Manistee - Day Two

June 28 2011 We were up a 6 a.m., no hurries, no worries.  Coffee and breakfast on the front porch.  We left the cabin around 9, heading for the Manistee River Trail.  We are going to start at the "waterfall" going north on South 1 Road then west on Forest Road 7120.

I had to brake along the road when I saw purple, right away I knew it was Viper's Bugloss.

From the gate we walked to the river then south, looking for some river flats.  There are many small footbridges along this trail. 

 We  identified Shinleaf (Pyrola Family).

On a very steep hillside facing the river we saw Showy Lady's Slipper.  Totally inaccessible.
Soon we got to the flats and I showed Marie the Indian Paintbrush that Mike and I had seen here in mid June.

Then I was right on the edge of the river when I found an orchid.  It was pale green and slender.  Marie used her wisdom and her Newcomb's Wildflower Guide and dubbed it a Tubercled Orchid!

A kingfisher chattered down the river, frogs were jumping, butterflies flitted about.

I think this is a Pearl Crescent, going by my recently acquired

 Butterflies of Michigan by Jaret C. Daniels. 

Here are a few other things we found on the river flats.

A rough looking Showy Lady's Slipper

                                     Black-eyed Susan

                             Webs with dew

            Harebell, getting ready to open.

                              Common St. Johnswort

Our old friend, Prunella vulgaris, commonly known as Selfheal or Heal-all.

What a cool place, so many things to see!

We needed to head for home, about a two hour drive,

back to the real world.

Fen, Prairie Fen, and More

June 20 2011 A special day.  My sister, Marie, and I drove approximately 60 miles southeast to a fen in Barry County Michigan.  Not big in size but filled with amazing plants.

             Fun boardwalks...

This is one of the wildflowers I came to see, Showy Lady's Slipper.  It's an orchid of course.  They were growing deep in the grasses, we were careful not to disturb them.  The leaves surprised me with their fuzziness.   

We also found, Yellow Star-Grass,

 White Camas,












and some kind of Indian-Plantain.

Insects

The last two photos are of a Dogbane Tiger Moth. 

Then a large snail. 

  and a Daddy longlegs (or Harvester) with red Mites.

I really liked this fen maybe we should visit here again? 

After this place we went on to the Maher Sanctuary managed by the Grand Rapids Audubon Club.  This is in Irving Township, Barry County, Michigan with parking area on 108th Street.  Another interesting place! 

Cain Creek flows through this sanctuary and we found the bridge out, but being repaired.  We managed to cross with no problem.

Cain Creek

 Along the way we saw Wild Onion,

 Marsh Skullcap (Scutellaria epilobiifolia)

And a Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Wow!  Fun places I wonder where we will go next time.

Michgan Fens, Michigan Wild Orchids

One of the most interesting trips that Marie and I have taken recently, was in mid June 2013.  We explored a new place, quite secluded - with water, mud, and lots of wildflowers, just the way I like places to be.  We found an orchid called Grass Pink blooming and it was a real treat.

Grass Pink Orchid (Calopogon tuberosus)
It is wild, native, and beautiful.
A brilliant pink to pale purple cluster of 2 to 10 flowers, standing 4 to 22 inches tall.  What a sight on the somewhat pale background of the marl fen. 

 

We also saw many Showy Lady's Slipper another orchid that thrives here.  These are large (8 to 36 inches), showy, orchids with rough leaves that are heavily veined. 

 Showy Lady's Slipper (Cyripedium reginaw) Orchid Family

And one more orchid

 Loesel's Twayblade (Liparis loeselii).  This orchid is small and easily hidden, being a yellow green color, it blends well with nearby plants.  I have found this orchid at Bass River Recreation Area also.

Loesel's Twayblade

We also saw hundreds of Pitcher Plants flowering.  Plants are 12 to 20 inches tall, flowers solitary. The colors range from deep purple to red, green, and yellow.

              Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

The structure of the flower is so unique, below is a look inside.

 

Then there are the leaves of this fascinating plant.  Leaves are 4-10 inches long, usually purple veined, lined on the inside with downward pointing hairs. Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants.

 

 A wonderful place, and a wonderful day.