All about trees and plants: Happy Boots

April 25 2011 We got an early start with Marie arriving at 7 a.m., we were on the road at 7:10. Driving all the way to Warner Sanctuary in Barry County Michigan. Gas/gallon $4.14. The first and last time we visit this sanctuary was in January of this year.

It was 50 degrees and 8:52 when we parked at the Warner parking area off Erway. It was also raining lightly. We didn't see much blooming here, Spring hadn't sprung here just yet. We walked for three hours, all the way to Hart Road then turned around and walked back. Marie did find her binoculars case that she had accidentally left here last time.

Here is Warner Sanctuary.

Glass Pond

Trail at Warner Sanctuary

Nice Group of Skunk Cabbage, easy to see no circles needed.

Foot Bridge over Glass Creek

You want to wear boots at Warner
Located in an area of glacial moraines, this sanctuary contains rounded ridges, seasonally flooded ponds, a stream, and lake. Most of the 108 acres is wooded and contains old-growth beech, oak and tulip trees. Large evergreens provide additional woodland habitat. The sanctuary is botanically quite diverse and includes a number of threatened and endangered plants. The sanctuary is adjacent to the Barry State Game Area Global Important Bird Area and is home to Cerulean Warblers. This is from http://www.michiganaudubon.org/conservation/sanctuaries/index.html/title/ronald-h-warner-sanctuary.

Old bridge over Glass Creek

Glass Creek

After Warner we went west into Allegan County to our favorite intersection, M-40,M-89. Ahh nice wet woods.

Happy boots

We could see the Marsh Marigold before we got out of the car! Wow.

Marsh Marigold

Spring Beauty

Hispid Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) If I identified this one wrong let me know.

False Rue Anemone

So this was great, wildflowers blooming finally. We saw trillium here but it had only a bud. One more stop before home, 133rd Avenue still in Allegan County. Here we found many spring wildflowers blooming.