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.
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Published on: May 5, 2020
I've wandered around my property and neighborhood and made several trips to the Rail Trail since my last blog. The Spring Ephemerals are really exploding now. I saw the largest display of blooming Bloodroot I have ever seen on the steep western slopes of the Salt River at the high bridge (just past 11 mile road). There were many white and yellow Trout Lilies blooming among the Dutchmen's Breeches on the western side of the low bridge over the Salt River (just past 7 mile road). While this area has a lot of debris from the ice storms and floods last year and this winter, the blooms are still there (just harder to find). Spring Beauties are everywhere and the blue and white violets have sprung up along the trail. The Serviceberry (Shad) are blooming beautifully, but will soon be eclipsed by the emerging leaves and blooms of the cherries, maples, birch, poplar, elm, ash and even oak trees. Viburnum and Dogwood are also leafing out and many will have blooms soon. In my yard I am very impressed by the pink buds of the Judd Viburnum and the white buds already on the Doublefile Viburnum. My Kousa and Pink Dogwoods don't have many buds because they never set them before the early freeze last fall. The Red and Yellow Twig Dogwoods will have nice blooms, along with the Grey and Silky and Alternate Leaf Dogwoods. I have Marsh Marigolds blooming at the edge of the vernal pools from last weeks rain and my Trillium, Trout Lily (only one of hundreds) are blooming along with the Rue Anemone. The Bloodroot is blown already, but the Mayapple and Solomon Seal are up and ready to bloom as well as the False Solomon Seal and Jack in the Pulpit. I have Shooting Stars and Twinleaf and Golden Seal ready to bloom as well. The Wood Poppies and Virginia Bluebells are just starting to bloom and really look good with my not natives: Forget-me-nots and Primroses, Epimedium and Hellebores. It is very nice to have a blend of native and non-natives for color in the spring. I see that my Blue Flag Iris, Cardinal Flower and Golden Alexanders are up and growing as is the Woodland Phlox. Lots of Bellflowers, Arum and Coral Bells are showing their heads among the many woodland ferns. My Blue Cohosh has turned from deep purple to a lilac green and has tiny flowers on it and my bugbane is pushing through the leaves. My Wild Ginger is doing a nice job of spreading as well. If you don't have native plants in your garden, consider getting some from the Native Plant Sale at Chippewa Nature Center (if the sale can be held this year). Please don't dig from the wild as this can often kill the plant and destroy a native habitat. Solomon Seal and Mayapple are very vigorous and you can usually find a gardening friend to give you a start. Some folks are great at growing Jack in the Pulpit and can give starts of these as well. Seed exchanges can provide seeds for many natives. Published on: Apr 29, 2020
It had gotten really dry, and had warmed up significantly. I went looking for flowers and saw that the drier areas were not flowering as anticipated. Near 10 1/2 mile road, there are lots of Trailing Arbutus blooming on the little rises opposite the drainage ditches. Lots of leaves up and near 8 mile road, there are a lot of wild strawberries starting to bloom. There were too many cars at 7 mile when I tried to go there to walk, so I don't know if the Bloodroot and Dutchmen's Breeches are blooming by the bridge. There are violets out everywhere and in all the waste places (and my yard) are the common blue violet and it's relative the white violet. In my yard (which I watered), the Hepatica finished blooming and many of the Bloodroot bloomed and dropped petals. ]The small Trillium (I thing they are snow trillium or nodding trillium) are up and some are blooming, the large flowered trillium have buds, as do the yellow sessile (closed flower directly on leaves) and Red-flowered tall trillium. My Rue Anemone is up and has one flower--tiny plant and tiny flower. The Spring Beauties started to bloom along the path. My Blue Cohosh came up as purple stems and leaves and is opening to it's green color. The May Apples are growing by inches every day and My Twin Leaf is up and ready to bloom. The spike of the emerging Jack in the Pulpit is showing and the foliage for both Virginia Bluebells and Wood Poppies is up and growing large rapidly. My Trout Lilies are up and some do have more than a single leaf so I look daily to see if any are blooming. None so far, but hope springs eternal. With the rain and resulting vernal pools in the back, I now have blooming Marsh Marigolds. The Early Buttercups should be appearing soon. Fern fiddleheads are appearing as well. This is a wonderful time in the neighborhood, with both wild flowers and the cultivated. Serviceberry (Amelanchier) started blooming with the rain today. Cherries are ready to bloom soon. Viburnum and Dogwood have buds showing and are ready to really give a show. I love this time of year in the wild and in the garden. Here are some of the wildflowers that are blooming now. Published on: Jul 14, 2019 Well the Michigan Lilies seem to be blooming everywhere, even along Saginaw Road in a few places. Of course there are the Orange Daylilies in the ditches as well, but when you see the recurved "turk's cap" you have a Michigan Lily. Michigan Lily is a true Lily and generally pretty tall with from 3 to 10 flowers hanging from short stems off the central stalk. There are generally a few black spots in the petals and the stamens are very prominent. It is exciting to see these as they are a favorite of deer and generally grow protected by a steep slope or other plants. Black-eyed Susans are everywhere now, giving cheer to even an overcast day. Alongside these cheery fellows, the wild bergamot or bee balm is starting to bloom. The cool lavender of their petals is contrasted to the bright yellow of the coneflowers. In many places, near Averill toward the bridge, above 7 mile road toward the Salt River bridge and near Veterans Memorial, the Arbutus Bog and even up past 11 mile road toward North Bradley, there are Swamp Milkweed blooming. There are many more than I have seen in the recent past, but the Common Milkweed is quite scarce along the trail. I see large colonies along Saginaw Road and River Road--but not along the trail this year. The milkweed cousins, the Dogbanes, are also blooming. They, like the milkweed, are poisonous and therefore provide some protection to the butterflies that use them for nurseries. Spreading Dogbane has tiny pink bell shaped flowers in loose collections. The Hemp Dogbane resembles the upright look of the Swamp Milkweed, but has a smaller white umbel of blooms The Elderberry are still blooming and the Dogwoods are setting fruit. Grapes can be seen hanging from the vines and the red to brown seeds of the Ninebark are noticeable all along the trail. Lots of the non native honeysuckle is showing red or orange berries and Pin Cherries have colored up as well as the Choke Cherries. Black Cherries are still green, but will be turning soon. The Sumac have bloomed and the flowers and seeds are turning red.
Bladder Campion or Evening Lychnis is among the massive growth of White Sweet Clover at Averill Rollway and the slope and center area are full of Everlasting Pea, Crownvetch, Mullein, Oxeye Daisies, Black-eyed Susans and Wooly Yarrow. Large Bull Thistles are ready to bloom there, while along the trail Field Thistle is blooming. There is still plenty of the tall yellow Wild Parsnip blooming and lots of St John's Wort mixed in. Along mile 9 of the trail, deep in the ditch, there has been a wonderful show of Wild Swamp Rose--more than I have ever seen. Soon the Sunflowers, Asters and Goldenrod will start their show. Enjoy your walk or ride along the trail! Published on: Jul 2, 2019 Summer heat and rain have really greened up the rail trail. Some flowers have bolted to bloom and set seed. More and more butterflies are joining the bees and flies in pollinating tasks. We saw Swallowtail, Checkerspot, Monarch and many small butterflies on Sunday. The Ninebark is really setting seed fast--some are the bright red that I love, others are a chestnut brown. Berries are evident on the Alternate Leaf and Red Twig Dogwood as well as the Black and Pin Cherry trees. The Grey and Silky Dogwoods are blooming now as well as the Elderberry, so there is still the wave of white in the shrubby undergrowth. Lots of Multiflora rose is still blooming. Blackberry/Raspberry plants are setting fruit. The first Black-eyed Susans are blooming along with the Oxeye Daisies, some St John's Wort and Field Thistle. The pink Crown Vetch and bright yellow Bird's Foot Trefoil are brilliant accents along the trail and the highways. If you look carefully you will find some Hog Peanut blooming along with the Hedge Bindweed, twirling around the taller plants. The Jewelweed is up and ready to bloom and the Milkweeds are starting to bloom. Related Spreading Dogbane and Indian Hemp Dogbane have started to bloom as well. Along 7 and 8 miles on the trail, the Meadow Rue is in full bloom. I also saw it along the roadside as I traveled up Stark Road. This is a great year for the Meadow Rue. Canada Anemone is still blooming, but the Thimbleweed is setting the eponymous heads. Near the Railside Restaurant in Sanford, I saw tall Cow Parsnip and the shorter, yellow Wild Parsnip. Both can be mistaken for the very dangerous Giant Hogweed, and Cow Parsnip can irritate the skin. Cow Parsnip (1st picture) is only 5-8 feet tall and has a ridged stem while Giant Hogweed is 8 feet or more and has a purplish stem. Both have large white umbel flower heads and palmate leaves. The Wild Parsnip (2nd picture) has yellow flower heads and is only 3-5 feet tall with a lobed elongated leaf. There is also the much finer leafed and smaller Water Hemlock blooming as well as the Queen Anne's Lace to make matters more confusing Behind the businesses in Sanford are many different colors of Spiderwort. There are the dark blue/purple, light blue/purple and even a bright pink.
Most of the Iris have finished blooming and the cattail are starting their bloom period. All of the grasses have wonderful seed heads--in various configurations--makes me wish I knew more about grasses. Keep looking out for wildflowers and being amazed at their variety and beauty. Published on: Apr 15, 2019
If you look back through the posts from previous years, you will see that now is the time to start looking for the Spring Ephemerals--the lovely small flowers that come up before the trees leaf out and brighten the brown of winter ground, only to disappear when larger plants get growing. Hepatica are already blooming where they have some sun. Probably within the week at Pine Haven, since it is so shady. I saw the first grass-like leaves of the Spring Beauties as well. Dutchmen's Breeches, Rue Anemone, Bloodroot, Twinleaf, Gold Seal and others will be blooming soon. The Easter Snow Storm of the past weekend will help them along since it was so wet and more rain is expected this week along with warm temperatures. Be on the lookout for these small beauties. Here are some to look for: Published on: Sep 5, 2018
Well, the last couple of weeks, I have walked with some of you to look at the summer wildflowers. Thanks, Jane and Julie for taking time to come along. The summer flowers continue to produce a show and probably will for the next few weeks. The fall flowers have started to bloom and should persist through September. Orange Coneflower or the Perennial Black-eyed Susan are everywhere--so cheery and in great colonies. The same can be said for the Sunflowers--be they Woodland Sunflower, Tall Sunflower or the Showy Sunflower planted at the Meridian Bridge. I have seen some blunter petaled coneflowers and the leaves tell me they are the Brown-eyed Susan. There is a really rough leaved Sunflower at the parking lot for Averill Preserve and the trail head that I think is Jerusalem Artichoke--but the description of it and Tall Sunflower are so similar--I am not sure. The Asters and Goldenrods that make our fall so pretty have started to bloom. As you know if you follow the blog, the Early and Late (or Giant) Goldenrods bloomed starting in July. August brought the huge colonies of Canada Goldenrod. I also saw small sets of Rough Stemmed or Rough Leaved Goldenrod in the 10 and 11 mile segments. In the 11 mile segment and probably at 10 mile there are also some that I believe are Showy Goldenrod. They have larger basal leaves, smaller stem leaves and a large central flower plume. I think I have also seen Slender Goldenrod, much smaller with small leaves and a central wand like flower head. The Tall or Flat Topped White Aster was the first to bloom, followed by the Calico and Many-flowered asters and now with the Heath Aster. Heart-leaved and Big-leaved Wood Asters are blooming in the woods and the occasional Smooth Blue Aster is seen. Now we see the tall and colorful New England Aster starting to bloom. Small flowers have also made appearances In August, both the Hog Peanut and Ground Nut bloomed just as the last of the Showy Tick Trefoil finished blooming. All these Pea like flowers blooming at the same time was magnificient. At the wetland on mile 11, I saw Ladies Tresses Orchids and the Slender Gerardia blooming as the last of the Steeplebush and Meadowsweet finished blooming. The Boneset was late to start blooming but joined it's relative Joe-Pye Weed to make the day for the butterflies. The days were so hot that the native Clematis--aka Virgin's Bower, bloomed and started making seed heads in only a week. The seed heads are the long hairy white balls that gave the Clematis the name Old Man's Beard when seen in the fall. Crab Apples and Apples joined the Cherries, Grapes, and Viburnum and Dogwood berries, as did the Autumn Olive and Buckthorn berries. Along 11 mile there were even some plums. Blueberries finished the season at the Arbutus Bog. Already, the Sumac seed-heads are ranging from Scarlet to Burgundy and some of the foliage is joining the Virginia Creeper in turning red. Some of the Thimbleweed Anemone and the Rough-stemmed Goldenrod have almost purple foliage and there is a purple and red tinge to the Tall Meadow Rue foliage. Grass seed heads are giving the birds a choice of food. Keep on looking, there will be flowers for a while yet! Here are a few of the flowers we saw the last few weeks: Published on: Jul 21, 2018
While the trails have been very warm and humid lately, today was a refreshing change. The moist air between rain pockets and the overcast made today's walk comfortable and made picture taking much easier. Trees and shrubs continue to produce their fruit and seeds. It is amazing how different they all are. There are apples, cherries, elderberries, grapes and of course raspberry and blackberry. Wild Honeysuckle and Viburnum and Dogwood produce varied color berries as does the invasive Buckthorn. Seed-heads from Linden, Ninebark, Catalpa and dogbane are so different--tiny lime shaped fruit to angular clusters to pea-type pods. The Box Elder seeds so resemble their cousin the Maple and the Ashes have really put on the winged seeds in clusters. The Sumac flowers have produced their seeds in multi-toned reds in beautiful large plumes. Grasses have such varied seed heads that they alone are a study in the diversity of nature. Chicory's pure blue flowers are surrounded by Queen Anne's Lace and the forming seed heads of the Cow Parsnip. The Hedge Parsley is beginning to be seen in the drier parts of the trail while it's look-alike Water Hemlock stays in the ditches. The pale pink of the American Germander is alongside the blue-purple flowers of the Self-Heal. Shining Bedstraw is rising above the masses of green while Northern Bedstraw and Marsh Bedstraw produce seeds. Early Goldenrod and Late Goldenrod (also called Giant Goldenrod) are beginning to bloom--one small and one enormous. The masses of Canada Goldenrod will follow after that. Jewelweed is beginning to form its slipper like orange flowers in the ditches and Cardinal flower should be peeking through soon. The dark brown of the Cattails is a perfect backdrop for the lower flowering plants like Bee Balm (Bergamot), Black-eyed Susan and even the lovely but invasive Purple Loosestrife. Blue Vervain joins the crowd with early Woodland Sunflowers and Green Headed Coneflowers. The various thimble sizes of the Thimbleweed Anemone seed-heads give punctuation to the expanding green of the soon-to-flower Goldenrod, Aster, Sunflower and Cardinal Flower families. Clambering over all of these are the vines of the native Clematis--called Virgin's Bower when it blooms and Old Man's Beard when the silky strands of seed head elongate in the fall. Some have started to bloom, all are ready. It should be quite a show in the next few weeks. Here are some of my favorite pictures this week. Explore and find your favorite flower! Published on: Jul 2, 2018
It is becoming a color bonanza. These are great days to explore a park or trail. The past days of heat and humidity have changed the trail. There are still some Oxeye Daisies and St John's Wort along with the last of the Early Meadow Rue and some spectacular Tall Meadow Rue. The abundance now is the Crown Vetch along all the sunny ditches and the tall Black-eyed Susans. The Showy Coneflowers are starting to come out as well. Lots of Yellow, especially with the Bird's Foot Trefoil, Common Wood Sorrel, Black Medic and Common Cinquefoil blooming in the low grass. Taller Sulfur Cinquefoil is also blooming along 6 mile by and in Averill Preserve. The first pale lilac Bee Balm are blooming with more buds promising a show in the next week or two. Common Yarrow is still blooming but the Bedstraws have finished. Bouncing Bet is starting to bloom and will soon have colonies of dancing skirts to delight the eye. The early vetches are close to gone--even the alfalfa that was blooming along 7 mile is finished. Crown Vetch and Everlasting Pea are taking over. Dainty Whorled Loosestrife and its bigger cousin Fringed Loosestrife are filling in the gaps. Michigan Lilies have started to bloom and they are so pretty with their dainty recurved "turk's caps" hanging down like so many chandeliers from the central stem. They range in color from a pale orange to a dark almost salmon color. The prominent stamens and dark spots make them hard to miss. In the moister ditches, the Swamp Milkweed is really eye popping. Much of the Common Milkweed is finished blooming. There is also a show of the pretty but invasive Purple Loosestrife in among the Swamp Milkweed and Cattail. Sudden color from groupings of tiny Deptford Pinks is fun. The Pink Willow Herb is also starting to bloom. The incredible tall candle of the Common Mullein is starting to show flowers. Just as the Golden Alexanders go to seed a giant fills the gap--Cow Parsnip sends up its yellow umbel of flowers. All of the grasses are showing seed heads and the Thimbleweed Anemone is displaying its lovely thimbles. The bullet shaped seed pods of the Foxglove Beardtongue are forming. They will turn a lovely bronze with fall. The shrubs are showing their glory now. While all have clusters of white flowers in the spring and early summer, they differentiate themselves with their fruit. Dainty Pin Cherries are turning red, the Black Cherries will follow soon. The Dogwood berries will be turning soon. Some of the white berried varieties are already turning. The blue berried will be ready soon. Grapes are a lovely green and will be continuing to enlarge and color up later in the summer. Ninebark has made its peculiar angular seed heads and many are turning red. Maple leaf Viburnum berries are turning as well. The Elderberries are still blooming magnificently but are also already making berries. Roses are forming hips. Apples and Crab Apples have formed. The pale blossoms of the Sumac have come out and are now starting their transition to pink and then magenta with their fall seed heads. Here are a few of my finds this week: Published on: Jun 23, 2018 The weather was cool and dry early in the week and damp and overcast later. There is evidence that a little rain would be helpful. Many of the swampy areas and ditches have completely dried up and others have only a little water. There are still plenty of flowers blooming, but the transition from the cooler season flowers to the warm season is underway. The full bloom of the Early Meadow Rue is very showy along 9 and 10 mile on the rail trail. These chandelier like white/yellow blooms are above the grasses and other flowers and really demand attention. The Wild Strawberries and Dewberries or Wild Raspberries are showing red berries against the grass and in the low edge of the woods. Blackberries are set and will be coloring up soon. Serviceberries (Juneberries) fruit are coloring up and the last of the Dogwoods and Viburnum are finishing their bloom. Elderberry has started to bloom. The dogbanes have just begun to bloom. The expected heat will move that along. It is odd that the Spreading Dogbane and the Indian Hemp seem to bloom on opposite sides of the trail. Most of the Spreading Dogbane with bell shaped pink flowers is on the south side of the trail, with the more erect white flowered Indian Hemp on the north side of the trail. The Indian Hemp didn't make much of a show last year but is looking very impressive this year. Be aware that the sap and leave can be irritating to your skin. Lots of Common St John's Wort can be seen alongside the emerging Black Eyed Susan and Oxeye Daisies. Common Fleabane joins in occasionally as well. The native Bush Honeysuckle is blooming a pretty yellow. Tiny flowered Deptford Pinks are sprinkled among the Northern Bedstraw and Field Hawkweed. The occasional clear blue of Wild Flax can also be seen. Common Yarrow sends up it's white flowered umbrella to emphasize the color around it. Tiny flowers of the Spiked Lobelia are beginning to be seen along with the still blooming Foxglove Beardtongue. The remarkable yellow flowers with dark red centers of the Whorled Loosestrife are punctuated by the reddish leaves of new growth at the top of their whorl. The Blue Flag Iris are in full bloom along most of the trail, sometimes hidden in the ditches by the tall grasses and cattails. There are still Swamp Roses and Pasture Roses blooming as well. They will be done soon. The Multiflora Rose has finished its bloom time. Purple Loosestrife is starting to bloom Yellow and White Sweet Clover are blooming along with the last of the pink to purple American Vetch. White and Red Clover are spreading and blooming beside the yellow Bird's Foot Trefoil and Crown Vetch is beginning to cover the sides of the road and trail with pink/purple blooms. Hawkweeds, Yellow Goatsbeard, and Dandelions have already made puffs of seed heads and are scattering seed with the wind (and they are still blooming). Of course, the trail has been covered with Cottonwood seeds as well. Helicopter seeds of Maple and Ash are also pelting down. Grasses of all kinds are displaying various seed head structures. Most of the Ferns have produced their fertile fronds or are forming spores under the leaves. The continuation of nature is remarkable. The impressive orchid-like flowers of the Catalpa can be seen along most roads in the county and throughout the city as well as along the trail. It is a beautiful time of the year and the birds, frogs and insects make it magical with all the wildflowers and trees and shrubs. What a great place to live and explore! Here are some photos from this week: |