Warren Woods, Kesling Nature Preserve, Southwest Michigan

 Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)  Geranium family

My sister, Marie, and I started the month of May 2014 with a visit to southwest Michigan.  Warren Woods State Park, we were here in 2009 (before the blog began).

 We saw many old friends!  Wild Geramium, Large-flowered Trillium, Large-Flowered Bellwort, hepatica, violets, Spring Beauty, Marsh Marigold, buttercup, ferns, Prairie Trillium, Dwarf Ginseng, Squirrel Corn, Dutchman's Breeches, Wild Ginger.  I look forward to finding these spring wildflowers each year. 

Warren Woods State Park - Michigan

Legally dedicated natural area, Nation Natural Landmark

Size: 312 acres  Located in southwestern Berrien County, Michigan - 3 miles north of Three Oaks

"Warren Woods is a virgin beech-maple forest, the last of its type known in Michigan. There are outstanding individual trees of several species, including many greater than five feet in diameter and more than 125 feet in height. Spectacular displays of wildflowers are best viewed in April and early May." 

Large-Flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)  Lily family Most interesting part of the plant is how the leaf and stem come together. The base of each leaf is perfoliate – it completely surrounds the stem.

 

 

 Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius) Ginseng family

 Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum) Lily family

 

 

 



The footbridge at Warren Woods, over the Galien River.  A beautiful place to take a walk in the woods.
Then to Kesling Nature Preserve, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, along the south branch of the Galien River.
http://www.swmlc.org/content/kesling-nature-preserve

          Another interesting place to visit! 

 

Looking down into the ~40 foot ravine at Kesling Nature Preserve.

            Spring Beauty

 

          Marsh Marigold

We were just a mile from Indiana, so we drove across the Michigan - Indiana state line.  Then north to the town of Three Oaks, Michigan.
Harbor Country, website http://www.harborcountry.org/  We have used this site before to research parks and places in SW Michigan.  We actually came across the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce 15311 Three Oaks Road Three Oaks, MI 49128. 

We had another day with perfect weather.  Fun!