Like most photographers in northwest Michigan, I’ve been checking out the area’s sunflower fields for good photo opps. One of the best is Maple Bay Natural Area, a parcel on both the east and west sides of US31 North between Traverse City and Elk Rapids.
We’ve been there a couple times in the last week, and the first time was in late afternoon, when all the sunflowers were pointed towards the east and sort of withering in the heat. All except for this one happy sunflower (see above photo) that was beaming happily above the cowering masses. It makes me so happy to look at that I made it our Old Mission Gazette Facebook cover.
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More about Maple Bay Natural Area: Protected by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, owned by Grand Traverse County, and managed by both, the parcel includes trails and beach frontage past Maple Bay Farm (including a farm house, root cellar, sugar shack and pole building).
I haven’t checked out the trail system, but according to the Conservancy’s website, it includes approximately two miles of trail. I’ll check it out next time I’m in the area and report back.
