Saturday, July 23, 2011

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.

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