Manytimes, over the years, we have hadguests comment to us that they are surprised at how few boats there are on Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph.

These are big lakes, and unless you are in a specific traffic lane, like the normal pathway between some islands, or the pathway up the river to Port Carling, or the pathway to the marina, there is not a lot of boat traffic.

The long weekend of the the first of August is the time that there is traditionally most people out on the lakes, but most other times, there is lots of space for boats to run around without any feeling ofthe lakebeing crowded.

This year most people have missed seeing boats, as the cold and rain has kept boaters off the lakes.

We are so fortunate to have these three big lakes which are a perfect size. Not too big to be very dangerous,but big enough to enjoy boating for years and years.We are very thankful for what we have got here in Muskoka.

There are so many volunteerswho give hours and hours of their time to worthwhile organizations across Muskoka.

This is Brian manning the gates at The Antique and Classic Boat Show in Gravenhurst.

By the next week he was helping boats dock at the Muskoka Heritage Foundation Cottage Tour on Lake Muskoka, during which time guests toured four fabulous cottages.

You get as much back as you give, when you volunteer.

It is wonderful how friendly everyone is in Muskoka. These fellows kindly turned their boat around and headed right towards me when they saw I was trying to take a picture.
In return I got their address and emailed them pictures of their boat.
Wouldn’t it great if the world functioned in Muskoka mode?

The Heritage Foundation offers an excellent Cottage Tour in mid July. You are taken in very valuable antique boats to four magnificent Lake Muskoka private cottages, then back to a private golf club at Beaumaris for lunch.
Call the Heritage Foundation for more information about this tour. 705-645-7393

The Heritage foundation also has a new DVD that is an excellent addition to your Muskoka collection. It is called Life on the Edge (The edge being the edge of the Canadina Shield) It is very well done and worth the $20.00 price tag.

Cottage sales for the month of May are down from last year at this time. Is it the rain and cold or the economy?

For a full statistical report on the Muskoka Real Estate Market, email me at thelma@royallepage.ca

MLS provides information about the list to sale ratios of cottages sold. However this figure is calculated from the final price the cottage was listed for, not the first price the cottage was originally listed for.
In my statistics I provide information on the original list to sale price ratio.
This month there is a cottage that sold for only 44% of its original list price. There is another that sold for 50% of its original list price. This gives you an idea of how overpriced many properties were in 2007 and early 2008.
To receive my complimentary monthly statistical report, email me at Thelma@royallepage.ca or call me at 705-645-2110

This is a great time of year to move trilliums around on your property.

I find that I can move them very successfully while they are blooming.

Having them in bloom also helps for placement. This year I moved a group that had been somewhat hidden, out into a more open spot, but one that still makes them appear to be growing naturally in a woodland setting.

I love the combination of a grouping of while trilliums with a grouping of the red trilliums or wake-robins close by.

April was a surprisingly strong month for cottage sales on the three big lakes.
There were 6 sales on Lake Muskoka, 1 sale on Lake Rosseau and 2 sales on Lake Joseph for a total of 9 sales across the three lakes in April.

This brings to total big lake sales from January 1st to April 31st 2009 to be 16 sales, compared to 11 last year and 19 in 2007.