Lake Superior June 20th 2011

I had the opportunity to go on a day trip to Lake Superior on Monday with Dirk M. and took it without question because I wanted to get some good lake views in the Summer, or at least what I thought would be Summer! I went there expecting that long sleeves and pants would be enough. Even after Dirk ensured me to bring a coat for extra warmth, I ensured him what I was wearing would keep me warm enough, but I found out I was way off!

Lake Superior Fogbank

The drive approaching Lake Superior was fine and in the 70s, but as we approached the lake, literally with in 5 miles we ran into a fogbank, with drastically lowering temperatures. When we got out to the lake shore, I quickly found out I was not going to stay warm enough, Luckily Dirk did have an extra jacket to wear. The weather on the point was very cool, to almost cold, with strong east winds right off the lake, There was a fog bank when we first arrived, but it actually lifted off and moved south of us down the shoreline not long after, then the sun came out an warmed to a very chilly high of 52.F

Young ash leaves June 20th 2011

What I really noticed that amazed me as a gardener, is how the lake really influenced with the growing season in there area. Winds most of the spring have been predominately off the lake, and because of that it has been cool, and with the cool temps, the growing season has really been slowed. People around our area may easily take our on and off 1-2 cool days of highs in the 60s with pride when they learn that Duluth/Superior has had more 40s and 50s for highs then 60s, and they have only had a couple of says so far in the 70s, but nothing higher then that!Lilacs in Superior,WI June 20th

I also noticed that plants and trees that have long been done blooming around my area, had just reached full bloom in Superior, and trees are still in the process of getting there full sized leaves, it honestly really looked more like Mid Spring then Summer!

Close up of a white lilac on Wisconsin Point.

I especially noticed the seasonal difference between my area and Superior in Lilacs that were blooming around the lake, Residents in Superior are enjoying lilacs, while in my yard more then 100 miles south, Lilacs have bloomed and finished 4 weeks ago! I even saw Tulips still in bloom in some of the gardens around the city, It was truly an exciting experience to smell Lilacs in Mid June, mostly I have never seen Lilacs blooming at such a late date in June!

My yard June 22 2011

To show the huge variation in the growing season between me and Superior, I took this picture, which shows Lilacs that have long faded along the bottom of the photo, with our fully leafed out ash tree in the backyard behind the house. I would say that Superior is easily 4 weeks behind our growing season compared to ours, a sign that areas around the lake really do have there own weather!