Catching up on Bass River Rec. Area

2010 08 02 - We visited the east end of Bass River Rec. Area, (in Ottawa County, owned by Michigan Department of Natural Resources) it was hot, muggy, and buggy!  We visit one of our favorite hidden wet areas, and got to slosh around in our boots a bit.  Later we were wilting so we got in the van with the AC going full blast and did more wildflowering along the road.    

                                                   Looking east toward Bass River

                          Smartweed , Polygonum (Pink or Maybe Swamp)



 

Chicory

Fringed Loosestrife

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)

                                                Red Dragonfly (not his real name)

Whorled Milkweed

                                                             Swamp Milkweed

     Cardinal Flower

These are just some of the plants and wildflowers we saw, yes there were more!

Bass River Recreation Area

Monday is our regular adventure day, mostly, although we sometimes add a Thursday in there. July 12 we checked out Bass River Rec Area owned by the State of Michigan.

This area is over one thousand acres of land and water, some say 1665 acres, I didn't actually measure it. We have been here many times before and have stumbled across orchids, gentians, and many other cool wildflowers.

We both have knee high boots so we can get into those mucky places better, that's where I always think the rare orchids will be. Since this was a gravel pit we don't go far into the water because it quickly gets very deep.

With so many acres it is easy to get turned around here, but with big Bass Lake, the Grand River, and well traveled two tracks you don't get lost. We did walk over 3 1/2 miles trying to find the hidden place where we first found Ladies' Tresses, even though we knew it was too early for them to be blooming.
Again it was a great day, even with the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes. We also made a quick stop at Connor Bayou which is an Ottawa County Park.

Whorled Milkweed











Field of Everlasting Pea! (I call these Everlasting Gobstoppers)

Scouring Rush (Horsetail or Take-Aparts)

American Germander

 




Clymene Moth




Chicory




Hidden pond at Bass River Rec Area