Finding Meadow Beauty and Autumn Coralroot!

So this very hot August day (92 degrees),  we decided on a road trip to Brown Sanctuary along the Paw Paw River in the northern section of Berrien County.

Sign for Brown Sanctuary

Paw Paw River from Brown Sanctuary

Paw Paw River

After Brown we went south to Grand Mere State Park and Natural Area.

We were driving north just into Van Buren County and stopped by Barvicks Dunes Nature Sanctuary.  But what I thought was the best part of the trip was a stop at Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve, where we found two plants I have been wanting to find.  First was the Autumn Coralroot!

Autumn Coralroot (This is an Orchid!)

And the best find of the day was, drum roll please...

Meadow Beauty

                                                                 What a day to remember!