Seems as though H Donn de Yampert has been making the rounds of the campgrounds around the Keweenaw. He was recently camping at Fort Wilkins State Park and met some folks who posed with Donn for a couple photos from his drone camera. If you look real close, you can see them standing in the parking lot drone shot at the campground boat launch area and then of course that’s them waving as the drone hovers just above them and Donn. Fun shots! The last photo was the sunrise from the lookout part-way up the road to Brockway Mountain. What a perfect spot for a morning photo overlooking Copper Harbor and Lake Fanny Hooe. Great capture, Donn!

Today’s video is for all you gardeners out there, on a plant that thrives in the Upper Peninsula. It highlights the benefits of growing Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot). Not only is it beautiful, but it actually has medicinal uses, its leaves and flowers can be used to make a tea good for treating colds. It attracts pollinators to your garden and is said to improve the health and flavor of tomatoes when planted as a companion crop. Who knew it had so many uses, besides pretty flowers!

Great Copper Harbor shots. I’ve wondered about that pink flowery plant you see everywhere in the U.P. More correctly, the video should be labeled “wild bergamot”, because the bergamot in Earl Grey tea comes from the rind of the bergamot orange, of which 90% of the world’s supply comes from southern Italy. Although, I’ve met quite a few Italians in the U.P. over the years.

Hi
Charlie, thanks for the clarification about the
bergemot in Earl Grey tea. I likd to drink that
and I was starting to wonder if I would get health
benefits like noted for bee balm.

A very long time ago my family and another family
camped at at Fort Wilkins State Park. It must have
been near the 4th of July, because I remember
watching the fireworks in Copper Harbor...and
someone else was shooting off their fireworks
across the harbor at the same time.

Such a pleasant set!
There’s just no beating
Spring, unless you’re
selling snowmobiles.
And speaking of tea
I’m about to enjoy a
cup of Twinings
English Breakfast tea.
A strong, robust tea
fit for a Scott.
Och aye!

Hi
Alex, I start my day with a mug of strong plain
black tea---strong enough to stand on ;>). My cousin
Jeannie said it was the Irish in us but I'm part
Scot too.

Beautiful pictures. And I love bee
balm. Such a pretty plant. Am maybe
going to put some with our tomato
plants. I'm not a tea drinker (except
for Lipton Peach Tea), but what an
interesting video.

Awesome pics, the sunrise one is my fav.

I love Bee Balm...and it comes in several colors
too...and the smell...Yumola.

Donna, the sunrise one is my favorite
too.

We have native Bee Balm growing every where in our
pastures and fields, It is light purple in color
and grows to be 2 ft. tall. A great flower to
capture bees and butterfly pictures with.