All about trees and plants: Harbinger-of-Spring

Senin, 20 April 2015

Fred Russ Forest and Dowagiac Woods in April 2014

April 17, 2014

An adventure to Fred Russ Forest in Cass County was the start for our day. Here is some info on this park, "Nestled along the Volinia Creek, Fred Russ Forest and Newton's Woods County Park, is a nature lovers paradise with its old growth forests, acres of wildflowers and abundant plant life. Located on Marcellus Highway, one-half mile east of Decatur Road near Volinia, Russ Forest offers two picnic shelters with electricity, potable water, equestrian and hiking trails, fishing (designated trout stream), horseshoe pits, and much more. In cooperation with Michigan State Univeristy, Russ Forest is also considered a national landmark with 737 acres of virgin black walnut and white oak. It is also home to one of the largest standing Tulip Popular trees east of the Mississippi River. Beautiful landscapes and peaceful natural settings are the rule rather than the exception at this very popular county park."

We saw a few more wildflowers blooming this week.

Trout Lily

Dutchman's Breeches

Marsh Marigold

Harbinger-of-Spring

Thyme-leaf Speedwell

Spring Beauty

This was an interesting plant that we found, Golden Saxifrage!

I should have put the quarter in this shot - the flower on the Golden Saxifrage is only 1/4 inch in size, petals absent, anthers orange to red-orange.

Face Tree

Tulip Tree

We walked about 2 1/2 hours in the park. It was a perfect day to be in the forest. Then we drove eight miles west to Dowagiac Woods! We were here 6 days ago and we could see the difference in the plant growth. The plants hadn't gone crazy, they might have with a bit of rain.
We saw Marsh Marigold, Spring Beauty, Hepatica, Trout Lily, False Rue Anemone and

Bloodroot, all blooming. We saw more Large-flowered Trillium, and Dwarf Ginseng but both were just in bud.
We did see many beautiful Sharp-Lobed Hepatica blooming, they are my favorite.

A maple tree had fallen down, some branches had flowers on them yet.

And we saw this Eastern Box Turtle.

So that was our day, a very nice day.

Sabtu, 18 April 2015

Dowagiac Woods April 15, 2013

Road Trip to southwest Michigan! Marie and I visited Robinson Woods, near Lakeside, Michigan, about 100 miles south of my home.
"One of the earliest properties in Michigan protected by The Nature Conservancy, the 80-acre Robinson Woods Preserve in Chikaming Township features steep slopes cut by streams that run through virgin and second-growth forest on former agricultural lands and floodplains."

Near the parking area there were trillium, not blooming.

Leaves of the Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera pubescens) Orchid. We should come back here in July- August to see these bloom!

A brand new False Rue Anemone (Enemion biternatum)
Buttercup family.

So even though Robinson Woods is an interesting place, I think we were a bit early for spring wildflowers. I was excited when Marie suggested we go to Dowagiac Woods next, my favorite place for spring wildflowers. We traveled through Three Oaks, then Niles, Michigan. We came across Losensky Park (452 Pucker St, Niles, MI ), we were here a few years ago. Nice little park next to a dam on the Dowagiac River, but the footbridge was closed. Still we saw wildflowers (weeds to some) blooming!

Persian Speedwell (Veronica persica) Figwort Family.

Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Next Dowagiac Woods...

Located in Cass County, Michigan and owned by Michigan Nature Association.

Sharp-Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis acuta or Anemone acutiloba) Buttercup Family. Although Skunk Cabbage blooms earlier in the spring, hepatica is more like what we think a spring wildflower should be, - small, delicate, and pastel colored.

These are all hepatica, we actually saw hundreds of them, different colors, and shapes, from 5 to 12 "petals". The petals are actually sepals.
For me the hepatica was the best part of the day, or month for that matter. They were standing so tall, and were very delicate, and colorful.