Pleasant Peninsula Mural Gallery, 56 Front Ave NW

Back in the summer of 2025, 21 murals were created in this 131 underpass. Each painting represents an endangered or threatened Michigan species. I took the first photos in August of 2025 and I went back today to photograph the information plates. There are some species here that were completely new to me. It's a wonderful educational gallery and beautifies an otherwise non-descript highway underpass. Take a walk through sometime, both to educate yourself and to admire the art.

This is Pitcher's Thistle by Thiago Porraz

Canada Lynx by Bunny Reiss

Piping Plover by David McGuffie

Poweshiek Skipperling by Jasmine Bruce

Northern Long Eared Bat by Keya Tama

Michigan Monkey Flower by Nicole Salgar

Lake Sturgeon by Taylor Berman

Manoomin (wild rice) by Jamie John

Northern Madtom by Rhiannan Sibbald

Boreal Chorus Frog by George F. Baker III

Marbled Salamander by Angie Jerez

Eastern Box Turtle by Quinn Faylor

Eastern Massasauga by Emily Luyk

Pickerel Frog by Muralmatics

Kirtland's Warbler by Max Coleman

Snuffbox Mussel by Mariell

Common Loon by Madeline McKenzie

Gray Wolf by Guita

Karner Blue Butterfly by Bakpak Durden

Spotted Turtle by Thumy Phan

American Bumblebee by Jay

The mural gallery takes its name from Michigan's state motto:  "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." But while you're looking about, watch out for the scooters 😕

 

Feeding America West Michigan Volunteer Party ~ October 30, 2025

We had a blast this afternoon at Feeding America and hung out with our regular Wednesday volunteer crew, and Frank & Josslin 💗

We didn't have to bag potatoes, eggs, apples, cereal, macaroni, spaghetti, make meat packages, count pop-tarts, or chisel the non-pictured frozen celery, haha 😀

Frank, Josslin, and Anthony went all out with their Men in Black costumes😊

Tie-dyeing our shirts was serious business for some, and every staff member had slightly different directions as to where and how to store and wash them. But I can't wait to see how they turn out😉

We didn't have much luck at Bingo but had a lot of fun playing it.

 Thanks for everything, Feeding America West Michigan! The food was great and the party was fantastic! See you next Wednesday when we'll get back to work!

 Post Script: Today (11/5) with our tie-dyed shirts - too much white and not enough color 😉

but we still were happy to help get some food out into our communities 💓