A Stroll At Crockery Creek Natural Area

2010 12 08  The snow and cold weather came to Grand Haven on December 1st,  late for Michigan.  We had a long lasting autumn and that was good.  It always takes a little getting used to the snow and cold.  The snow brings quiet, a certain tranquillity, I think.


My sister Marie and I went on a good adventure to Crockery Creek Natural Area  (Ottawa County)  located on the north side of the Grand River at Wren Drive.  This visit we were able to walk in new (to us) areas accessible because the water level is low.


Even though we have been here before it is like a new place.  This comes from a combination of things like, visiting in different seasons, exploring the park boundaries to the limit, and our somewhat poor memories.  Exploring is always fun with Marie.  Since we see no blooming wildflowers now, she is teaching me about trees.


Crockery Creek Natural Area



Field At Crockery Creek Natural Area

Crockery Creek

There was ice on Crockery Creek.   Temperature  was 23 degrees Fahrenheit.

 We also stopped by the Grand Haven Pier.

The lighthouse is on the south pier, you can see just a bit of the north pier in this picture.  We did some research at my house and called it a day.

Late August wildflower adventure in Michigan

We found one of the first Fringed Gentian blooming on this day at the end of August 2013.  The weather has been all over the place this summer here in Michigan, first hot then  cold, wet then dry.  Over all a good summer.

Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia glauca) Saxifrage family. These are native plants also called Bog Stars.

There different types of Grass-of-Parnassus, P. glauca is the one that grows in the lower half of Michigan.  Also called Fen or American Grass-of-Parnassus.

Swamp Lousewort (Pedicularis lanceolata) Figwort family.

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes cernua) Orchid family.
This native perennial plant is usually 4-12" tall and unbranched.  Nodding Ladies' Tresses can be distinguished from these other species by the downward curve of its tubular flowers, providing them with a 'nodding' appearance.

Kalm's Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii)  Lobelia Family.
The Lobelia genus was once in its own Lobeliaceae family, then was moved to the Campanulaceae (Bellflower) family but is now back in Lobeliaceae.

True Forget-me-not  (Myosotis scorpioides) Borage Family.

These grow right in the swallow water, not native, but very pretty.

Swamp Thistle (Cirsium muticum) Composite Family.

Tall Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus) Composite Family.

                                             Turtlehead

I think this is a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria Cybele) but I might just be close (or wrong).  Just as I was admiring this beautiful butterfly I spied the first Fringed Gentian of the year!  I knew the flower wasn't going anywhere so I focused on the butterfly first.

Greater Fringed Gentian  (Gentianopsis crinita) Gentian Family.
Greater fringed gentian flowers open on sunny days, but generally remain closed on cloudy days. Individual plants live for only one or two years.  Native.

"Furled" Fringed Gentian 

Death Camas still blooming.  For two months this type of plant has been blooming.

Turtlehead

Purple Gerardia (Agalinis purpurea) Broom-rape Family.  This native annual plant is 1–2½' tall, branching occasionally.
Might also be known by the common name Purple False Foxglove, Figwort Family.

Pitcher Plants were still around on their long stems and odd shaped "flower".   A very interesting plant.

                       Poison Sumac - Do not touch!

                       Dense Blazing Star was still blazing!

Arrowhead, also Duck Potato (Sagittaria latifolia) Water plantain Family.

Common Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata)

Biennial Gaura (Gaura biennis) Evening Primrose family
A native biennial plant that is 4-6' when mature, branching frequently in the upper half to produce long flowering stems.  This native plant is often ignored because it is a rather widespread biennial with an untidy appearance.  Marie spotted this along the road, and she identified it!  First time we have seen it.

Wonderful day!

Back to Barry County, Michigan

The first week of August 2013, Marie and I visited places in Barry County again.  Right off we saw Nodding Ladies' Tresses blooming!

  Nodding Ladies' Tresses   (Spiranthes cernua)   Orchid family
This native perennial plant is usually 4-12" tall and unbranched.   Each flower is about 1/3" long, consisting of 3 white sepals and 3 white petals. The upper sepal and upper two petals are fused together and form a curved hood that curls upward at its tip, forming a small upper lip with 3 lobes. The lower petal has a prominent lip that hangs downward and has a crystalline appearance.    

                      Death Camas was still blooming.

                    Death Camas with dew drops.

Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia glauca) Saxifrage family -  Showy white flowers with green veins, on long stalks.  This plant has a rosette of broad, long stalked, basal leaves, rounded or heart shaped and one stalkless leaf clasping the flowering stalk.  Grows in swamps and wet meadows.

Shrubby Cinquefoil (Pentaphylloides floribunda) Rose family 
I have seen this blooming since the beginning of July.

 

                     Heal All

                   Queen Anne's Lace

                     Spotted Knapweed

 

         Dense Blazingstar (Liatris spicata) Composite family

 Chicory

Agrimony,  I didn't identify which kind...

 

Swamp Milkweed

 

 Pitcher plant

 

 Pitcher Plant

 Pitcher Plant leaves form pitchers to capture insects.

 A bladderwort

 Mad-Dog Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) Mint family 
A  native perennial plant is 1–2½' tall, branching occasionally.
At one time, there was a belief that Mad-Dog Skullcap could cure rabies, which is false. However, the foliage contains a substance with anti-spasmodic and sedative properties, so it does have some medicinal value.
 

 

 

 Sticky False Asphodel (Tofieldia glutinosa) Lily family
 

 

 That's all for this adventure!