These images all share a common story: they were strikingly unusual enough at first glance to merit a second look.

July 23, 2005:  Evergreen trees arranged in a whorl pattern reminiscent of a tremendous fingerprint.  It doesn't really stack up to the incredible images etched in the Peruvian desert by the Incas, but it's still worthy of at least one raised eyebrow.  This photo was taken northeast of Lansing, Michigan.

August 7 and October 12, 2004:  I drive past Carpenter's Dairy Farm on my way to the South Haven Airport.  Lately, they have been advertising their "Corn Maze" (no, not "Corn Maize"; that would be redundant).  From the air, the "Corn Maze" really takes shape, with depictions of a cow, barn, tree, flag, and the South Haven lighthouse (with accompanying catwalk) cut directly into the still-growing corn.  A recent newspaper article revealed that the image was created by a GPS-controlled tractor.  The last picture shows the corn maze in mid-October, once the corn dried to a light brown color.

November 6, 2004 and 10 July 2005:  Labyrinth, Shelby, MI.  From Google searching, I believe this is on the grounds of Cherry Point Vineyards.

June 1, 2005:  While reviewing photographs from my June 1 flight, this one caused my wife to comment, "you sure do manage to find some weird stuff from the air."  Flying about 15 nautical miles north of Muskegon, I photographed this "pyramid" as it was about to slip under my left wing.  A Google search revealed this to be a hazardous waste sarcophagus; a grim reminder of mid-twentieth century corporate irresponsibility.  This artifact is all that remains of a pesticide plant owned by Hooker Chemical (the fine folks that brought us the Love Canal debacle) in Montague, MI.

June 29 and August 21, 2005:  This year's corn maze from Carpenter's Dairy Farm outside Bangor, MI features a very detailed train.  The caboose is similar to one on display in town, complete with the image of an apple on its side.

September 3, 2005:  A view of Carpenter's 2005 corn maze from the Stearman.

October 16, 2005:  A corn maze in Fennville, MI that celebrates the "Michigan Rivalry" between University of Michigan and Michigan State.  Thanks to Chris & Angie for the tip on this.

September 2, 2006: This year's corn maze at Carpenter's Dairy Farm has less of a terrestrial focus than those of prior years.

August 5, 2007:  In the early days of aviation, the names of cities and towns would often appear painted on the roofs of large buildings or cut into nearby fields to aid pilots in their navigational awareness.  Clearly, someone down there thought we should revive the practice, though it's a shame they did not make an effort to be more specific.  This was taken north of Keuka Lake in upstate NY.

August 20, 2007:  This large example of contour farming is just south of the Lake Placid airport (Lake Placid, NY).  I first noticed it in satellite photos while flight planning and had assumed to it be a landfill.