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.
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Published on: Jul 30, 2020
Well, we went up to the rail trail in Sanford today--just past the bridge on M30--lots of the usual flowers. Bouncing Bet, Flowering Spurge, Bee Balm, Black-eyed Susan, Evening Primrose, Wild Parsnip and Queen Annes Lace were prolific. Along the sides of the trail, still unmowed since the flood, were the homes that washed away in the dam break. The sides of the trail are very steep there, behind the Dollar Store and before the bridge. Whole houses, parts of houses, even the walk-in ice chests from filling stations were piled in with the huge logs of downed trees. Paths were plowed in the foliage on the sides of the trail and tables, fences, decks were piled on top of them. Debris was still in the trees at way above head height on the rail trail. Very sad. I won't be going to the area behind downtown Sanford any time soon. I have been wandering through the Cook School Park with the dog on a daily basis. I have come to appreciate the diversity of plants in lawns that don't get irrigated and artificially mono-cultured. English and Common Plantain, Heal-all, Black Medic, White and Red Clover, White Sweet Clover, Creeping Charlie, Crabgrass and many other plants make themselves at home and grow well. They keep the area green even in the heat that would kill lawn grass and are cool underfoot. They don't need much mowing as the water shortage keeps them short. In the shade of the trees across from the park, the wild area is home to many native grasses that get to about 2 ft and then bloom. The deer have been nesting in these at night. There are occasional bursts of color with the now deep purple curly dock and the occasional Oxeye Daisy or Black-eyed Susan. The birds and small animals seem perfectly content with the mix. Maybe that should be a metaphor for all of us. Perhaps we can learn from the plants that grow without out help and that feed and shelter our wild friends Stay safe and look to nature for beauty every day. Published on: Jun 30, 2020
We went for a drive on Sunday and couldn't believe how many Oxeye Daisies, Yarrow, Fleabane and clover flowers we saw. There was also a lot of yellow Hawkweed and St John's Wort as well. The Liatris and Lupine give a blue note to some areas. Lots of Crown Vetch and other colorful clovers are everywhere. All the grasses are blooming--so the sneezing can begin again. I have been admiring the Elderberry blooming everywhere. The last of the Grey and Silky Dogwoods are blooming. I walked through the old Cook schoolyard and saw the new Catalpa trees blooming--what gorgeous clusters of orchid-like flowers. You never see them on the old trees--because they are so high in the trees, and it just looks like a cluster of white flowers. Lots of Buckthorn berries ripening. Seems the flooding was good for some things. I found that the invasive Honeysuckle and Japanese Butterbur in my backyard were killed by the flood--amazing. It sounds like you can drive to Pine Haven again--there should be great flowering there. I have not tried from Meridian to 7 mile because of the road closures. If you are biking, please let us know what is blooming. Published on: Jun 24, 2020
I have enjoyed the Spiderwort (Tradescantia) in many colors in my yard. It looks really nice with the many Canada Anemone and the Sundrops (Evening Primrose). The Coral Bells are waving nice stems of bells and the Wild Geranium is still blooming in spots. My Liatris (Blazing Star) are up and ready to bloom and the Foxglove Penstemon are blooming to the delight of the bees. Some Wild Phlox are still blooming and the Golden Alexander is starting it's sprint to bloom. Goat's Beard has bloomed and the deer appear to have eaten it. The lacy foliage and pale pink of the wild Bleeding Heart is lovely. My Gold Seal is already making it's star shaped seed. Trillium are going dormant. I lost all my Cardinal Flower to the flood, but it should be beautiful where it was up out of the muck. Look for Lobelia and Wild Lupine to be blooming now as well. The various Sedges I got at Chippewa Nature Center and Ostrich Fern are going strong and some of the Virginia Waterleaf is blooming. Michigan Lilies have buds (those that escaped the marauding deer). My Mayapples are prostrate now, too much shade and they too are going dormant. Lots of Lady Fern, Wood Fern, Royal Fern, and Maidenhair Fern are proudly waving their fronds. In the out-lawns, you can see lots of White Clover, Heal-all, Creeping Charlie, Violets and other interesting weeds. Some of the school property has so much white clover that it is cloud like --very fluffy and pretty. The White Avens, Wild Lettuce, Oxalis, Black Medic and Red Clovers are also beginning to bloom. I have come to admire the diversity in these unirrigated grassy/weedy areas. Soon the Coneflowers and Sunflowers will be blooming. Keep your eyes on the meadows and roadsides. Published on: Jun 2, 2020
So, 38 or 40 at night to 90's during the day in one week! Summer is around the corner. All things Dogwood and Viburnum have burst into bloom. Raspberries and Blackberries are in full bloom. My favorite combo along the trail and in my yard is Canada Anemone and Wild Geranium. About the same size and with similar flowers, they give a great counterpoint to all the green coming up. Tiarella (foam flower) and Heuchera (Coral Bells) and Alum are still blooming quietly in the shade. Most of the Madder and Bedstraw family should be blooming soon as well, since met European Sweet Woodruff is blooming merrily. Blue Flag Iris should be showing the flag soon as well. Then on to the Summer flowers! Published on: Aug 20, 2019
I posted last week but the email failed--so be sure and look at the previous post. This week has brought lots of cardinal flower to my yard--and the hummingbirds have found it. In addition, I have a cultivar of the native Rough Goldenrod, called Fireworks, and it is spectacular. The bees and lots of swallowtail butterflies are enjoying the annuals and other flowers. Out on the trail, there is early bloom on the Woodland and Giant Sunflower, lots of Canada Goldenrod, along with the remaining Giant, Early and Tall Goldenrod. The Grass-leaved Goldenrod is also blooming well and in several areas, the Rough Goldenrod is blooming. The Big Leaf, Heartleaf and Flat Topped Asters are blooming as well. the New England Asters are budded up and ready to bloom. The Beebalm or Wild Bergamot is making seeds, but the bees are still finding some with nectar. Flowering Spurge has started to bloom, so the bright white blossoms are really showing against all the green of late summer. The Black-eyed Susans and Showy Coneflowers have been joined by Grey-headed and Green-headed Coneflowers and the Everlasting Pea is still blooming. Lots more flowers to come as we transition into autumn. Keep on walking! 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: 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: Jun 23, 2019
Well, summer is finally here. The past few weeks have been slowly changing the flowering picture. The weather has certainly played a big part in the succession of bloom and many of the standard spring flowers had very short bloom times and came all together instead of in succession. The summer flowers have been slow to start because of the cool and wet weather. Jane and I went from 10.5=mile road to 8-mile road on Monday. Ken and I went east on 12 mile to about 11 mile and then from Averill parking about 1.25 miles during the week. The Early and Tall Meadow Rue are blooming beautifully now in most areas. There are Oxeye Daisies and some remaining Wild Geranium. Canada Anemone is covering many areas, but Thimbleweed Anemone is the dominant one between mile 6 and 7 on the trail. The first of the Pink Daisy Fleabane is also coming along. Both the Yellow Goatsbeard and Yellow and Orange Hawkweed are blooming in sets as well. The hedge bindweed is weaving among the taller plants. Depending on the area, you can see large stands of Foxglove Beardtongue or smaller groupings of the shorter Hairy Beardtongue. At Mile 12, there is even Black Snakeroot blooming. All the yellow is fun, Golden Alexanders in sweeps, the occasional Yellow Wood Sorrel and Swamp Buttercup, Common Cinquefoil and Sulfur Cinquefoil along with the other flowers. The Black Medic or Hop Clover is really making a show in the short grass of the edge of the trail. At mile 11 on the trail, there is a lot of leafy spurge--very pretty yellow but not native and very invasive. At Mile 11 there was even some Coreopsis and Black-eyed Susan blooming. More of these to come soon. A fun counterpoint of the pretty blue Wild Flax was at Mile 11 as well. Here is where you can see the fernlike bush called SweetFern. Coming into bloom are all the pea family. I saw American Vetch, Crown Vetch, Everlasting Pea, Alfalfa and Birdsfoot Trefoil. The red and white Clovers are blooming and Yellow Sweet Clover has just begun to bloom. Tall Stitchwort and tiny common Chickweed area making a show in the outer areas and both Marsh and Northern Bedstraw can be found as well as the Sticky Willy cousin that clings to your clothing. The last of the Columbine are blooming and Wild Lettuce is ready to bloom. Michigan Lilies are up and budded. Tiny Blue-eyed Grass appears in the shorter areas. The Blue Flag Iris is not as evident as in past years, but you can find it in the low areas. Both Common Milkweed and Swamp Milkweed have buds, ready to bloom in the coming weeks and I saw two Monarchs ready for them. The related Hemp Dogbane and Spreading Dogbane have buds and will be blooming soon as well. The invasive Garlic Mustard, Winter Cress and Dame's Rocket is finishing up its first bloom. The Wild Strawberries have formed and are tiny but delicious. The Blackberry and Raspberry are still blooming enthusiastically Multiflora Rose is very evident in many areas, but you can still find the native Swamp Rose in some areas. The Ninebark is blooming profusely up and down the trail and the Silky and Grey Dogwoods and Elderberry are beginning to bloom. Wild Grapes are blooming as well. Bush Honeysuckle has subtle flowers on short bushes. The non-native Honeysuckles get more attention on the large bushes that crowd the banks near Averill. |