Hudsonville Nature Center and Ottawa County's Bend Area

2011 August 15  Hudsonville Nature Center is always a fun place to visit, it has a rare combination of vegetation and landforms.  The Nature Center features three miles of woodchip trails, picnic areas, boardwalks, overlook decks, and scenic vistas, and more.  
Marie and haven't been here since last November!  Now why didn't we come here in the spring?  Well we were here on this beautiful morning, a comfortable 62 degrees.  
We roamed the Prairies...

We were deep in dark Ravines...

We also visited Bend Area of Ottawa County.

Flowering Spurge

Smartweed

Cicada shell

                A Nice Day!

A bug captures and eats a bird! at Sarett Nature Center

2011 09 06  We chose Sarett Nature Center (http://www.sarett.com/) in Benton Harbor, Michigan because we were seeking the Fringed Gentian which was said to bloom in Sarett's fen.  And we did find the beautiful Fringed Gentian.

I would definitely suggest visiting Sarett, it has a wonderful nature center with live displays, snakes, turtles, a rabbit, and more, The Earth display with so many examples of rocks all neatly identified, a kids area to do fun nature-y things, and a gift shop with a large selection of books. 

There are lots of trails, boardwalks, also the treetop trail and walkway which is a boardwalk that is 55 feet above the swamp forest floor, impressive. Here is what else we saw...

Grasshopper

Grass of Parnassus

We found this plant and sat down to identify it.  I thought the flowers looked like some sort of lettuce but the leaves didn't, hm...  Marie discovered it to be a Smooth White Lettuce, Prenanthes racemosa, also known as  Purple Rattlesnakeroot.

Close up of the Prenanthes racemosa flower.  First we just saw one of these plants then we found many more.

 Along the trail at Sarett Nature Center

This is the fen at Sarett, where the Fringed Gentian was growing.  It is also where I found something that surprised me...those of you reading this who are a bit squeamish might want to skip this section of the post.  It is somewhat gross.    

This is a Chinese Mantis eating a hummingbird!

At Hemlock Crossing Nature Education Center recently they had on display a Chinese Mantis and while we were on our walk there we saw one in the meadow.

This was the first time I saw one of these, they are bigger than your average Praying Mantis.

After the fen we walked all the way to the Paw Paw River along the, yup, river trail, well it would be wouldn't it.  Oh we saw more Liverwort. Funny when you learn about something it seems like you see it more often? 

Liverwort

Shadows of Water Striders striding the water.

Also in the fen we saw the orchid, Nodding Ladies' Tresses!  I have to say it, what a wonderful day!  :)

Happy Trails in Ottawa County, Michigan

So to start off July 2014, my granddaughter Vivienne and I went to a day camp "Happy Trails" at Hemlock Crossing Nature Education Center.  Vivienne is 4 years old so everything is interesting to her, she soaks up information and experiences like a sponge does water.  It was a special treat for just the two of us to spend some time together.

The Ottawa County staff were great fun and worked well with the group of 3 and 4 year old kids. After some instruction and games inside the nature center, we were then armed with hand lens and cardboard binoculars.  Outside we go, finding wildflowers and insects along the trail.

We made our way over to a wetland area and the instructors went about netting up critters from the water beneath the bridge.  They found tadpoles, water beetles, and other wildlife in the pond, which they placed in a container of water.  We got to observe these things close up.

As we looked over the edge of the bridge I pointed out a frog to Vivienne.  She said, "Look Gooma, the frog is camouflaged by a weed".  Well, the reporter from our local newspaper heard the comment and snapped a shot of Vivienne looking over the bridge.  The next day much to my surprise there was Vivienne on the front page of the Grand Haven Tribune! The reporter was Krystle Wagner.  Here is the link to the article,  
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/1049761   

      Vivienne looking over the edge of the bridge.

 Grandmother!  Gooma doesn't sound quite so old, but I'm happy to be a grandma. 

 Vivienne showing an early interest in trees at age 9 months.  And below happy to be outside.

Aman Park in Ottawa County Michigan

March 10, 2014  Marie and I took at ride to Aman Park, and found the trails easy to walk on even though they are still packed with snow.  We had a wonderful sunny day, in the 40's.  This was the first day like this, so far this year!
Here's a peek at Aman.

 Coming up to the northern bridge

 Sand Creek was froze here.

The sycamore trees really stood out.  After crossing the bridge we took the blue trail toward the north end of the park, no wildflowers.  We sat for a while and listen to all the birds singing.  The sun felt good. 

 Sand Creek.  We spent 2 1/2 hours at Aman and walked around 2 miles.  We didn't walk the trail that follows all along the creek, which is my favorite, because there was no trail in the snow.  There is still a couple of feet of snow on the ground.

  

 

 Southern bridge at Aman with a good 18 inches of snow pack on it.

 

 Well we didn't see any start of a wildflower at Aman. So for a sure sighting of the first spring wildflower, we made our way to Hemlock Crossing.  Here is a good place to find Skunk Cabbage.

 

 Pigeon River at Hemlock Crossing

 First wildflower for Marie and I in Michigan for 2014, Skunk Cabbage!

 

Pigeon River

I've been pretty comfortable at home, with a book in front of the fire this winter, but this was a perfect day to be outside.  Thanks, Marie.