to say that the good ‘ole lift bridge connecting Houghton to the Northern Keweenaw is one of the most photographed landmarks in the area. Doing a search on Flickr yields many beautiful pics of the bridge (check out this panoramic – wow!).

My husband found a different angle to snap a shot. When you drive across the bridge, it doesn’t seem very long. But his pic makes it seem so long.

I just remembered – I have some older pics of freighters and the lift bridge. I’ll have to find them and post them. It still amazes me that they can navigate under the bridge.

A Path to Beauty

Whenever I describe the Keweenaw to people, I always end up saying the same thing, “It’s beautiful.” The area has so much beauty – it’s almost as if every path you take leads you to it.

This path here is from Esrey Park on M-26 on the way to Copper Harbor. You walk up the steps are are welcomed by a higher-up view of Lake Superior. If you are lucky, you may even catch some freighters on the horizon.

When I think about all of our travels in the Keweenaw, even a walk down the street yields a beautiful natural or historical element. I think that is what makes this area so special. There is no lack of beauty.

A Trio of Yellow Spring Flowers

The spring flowers blossomed at the end of May and unfortunately, they are basically done now. I managed to snap a few shots of some pretty yellow flowers before they disappeared.

A flower’s appeal is in its contradictions – so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.

- Adabella Radici