Howard Christensen Nature Center and Long Lake Park

April 16 2012 Marie chose our destination for the day - Howard Christensen Nature Center 16160 Red Pine Dr NW, Kent City, MI 49330, this is northeast of Kent City Michigan.

               Trail Map

 Overlook Tower

Looking down from the overlook tower

Fringed polygala (Polygala paucifolia) Milkwort family,  has such vivid color.  Mike and I had seen one of these up north just the day before.  First time this year.

 Trees reflected in the hand lens

We also stopped at Long Lake Park, we wandered a bit then Marie spied some miterwort on the other side of the road.  There was this sign on a pole,

so we poked our noses in and found a wonderful wet woods area.

We even found a hepatica blooming  here in northern Kent County.

Probably the last hepatica we will see blooming this year.  It rained a little then bright sunshine to end the day.