A day trip north

2011 05 21  Mike and I went north stopping at Gale's Pond County Park NE of Shelby Michigan.  That's Oceana County.  Gales Pond County Park is located on Filmore Road in Elbridge Township and is just under 19 acres in size. The park has a 2500 foot  boardwalk that extends across the pond and links up with nature trails along the back portion of the park.

We found Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) blooming.

                                       Purple Avens

Wild Lily of the Valley

Gale's pond is a cool place with lots of Cedar trees.

We walked around Doolittle Park right there near Gale's Pond, many American Beech trees have been removed.

On to La Fiesta in Hart for lunch.  Then a quick stop at 6 mile bridge, there is a trail here that I would like to explore, next time. 

At 6 mile bridge

We popped in Garletts Corner Store (M-37 and M-55)  Wexford County.  And just north up M-37, oh about 2 miles on the west side of the road are woods filled with trillium, violets, and various spring wildflowers.  We stopped in there too.

One of those great little places you pull of the road onto a two-track and enjoy.  I think it is part of the Manistee National Forest.  We went to what I call Cool Place, because it doesn't have a name, it is along Warfield road about four miles north of M-55, more Manistee National Forest land.  Here we saw Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia).

The rain started to come down so off we went home.  What a wonderful day.