Fall Colors

NORTHVILLIANS,

Continuing our FALL SERIES, our “Tree City USA”-designated town is now at its peak in the annual “fall parade of colors.”  Local trees are changing into radiant red, orange, yellow and other brilliant hues, especially in our Hines Drive Bennett Arboretum (Michigan’s oldest) with its hundreds of multi-species trees, all changing to various facets of the color palette.  Building on Northville’s history of being the epicenter for Cider Mills and apple orchards (as we did last week), we’ll transition to finding all those brilliant colors around town.

Colors in the Ville:

Fall is here with the trees changing to spectacular colors, sporting events dodging the falling leaves, and the aroma of bonfires along with the sweet smell of cider in the air. So, I would like to talk about where to enjoy the fall colors around Northville. We have had “Autumnfest” sponsored by the Northville Merchants’ Association in the past, but now every day can be a festival of life in this autumn season. For some fun, try out these things:

• Stop by one of Michigan’s oldest cider mills (right on the River) known as Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill located on Baseline Road. Watch them make that sweet-smelling nectar using local apples while enjoying the colors of the trees around them.
   
• Afterwards, drive, walk or bike down to our historic Mill Race Village next to Ford Field to take in the local colors and admire the brilliant fall reflections off the Mill Pond & the river.
   
• Walk down Dunlap Street with its historic Victorian homes & trees dating back to the mid-1800’s and experience history, color and beauty.
   
• Stroll around town through our various traditional burgs, including the Historic District, Cabbagetown, Bealtown and Orchard Heights.  View some of the State & National champion trees in these areas as they display their fall colors.
   
• Another enjoyable drive is up West Main Street past Clement which transitions to a dirt road.  It’s almost like being up North on the “Tunnel of Trees”…take a look!
   
• Traverse through Wayne County’s Cass Benton Park on Hines Drive along the Rouge River that runs between Northville and Dearborn. Remember, it’s not the destination that’s important in life but the journey itself…enjoy the colors on the trip. In years past, the County has had designated non-motorized viewing days on the parkway to help you enjoy the colors of life.
   
• Another great area to take in is Maybury State Park off Beck or 8 Mile. The Park includes close to 1000 acres of gently rolling terrain, open meadows and mature forests, giving spectacular fall bursts of colors around its ponds, hardwood forests and open areas.
   
• Fish Hatchery Park is yet another area to take a walk around the river, its pond area or winding paths. (7 Mile & Orchard)
   
• Some of the oldest and most colorful trees in the area are the canopy of Rural Hill Cemetery…it is truly colorful and peaceful this time of year. (7 Mile/Rogers)
   
• Did you notice that this year there is a bumper crop of acorns, black walnuts and pine cones? It’s caused by a phenomenon called “Seed mast.” The weather during spring and this fall was perfect for this situation, so be careful as you walk under walnut or oak trees.
  
  We will have our final issue next week of our Fall Series, leading up to our classic HALLOWEEN IN THE VILLE.   As you are aware, breathtaking fall colors can be found by going north to several “Pure Michigan” areas – the Tunnel of Trees in Harbor Springs, throughout our Upper Peninsula and up in Leelanau by Traverse City.  But quite honestly, to see some of the same fantastic bursts of colors, we don’t have to go much farther than our own back yards.
  
  So, take advantage of our local attributes and walk around those areas we just talked about…experience Fall to the fullest in our “Hamlet in the Hills” we call home (also known to many as the “Switzerland of Wayne County”).
   
  Keep that Northville Fall Faith!

Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849

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