Summer is slow to reach our northern latitude, and even when it arrives, can be cold and rainy, but items on the following list compiled from my own personal experiences guarantee (more or less) that summer is here. Don’t lose heart– -northern summers do exist although sometimes they’re hard to recognize.
You know it is summer on the North Shore when:
Construction rears its ugly head. Nothing personal to construction companies and workers, but dodging orange cones and waiting at automated stop lights aren’t activities listed on anyone’s “bucket” list. Fortunately, I’ve only had to deal with the construction area near Lutsen on Highway 61, and that experience went quickly and smoothly. However, I’d suggest if you are going to Duluth soon, don’t wash your car.
You see cars traveling the wrong way on Grand Marais’ only oneway street. I’ve never figured out why this street, which angles off Highway 61 past the hardware and liquor stores, is a one-way. I only know that locals know this and non-locals do not and often miss the sign. When I observe cars going the wrong direction, it’s a true sign that the summer solstice isn’t far behind.
Purple, pink and white lupines fill the meadows and ditches, and give flower lovers a chance to go a bit wacky. Recently, I drove past lovely swaths of luscious purple, blue and pink lupines filling the ditches. Several people were clomping through this patch. Oh no, not lupine snatchers. I panicked and slowed down to better observe this suspect activity.
A few years ago, I wrote a column on the rare, red lupine, followed by several “incidents” in which these uncommon flowers were hi-jacked from driveways. However on this day, a tripod and camera being set up gave me the answer. This wasn’t illicit behavior; these people were lupine lovers capturing the beauty to take home in pictures.
Bug dope and mosquito netting hats fly off local store shelves, especially this wet and rainy year. Put simply, mosquitoes and black flies are always harbingers of summer, but this year’s crop is a doozy. I haven’t seen the likes of such since 40 years ago when I planted a potato patch in the Maple Hill area and nearly was carried away by the rotten little insects.
The Farm and Craft Market is in full swing in the downtown parking lot near the Co-op and Senior Center despite some rainy, stormy Saturdays. Even “Lake Grand Marais” recently formed by a Friday downpour, managed to dissipate from the parking lot so these stalwart people could ply their wares. On the down side, I always feel a twinge of sadness at October’s end when the tents and stands are gone, taking summer with them.
But for now, summer is in full swing, and I plan to fully enjoy its treasures.
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