Jeptha Lake Fen, Paw Paw Prairie Fen

June 2013 Jeptha Lake Fen east of Breedsville in Van Buren County, Michigan

 Jeptha Lake Fen
In June my sister, Marie, took me on an extra adventure for my birthday.  One of the places we visited was Jeptha Lake Fen in Columbia Township, Van Buren County, Michigan. (49 acres).

On a side note:
My sister, Sugar, sent me a birthday card.  The same birthday card she sent 35 years ago.  When she sent it 35 years ago, she forgot to sign it and on the envelope she wrote "To My Sister".  Well, of course, the next year I sent it to her for her birthday since it had no name on it.  That's how it started and has gone on for 35 years now.

Now back to the adventure at Jeptha Lake Fen...
"Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy acquired this preserve in an effort to protect the high quality wetlands found along the shores of Upper and Lower Jeptha Lakes.  The high alkalinity and low nutrients of the spring fed fens support showy and unusual wildflowers such as pitcher plants and marsh blazing stars.  A boardwalk allows visitors close-up views of this wetland system preventing wet feet while protecting the fragile soils of the fen. In addition to fens, this preserve has a narrow strip of rich wet forest and large old fields with seasonal pools that are home to a variety of wildlife, including some unusual grassland birds such as bobolinks and savanna sparrows.  In all, 148 species of wildflowers, 97 species of birds, 26 species of butterflies, eight species of frogs, and all sorts of other wildlife and plants have been found at Jeptha Lake Fen."

Here is what we saw...

                          

Jeptha Lake

We also made a visit to Paw Paw Prairie Fen Preserve east of Lawton, Van Buren  County, Michigan.

Also we stopped in the middle of a four county convergence! 



Portal View looking east - driving on
County Line Road -Z Avenue.



Wow!  There it is - four counties coming together at one point.
The four counties- clockwise starting at the left -
St Joseph, Cass, Van Buren, Kalamazoo. 
Marie was especially excited about this.
A fun day.