Autumn Traditions

With such a heavy topic last week, I wanted to lighten things up a bit and talk about fall! 

Fall is truly my favorite time of year, even if it is fleeting. Some years, we hardly register any sort of fall at all, when we transition from late summer warm weather spells that end abruptly with the gales of November! 

Will Halloween be the same this year? I am sure it will not, which will undoubtedly alter how we make our way through the rhythms of Autumn. Maybe this is a year for new traditions. 

How about Thanksgiving, and even Christmas? Hopefully, things improve and these traditions can remain in place. I know they would help us get back to some feelings of warmth, home, and family. 

I am taking this opportunity to set aside a Saturday for something I have wanted to do for several years. I am headed out for a dedicated day of fall photography at one of my favorite places, Wakeley Lake, in the Huron National Forest. Just about ten miles east of Grayling, this huge lake is undeveloped and protected. It is one of the best-kept secrets in the Lower Peninsula!

Trevor and I decided we should open it up to more people and continue our recent photo workshops for an all-day hike and fall color photo tour. Observing COVID guidelines, we set aside just six spots for photographers who want to see a new and unique place and enjoy the most beautiful fall colors offered in Michigan. We have already sold four of these spots, so if you would like to have a full day of photo instruction and one-on-one photography with an experienced guide, we would love to have you with us. 

This week we have a lot of work ahead. After the newsletter last week, and a viral Facebook post about our work in Saginaw, we had a huge outpouring of interest in what we do and how people could help. Stay tuned to our Facebook page to follow along as we complete our fall site cleanups, prepare many acres of land for late-season wildflower plantings, and get ready to prepare our conserved lands for winter. 

With hope for our community and an open heart,

Zachary Branigan
Executive Director