Published on: Apr 24, 2020 Dutchmen's Breeches Chippewa Nature Center published a sighting of Dutchmen's Breeches this week. They should also be opening up along the trail, especially from 7 to 8 mile road crossings near the bridge over the Salt River. They will be in among the Trout Lilies and Bloodroot. In my yard they are up but not blooming. I really like these miniature bleeding hearts, not just because they look like pantaloons hanging on a line. Their fern like foliage is very close to the fern-leaf bleeding heart we get in nurseries (which is a hybrid of the east coast native Wild Bleeding Heart). Another cousin, that I have not seen in the wild, is the Squirrel Corn--it has shorter side petals and they are joined at the bottom, resembling a kernel of corn. Spring Beauties
Alongside the Dutchmen's Breeches are often the grass like leaves of Spring Beauties. These tiny flowers are white or pale pink with a darker pink stripe in the 5 petals. There can be several flowers per set of 2 leaves, in a loose raceme (flower head). There are 2 varieties, Virginia and Carolina. The primary difference is width of leaves. They spread readily and make a great early spring border plant around your other spring ephemerals. They bloom for a longer period and are readily available in many seed or plant catalogs. A carpet of these is truly resplendent on a sunny morning. There a many lovely patches at Chippewa Nature Center and along the rail trail.
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Published on: Apr 22, 2020 Daisy like flowers always cheer me up. I think that is why I love these Spring Ephemerals. Bloodroot Bloodroot comes up in a cloak, wrapped like Phantom of the Opera and has a large daisy-like flower. Only one flower to a leaf and with 8 to 12 petals, quite spectacular. It can be a light pink but is generally pure white. There are double bloodroot, but I have not seen these in the wild. They grow on the steep slopes with the Dutchmen's Breeches and Meadow Rue. I think this is to protect themselves from rabbits. I have seen my plants disappear after a raid by bunnies or deer. They get their name from the orange-red juice in the stems. Only 3-6 inches high, they are spectacular but are pollinated quickly and drop the blooms once pollinated. (After 3 days they will self pollinate in the absence of pollinators). Small mining bees are the primary pollinators. The beautiful leaf remains into June if there is enough soil moisture. A carpet of these is truly magnificent. It is an indication of a healthy population of native ants which gather and eat the seeds, distributing them across their range. Hepatica
Hepatica are another favorite early flower. The three-lobed leaves (where the name meaning liver leaf comes from) persist in the winter and are quite desiccated and ugly when the snow melts. From the base of the plant, dainty buds rise above the dead leaves and open to white, pink or blue gems. Like most other early flowers, they do not open if it is too cold or overcast, so when the sun shines they are spectacular. They are pollinated by butterflies, moths, bees, flies and beetles so it needs to be warm enough for them to be moving. They will also self pollinate if no pollinators are available. I have found the best viewing to be at the Pine Haven Recreation area, because there are so many along the high area above Mud Creek and Salt River. According to neighbors, they used to be along all the waterways in the county. Now they are a wonderful rare gift. Here is some more information about the 2 types of Hepatica in Michigan. Published on: Apr 21, 2020 Nancy posed a question about the spotted leaf plant with yellow flowers. That is indeed the Trout Lily, also known as the Dogtooth Violet or Adders Tongue. There is also a white flowered variety. Here are the pictures of each from the website In order to bloom, each of the bulbs has to produce 2 leaves. In most patches of Trout Lilies I see along the trail, only about a tenth of the plants are blooming in any year. I have had them in my garden for 20 years and seen only about 10 blooms. They tend to like gravelly soil and I have heard many times that you can force them to bloom more by putting flat pebbles under the bulbs. I don't know if that is true, but certainly interesting. They colonize steep slopes on the rail trail and these are quite stony.
Published on: Aug 27, 2019
The last week of cool mornings and lots of sunshine were too irresistible for walking the trail. We trekked Duck Hunters to Stark, Averill to the Bridge, 8-mile road to 9 -mile road , and 10 1/2 mile road back to 9-mile road. Each, back and forth is 2 -3 miles--so pretty easy. As anticipated, the fall flowers are bursting out all over. The Early and Late Goldenrod and Grass Leaved Goldenrod are giving way to the colonies of Canada Goldenrod, lurking among them but eclipsed by the sheer volume of the Canada Goldenrod. While it is not in full bloom yet, it is really getting tall and the buds are very promising. In addition, especially along the area by the Veterans Park entrance from the Rail Trail, hundreds of feet of Tall Sunflower is blooming on one side with as much Joe Pye Weed blooming on the other. Spotted between these huge clumps and sometimes within them are vast arrays of Black-Eyed Susans. There are also small clumps of Boneset and lingering blooms of the Showy Tick Trefoil. Near the Wetland on Mile 11 of the trail (just after 9-mile road), there is Cardinal Flower and the tiny Slender Gerardia blooming. There is still some Meadowsweet, lots of Black-eyed Susan and Sunflower and Joe Pie as well. Lots of Pasture Thistle is also blooming, so the bees and other pollinators are having a great time. Small stands of Stiff Goldenrod and Rough Goldenrod are found here as well. By the Meridian Bridge, there is Indian Potato or Ground Nut blooming, and along the sides of the path back to Averill, there is Wild Cucumber and Hog Peanut blooming among the just blooming Virgin's Bower Clematis. There are also small groupings of Wild Madder clambering above the taller plants and blooming profusely with tiny white flowers. At the Rollway, there is Thistle, Everlasting Pea, Black-Eyed Susan, Cup Flower and Grey-head Coneflower blooming. The largest groupings of Obedient Plant area also between the bridge and Averill Preserve. Hiding in among the other flowers are groupings of Jewelweed--the native Impatiens. The orange pop of color and beautiful lipped flower are really a treat. Everywhere, the Flat-topped or Tall White Aster is blooming and the occasional Smooth Blue or Starved Aster makes an appearance. The Heath Aster is ready to bloom as well. Among the many Black-eyed Susan and Sunflower (including some Woodland Sunflowers), we are beginning to see the early New England Aster. Judging from the number of buds, this will be a spectacular year for the blue beauties. There is some of the invasive and beautiful Purple Loosestrife, but not in the profusion of past years. American Germander and Stinging Nettle are also blooming. The Tall White Lettuce is beginning to bloom and most of the Canada Lettuce is already gone to seed along with the Horseweed and Nipplewort. A few Great Willow Herb vie with the Purple Loosestrife for attention, since they are the same beautiful color. The Crown Vetch and Birds Foot Trefoil are beginning to fade. The Bee Balm or Wild Bergamot has finished blooming and is making puffy seed heads above the always present powdery mildew. There are still a few Sow Thistle and Chicory blooming, but most have gone to seed. The Bouncing Bet has made huge clusters of seed heads. Wild Parsnip and Queen Anne's Lace are making seed heads along with Water Hemlock and Hemlock Parsley. All the grasses and sedges have bloomed and made seed heads as well. It is a great time to be a bird or small mammal. In bushes, the Dogwoods are in their glory. Grey Dogwood's white berries are a great contrast to the red stems and the dark green leaves, some already turning red or purple. Silky Dogwood is finally turning it's berries to the dark blue or purple. The Ninebark has many seeds and some of the bushes have brown to beige seeds but some are a magnificent red. The Sumac blossoms have turned scarlet, red and magenta as the fuzzy seed pods mature. Their leaves are also turning red. There is red and purple on the Maples and some of the Poplar and Birch are beginning to show golden leaves. The Wild Grapes are ripening to a deep purple and the Elderberry are so dark they are like night sky. Maple and Ash seeds are coating the trail and Acorns are everywhere. The cone like fruit of the Witch Hazel beckons the ground squirrels. Published on: Aug 5, 2019
When the Bracken Fern starts to brown and the maple leaves begin to look more purple and red, you know that late summer is here. The Early Goldenrod and the Late or Giant Goldenrod have been blooming and you can tell the Canada Goldenrod is ready to bloom. The Rough Goldenrod and Grass-leaved Goldenrod are budded up as well. The first of the Asters--the Parasol or Flat Topped White--is beginning to bloom. The Big Leaf and Heartleaf Asters are blooming in the woods. Wild Bergamot or Beebalm is still blooming everywhere, to the everlasting joy of the bees and butterflies. Joe Pye Weed has started it's show and the numbers are eclipsing the Swamp Milkweed, which is still blooming prettily in the lower parts of the drying ditches and wetlands. There are some Boneset blooming but since the deer tend to eat it, it appears in more inaccessible areas. Do you think they need the aspirin like compound in its leaves? The Black-eyed Susan is still blooming but is overshadowed by it's cousin the Thin-leaved or Brown-eyed Susan. The primary difference is that the Black-eyed Susan has hairy stems and leaves and emerges to bloom a little before the Brown-eyed Susan with thinner, non-hairy leaves (more like the cultivars you get in the garden stores). Black-eyed tend to have longer and more numerous rays and Brown-eyed tend to have fewer, shorter rays but bigger colonies of plants. The Orange Coneflower is the one that looks like Black-eyed but has an Orange tone at the joining of the Ray and the Composite flowers. American Germander is blooming among the Wild Mint and the occasional Horse Mint can be spotted (is that why they call it Spotted Horse Mint?). The first of the Flowering Spurge is blooming and in the swampy areas you can find Jewel Weed and Cardinal Flower along with lots of the wild spirea called Meadowsweet. Evening Primrose continues to bloom. Coreopsis and Campanula have been blooming in various areas as well as Purple Cone Flower. The Sunflowers are all set to bloom as well. Mullein and SowThistle dot the roadways, giving another yellow highlight. The Cattails are full "cigars" now and the grasses, sedges and rushes have all produced great seedheads. Lots of Queen Anne's Lace has replaced the very robust yellow Wild Parsnip. Plenty of Everlasting Pea, Crown Vetch, some Bird's Foot Trefoil and Showy Tick Trefoil is blooming as well. Alternate leaf and Silky Dogwood berries are turning purple--to the endless delight of the Robins and other berry lovers. Elderberry is setting berries and they will be joining soon. Grapes are starting to turn as well. The red of the Mapleleaf Viburnum and other viburnums can be seen as well. Lots of red and orange berries on the invasive honeysuckles. Invasive Buckthorn and Autumn Olive berries are ripening as well. Lots of seeds on the pretty Buttonbush and the Ninebark as well as the invasive European Spindle Tree (relative of the Winged Euonymous). I recommend early morning or late evening walks because the plants are easier to take pictures of and it is not so hot. Published on: Jun 6, 2019
Well, we had lovely walks on the 5th from Averill Rollway to near the M30 bridge and today from Duck Hunters to Tittabawassee. The Golden Alexanders are doing well in both places and give a nice yellow punctuation to the sudden overgrowth of green with the warm weather. There is, of course, another yellow flower in much evidence. Yellow Rocket or Common Wintercress has been abundant this spring. Though introduced and colonizing, it is not the threat that Garlic Mustard is to the native plants. The Wild Salsify or Yellow Goatsbeard is also starting to appear--looking like a lanky dandelion. Along the walk to Salt River Bridge, the Wild Geranium is opening more and more and some of the Canada Anemone is budded--but not much blooming yet. Give it a day or two. The Tall Meadow Rue is ready to bloom and you see the occasional Early Meadow Rue already in bloom. The False Solomon Seal is in full bloom on the sunny side of the trail. Where the power lines cross the trail, there is a lot of tall and lovely but invasive Dame's Rocket--both purple and white. A few Ox-eye Daisies (also introduced) are popping up in the sunny areas and the early Eastern Daisy Fleabane is starting to appear. The bright orange-red and yellow of the Wild Columbine or Grannies Bonnets is a pleasant surprise in all the green. Chickweed is blooming among the Wild Strawberries in the mowed verge and Common Stitchwort is blooming at the edge--both have tiny flowers with petals in 4 pairs, like someone reordered the design. Common Yarrow is rising above the fray. The Creeping Cinquefoil is there as well. Common Cinquefoil is beginning to bloom among the taller plants at the edge. The yellow Hop Clover (Black Medic) is blooming in the worst dry areas and Red and White Clover are beginning to make themselves apparent. Some of the Swamp Buttercup can be seen in among the leaves that will soon yield Blue Flag Iris. I did see 3 Blue Flag along the trail from Duck Hunters. The rest will follow soon, then riding your bike from Dublin to the bridge will let you experience a sea of blue in the ditches. Both Common Milkweed and Swamp Milkweed are getting taller and will be blooming soon. Large swathes of Royal Fern, Ostrich Fern, Sensitive Fern, Cinnamon Fern and Lady Fern are also growing well in the wet ditches. The ubiquitous Bracken Fern is coexisting with them all. The tiny Canada May-flower is blooming wherever it can and the last of the Gay Wings or Fringed Polygala is hiding once again among the Wintergreen. There are still a few Mocassin Flowers (Pink Lady Slipper Orchid) at the edge of the pond area as well. Some blue European Columbine is blooming on the walk to the overlook. I was surprised to not see more Wood Anemone or Thimbleweed Anemone blooming. We will be watching for these beauties. As to the shrubs, they are really in show. The Brambles (Blackberry and Raspberry) are blooming and growing rapidly. Grapes have the tiny yellow balls that are their flowers. Black Haw, Witherod, Nannyberry and Cranberry Viburnum are blooming all along the trail. Maple-leaf Viburnum is blooming in shady areas. Alternate Leaf and Red Osier Dogwood are also blooming alongside the exuberant Ninebark. Pin Cherry trees are making berries, Apples and Crabapples are setting fruit and the Black Cherries are still blooming like crazy. The showiest flowering is from the invasive Autumn Olive and Buckthorn as well as all of the invasive Honeysuckle, because there are so many in these trail areas and they make so many flowers. Also, all alongside the Averill Preserve is a large presence of the newly discovered invasive European Spindle Tree (a Euonymous). Oh, for a group of folks to work with the County to mark and remove these invasives! Little Forks Conservancy and Chippewa Nature Center are working on their properties to remove these, but the seed bank just from along the Rail Trail is overwhelming. Please learn to identify these and remove them from your properties, along with the Garlic Mustard scourge. I spent 3 days with a neighbor removing Garlic Mustard from the City of Midland property beside our houses this week. The reward is renewal of the native wildflowers in previously barren (except for the invasives) areas. Published on: May 3, 2019
Visited mile 9 of the trail near the Salt River bridge. This area was scoured with a winter and spring flood. It has always had large numbers of Dutchmen's Breeches and Trout Lily and this year is no disappointment. The Trout Lilies are blooming where the sun is warming them. On the other slopes it will be a few days. In the shadier areas, like near the Coles impound yard, they are up but not ready to bloom yet. The Dutchmen's Breeches are in full bloom, especially near the bridge. All these are on the steep slope to the drain and Salt River, so you have to get near the edge to see them. There are some Bloodroot blooming as well. Not in the volume we had last year, however. The Spring Beauties have started to bloom among the Dutchmen's Breeches. Meadow Rue and Monarda plants are emerging and getting taller in preparation for blooming in late May and June. The Wild Strawberries are blooming where the sun hits them, especially near the asphalt where it is warmer. Early small violets are blooming occasionally. The trail has variable bloom times due to differences in shade and slight differences in climate due to the very slight elevation changes and the surrounding drains, creeks or mature woods. In my wildflower garden, the Hepatica continue to bloom. The earlier bloomers have sent out new leaves and the flowers are gone. Rue Anemone is up and budded and Spring Beauties are ready to bloom. The Mayapple are up tall and the nodding or white Trillium are blooming while the Large Flowered, Yellow and Red Trilliums are up but not ready to bloom. In the flooded area of the floodplain, the Marsh Marigolds are blooming and in the wooded areas, the Bellwort is blooming. The Virginia Bluebells and Wood Poppy are leafed out and growing and the Trout Lily are leafed but not blooming yet. Twin Leaf and Shooting Star are ready to bloom and Golden Seal has sent up the first leaves. Labrador Violet is blooming in the hill garden, among the foreign Hellebores and primroses. You should be able to see all of these at Dow Gardens during the month. Also, Chippewa Nature Center has areas with great wildflowers. The early flowers are usually a little later at Pine Haven, so they should be starting to bloom but should have a longer period of accessibility. I love these short time blooming early wildflowers. They are like gems on the otherwise empty looking floor of the woods and trails. Get out and experience the beauty of these small miracles. If you aren't sure what to look for, search for the flowers on this website or other wildflower websites shown in our resources page. There are many fine handbooks as well. Published on: May 10, 2018
Jeanne Henderson at Chippewa Nature Center led a Spring Wildflower walk on Wednesday. It was overcast and trying to rain, but we still saw spring wildflowers. There was an abundance of Spring Beauties and Dutchmen's Breeches. We saw the leaves and seed heads of the Bloodroot that finished blooming the day before. There were still trout lilies (both yellow and white) blooming, but many had already dropped their petals and made the seed pod. Mayapples are getting quite tall and you can see the flower bud in the cleft between the two leaves. There was also a lot of Cutleaf Toothwort and False Rue Anemone. There were leaves of flowers to come--so lots to revisit CNC for. One of the questions that came up was the difference between Rue Anemone, False Rue Anemone and Wood Anemone. They are so similar they can be easily confused. So here is my explanation: Rue Anemone has the smallest leaves and they are in alternate leaflets along the single stalk. The leaflets are petite and very rounded and gently 3-lobed, usually only two sets below the flowers. Each stalk can have many flowers on longish stalks. The plants are petite only 4-8 inches tall. Flowers can have from 5-10 petal-like sepals with numerous stamen and pistils and are about 1 inch across. False Rue Anemone have 9 3-leaflet leaves in whirls of 3 with multiple stalks on a single plant. The leaflets are deeply lobed and rounded. The flowers rise in clusters at end of stems or on stalks above leaf axils. Each flower is about 1/2 in wide and has 5 petal-like sepals with numerous pistils and stamen. The plants are more robust (many leaves and many plants together) and are 4-16 inches tall. Wood Anemone have a whirl of three compound leaves with 3-5 sharply toothed leaflets each. They are palmately divided, deeply cut and more pointed and longer than either Rue Anemone or False Rue Anemone. Each plant has one flower about 1 inch wide with 4-9 white to pink petal-like sepals and numerous pistils and stamen. The plant is 4-8 inches tall and colonizes readily, so is often seen in groups. All bloom in early to late spring along with lots of other white to pink many petaled flowers, like spring beauty, hepatica, bloodroot, and toothwort. Here are examples of the three plants in flower. Published on: Aug 21, 2017
I forgot to mention the most fun find this weekend. I saw an aster that was kind of like a calico aster, kind of like a woodland or flat top aster--but with lots of whorled leaves. My best ID is that is must be a Whorled Aster--which the botanists at Averill Preserve had identified a few years ago and we never got a picture of. Well, I think this is it: Published on: Aug 21, 2017 Well, the weekend was good for finding more flowers. The Hog Peanut and Groundnut were both blooming near the Meridian bridge. Both are ambitious climbers, twirling around any nearby plant. Both are edible: the nut of Hog Peanut and the root of the Groundnut. Here is the Hog Peanut, whose small flowers seem to hang in the air--separated by their vine from the tell-tale 3 leaflets. Here is the Ground Nut. Note the much larger flower and the interesting color.Also, note the 5 leaflets. Along with these, I found large Canadian Horseweed--which always looks ready to bloom or past bloom--even when it is blooming. I also stumbled on two plants I did not recognize. Each had wand-like flower heads that weren't open. The first I considered to be Lopseed--but the stem was the wrong color. Then I realized it was really White Vervain. Thanks, Marcia Dilling for the help with this. The second turned out to be Giant Ragweed. For those of you who, like me, had only seen the innocuous Common Ragweed, this is a startling, large plant. (2-6 feet tall) And the obnoxious flowers are quite attractive in a bizarre way. Now I know why I can't stop sneezing on the trail!
So get out and explore--there is something different around every bend in the trail. And since the leaves are already beginning to turn red and all the berries are ripening and being eaten--we are going to see fall soon. |