Botanizing Middle Bass Island and the Lake Erie Islands Region

The Lonz Winery, July 17, 2006, by AceFrenzy

Hi. Im writing from the ferry dock on middle bass island.
Fun day of botanizing on lake erie.

Update: I'm back in the hotel. I sent that quick update from my cellphone. It took all I had to type that out on my non-querwty keyboard phone. I'm done with my work trip, and now I'm free to spend time with Megan, Weston, and my parents and brother here in the Lake Erie Islands region. Usually I'm up and back to Columbus in the same day- I must say it is nice to watch the sunset, which we have a wonderful view of right out of our hotel window. Botanizing today was fair. No major discoveries, although the island did have a few nice wetlands. Tomorrow, we're off to Firelands winery for a tasting and tour (Megan loves factory tours- ask her about all the ones she's been on through the years). Tomorrow afternoon, we might hit Lakeside and the Marblehead region. I'd like to show Megan the quarries and Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve. Weston is doing fairly well, although he woke up last night at 3, with a full diaper. That's what we get for putting him to bed in the "poop on Michigan" onesie!

Tom

Featured Comment from Mary-

"Doesn't Middle Bass have an old winery on it? I think I have an old photo somewhere. Lake Erie in that area is very interesting."

Yes Mary, it sure does. It's the old Lonz Winery and is now owned by the State of Ohio. Here's an image of the eclectic looking winery, which, according to Wikipedia, hosted five presidents. It is now shuttered, waiting for its next phase of life. I've added a creative commons image of the winery, it still looks the same today.