Published on: May 3, 2022
As I walk around, I marvel at how bare ground and leaf piles turn into beautiful bouquets in the space of a few days. The Bloodroot, Trillium, Dutchmen's Breeches and Hepatica have made a splash in my garden and the Virginia Bluebells and Wood Poppy are budded out. The rabbits have enjoyed many of my flowers, but some are still blooming. the Mayapple and Jack in the Pulpit are up pretty far and opening and the Solomon's seal is rising slowly from the beds. Spring Beauties and Early Meadow Rue as well as Wild Geranium and Strawberry are unfurling leaves. The Serviceberries just started to bloom as the tiny red flowers of the Maple lie in gay abandon around the porch and deck. Birds create a symphony every morning around 5 am and sing almost continuously through the morning. The Pileated Woodpecker and Mallards along the creek add strident sounds to the concert. At night the frogs make lots of noise and the barred owl prowls. Enjoy your time in the natural world, even if it is in your own garden. Both CNC and Natures Niche will have spring wild plant sales and the Wild Ones Mid Mitten chapter has been making information available at many of the spring events. Larger rescued wild plants are available from the Cranbrook Gardens plant sale, online May 6--you can register to be notified when the sale opens at their website.
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Published on: Apr 4, 2022
After a very long winter with very odd weather, the thaw and spring rain, even mixed with snow, is a welcome site. Vernal pools have formed in the woods and the ground is spongy as it thaws. The buds of arbutus and hepatica are ready for some heat to display. Dutchmen's Breeches, Bloodroot and Spring Beauties won't be far behind. Trout Lilies and Early Meadow Rue will display along the trails and Blue Bead Lily, Bellwort, Solomon's Seal and False Solomon's Seal will unfurl their foliage to produce flowers. Gaywings will bloom among the Wintergreen. The tiny Gold Seal, Twin Leaf and Shooting Star will display their dainty and exquisite flowers. Wild Ginger, Wood Strawberry, and the many colors of Violets will carpet the low areas. Wood Poppy and Virginia Bluebells will bloom happily and Wild Geranium and Canada Anemone will wave in the soft breezes. Trillium and Jack in the Pulpit will astonish with their beauty. Here are some of the flowers to enjoy and anticipate. Walk the trails and enjoy the bounty of Nature this spring. Published on: Nov 7, 2021
After the cold nights and very cool days last week, most of the maples and other trees dropped their leaves at peak color or even green. But the oaks are the stars of the skyline now. This beautiful weekend with the abundant sunshine has highlighted the golds, coppers and bronzes of the many majestic oaks in the city and along the rail trail and local roads. There are still some colorful understory trees and bushes--the reds of the Japanese Maples and the burgundy of some of the dogwood are spectacular. This is a glorious time to walk, ride or otherwise motivate yourself outside. Published on: Nov 1, 2021
The last few days have been a whirlwind of color change in the trees and shrubs. Maples went from a few red or yellow leaves to all shades of yellow and red from apricot to watermelon. Oaks turned golden and burgundy. All of them are rapidly shedding leaves, so they turned just in time. Walking early in the morning as the sun rises gives you a prime view of the golden tops of trees and the subtle orange shades all along the branches. Understory shrubs and trees are also changing. The Tulip Poplars are clear yellow and the yellow leaves of the Hickory are falling rapidly. The Japanese Maples went suddenly red and orange after staying green for the entire month of October. The Viburnum and Dogwood leaves are from brilliant red and yellow to glowing burgundy and the cherry, shad and muscle wood are beautifully yellow to rust colors. Some Wild Geraniums and goldenrods are sporting wine colored leaves and stems. It is a fabulous show. The leaves are falling quickly now and the next few nights of frost should hurry them along. Enjoy them while you can, and enjoy the beautiful patterns they make on the sidewalks and drives. It's time to rake and blow! Published on: Oct 17, 2021
The weather finally turned crisp and the leaves have been whirling in the breeze. This morning, the sun rose butter yellow and the clouds were steel grey highlighted with salmon. As the sun rose, the very tops of trees were painted with the golden light. There are still mosaics of leaves on the ground and lots still to fall, but the variations from yellow, orange, pink, magenta and tan are a wonder to behold. The birds and small mammals are more active than they have been since spring. There are still lots of grapes, apples, berries and fruits on the trees and shrubs and lots of seeds everywhere. The genesis of spring is the cool days of fall. I love these days, even raking and raking and raking. The seasons are a wonder, the weather is beautiful and the light is softer. Enjoy the crisp walks, runs and skates or bikes on the trails. Published on: Oct 5, 2021
The leaf fall has started and you can walk under a tree in a mosaic of colorful leaves: brown, yellow, orange, gold and red. When a tree, like a maple or ash is fully in color (two or three shades at least), it is like walking in a kaleidoscope with the light coming through the changed leaves. Mushrooms are everywhere, some beautiful, some dreadful--but all fascinating. Even perennial and shrub colors are changing and making a pointillist painting of every view. The crisp air and lower sun angle give everything a new look. Acorns turn to marbles on the sidewalk as they lose their caps and pose a challenge to walkers. I have seen deer and squirrels in the middle of the street retrieving acorns. There are still asters and some goldenrod blooming and lots of berries, crabapples and seeds for color interest. I love it when a single maple changes color all at once and flames out a greeting to all passersby. Enjoy looking at the natural world this week. Published on: Sep 27, 2021
The asters and goldenrods have really put on a show this year. There are still beautiful white, blue and purple clusters among the yellow and still sunflowers blooming. The Gentians came a little early and were spectacular. I was amazed at the numerous huge clusters of grapes along the trail. The grapes and small crabapples are really beautiful. I am sure some enterprising birds and mammals will be eating well. The beautiful seeds of the sumac are vying for attention with their rapidly coloring leaves. Maples are bursting with neon red to purple and the birches are a beautiful yellow. This website has been out of commission for a few months while it was updated. Sorry I did not get more blogs posted. I hope you have enjoyed the monthly column in the local paper instead. I hope you all have a lovely walk, ride or skate in the beautiful fall weather. Published on: Jul 10, 2021
The Michigan Lilies are blooming in my yard. I love the chandelier look of the flowers as they curl the petals up and drop the stamens down. All things Black-eyed Susan should be blooming now and the lilac blooms of the Bee Balm (Monarda) are drawing bees and hummingbirds. Ox-eye daisies are peppering the road sides and Common and Swamp Milkweed are ready to bloom. There are still a few Spiderwort blooming. Every pea relative will be blooming or setting seed within weeks. Liatris and Yarrow round out the bouquet. Tall Common Fleabane and smaller common Tickseed can also be found. All the cherries are coloring up the fruit and the grapes are getting bigger, so lots of fruit for the birds. The various Dogwoods and Elderberries are also setting fruit. Most of the Serviceberries are already gone to hungry birds. The cooler days helped slow the explosion of flowers in late June, so we have a breather to see these flowers before the showier Sunflowers and Asters round out the season. Enjoy the trails. Published on: May 27, 2021
We drove to 10 1/2-mile road and parked to walk back toward 9-mile road. The cooler weather and overcast skies helped to showcase the many ferns on the trail. There were large stands of Royal Fern in the ditches, along with Sensitive Fern and Cinnamon Fern on the edges of the woods. In the woods were great swathes of Bracken Fern. As we got closer to the wetland near 9-mile road, the small wood fern appeared among the sensitive fern. Along the trail closer to 8-mile and 7-mile roads, the Ostrich Fern and Sensitive Fern are dominant with the occasional Royal or Maidenhair fern. All along the way were great clumps of blooming Columbine--the red and yellow "grannies bonnets". They are spectacular in bunches and this is a great year for their bloom. The Wild Geranium is blooming in places and promises to put on more show soon. The edges of the trail still have some wild strawberry and dwarf cinquefoil as well as the ocassional clump of dwarf yellow hawkweed. Along the taller grasses is the solitary salsify or yellow goats beard. Small colonies of Bastard Toadflax are beginning to bloom. I saw one ox-eye daisy and a few small clumps of Fleabane. Early Meadow Rue is showing its chandelier flowers. Blue Flag Iris is up and should be sending up flowers soon. Brambles were blooming and ready to bloom, so blackberries and raspberries will be feeding small birds and mammals soon. Most of the Dogwood has finished blooming, but the Alternate Leaf and Red Twig are still blooming beautifully. the serviceberries are formed and starting to turn color and the black and pin and choke cherries are forming on the spent blossom stalks. The maple and elm seeds have fallen along with the Oak flowers. Pollen has been very abundant this year. The trees are pretty much fully leafed and beginning to shade out the ephemerals. The promise of Black-eyed Susans and Large-leaf Aster shows in the large number of growing leaves. What a wonderful time to walk the trails. Swamp Milkweed is already rising above the ditches. Here at home the Wood Poppy and Virginia Bluebells are done and the Wild Geranium and Canada Anemone are taking over. The Wild Wood Phlox continues to bloom and has been joined by Golden Alexanders--which are also on the trails. My May Apple are is full bloom and the stray Jack in the Pulpit is growing taller every day. The tall red trillium still look great but the grandiflora and nodding are done. Solomon's seal flowers are turning to the small beadlike seeds and False Solomon Seal is finishing blooming. Golden Seal has bloomed along with Shooting Star and Twin-leaf. Maidenhair and Lady Fern are waving over the pond. It is a new adventure every day. Enjoy! Published on: May 9, 2021
The Hepatica, Bloodroot and Dutchmen's Breeches have finished blooming and the Nodding White Trillium are turning pink. I have tall Red Trillium that have grouped themselves as a bouquet below a large group of Large Flowered Trillium. It is beautiful. I have Shooting Stars, Twin Leaf, Gold Seal and lots of May-apple and Smooth Solomon's Seal blooming now. The tiny Rue Anemone is still blooming but the bigger and more bloom-laden False Rue Anemone is just starting. The first blooms of the Woodland Phlox are opening as well. All of my Wood Poppy and Virginia Bluebells are blooming and they are spectacular together. The Wild Geranium is also budding up and ready to bloom. I love this time of year. Along the rail trail there are still a few Dutchmen's Breeches and lots of Violets, White, Yellow, Northern Blue, Common. The Geranium is ready to bloom and the first buds of the Granny's Bonnets are raising their heads. Wood Anemone is blooming along the edge of the trail along with the Wild and Woodland Strawberries. Of course there are a lot of Dandelions as well and I hate to admit it, but they look great with the common violets--like stacked bouquets. Michigan Lilies are starting to show their whorled leaf stems and Canada Anemones are crawling along the ground. Serviceberry trees are finished blooming (along with the Maple and Birch) but the Pin, Choke and Black Cherries are just starting to bloom. Oaks and Ash are ready to bloom and Elms are dropping their paper cases of seeds to mix with the airplanes from the Maples. All of the Viburnum and Dogwood are budded up and ready to bloom when the heat hits again. The Hawthorne, Apple and Crabapple are gorgeous as well as the outstanding Redbuds. This is the time to walk the trails! Enjoy the cool air and lovely flowers! |