Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Newaygo Prairie and Loda Lake

May 30 2013
Newaygo Prairie owned by Michigan Nature Association
110 acres in Newaygo County, Michigan     

Located northeast of Newaygo on the corner of Poplar Ave and 56th street, Newaygo Prairie is a great place to visit year round due to the variety of plants that inhabit it. Prickly pear, which blooms in July, is always a sight to see. Over 100 species of prairie plants can be found in the sanctuary, including: foxglove, yellow flax, prairie ragwort, American wild plum and needle grass. Whip-poor-wills in the nearby woods can often be heard singing throughout the prairie in early evening.
This dry sand prairie is a remnant of a complex that once spanned over 19,000 acres in Michigan. Only 4% of Michigan’s original sand prairie is left. Native tall grasses and other fire-adapted species thrive here.
 
 We saw Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) Pink Family.

 We also saw Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) Rose Family. 

When Prairie Smoke goes wild...

 Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata)

Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) Purslane family

Prairie Ragwort  (Senecio plattensis) Aster family

It was a warm and beautiful day for the prairie.
Next we drove north on M-37 to Loda Lake Wildflower Sanctuary.   
 
Loda Lake is the only Wildflower sanctuary in the National Forest System, a project supported both financially and botanically by the Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan for over seventy years.  Loda Lake is an area that includes a small spring-fed lake, a bog-like wetland area, a creek and riparian marshy areas, oak forest, pine plantations, and an early successional old farm site.

 
 
 Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)
                             Bladderwort

 Boardwalk at Loda Lake
 
 
We heard something moving through the bushes, it turned out to be a Snapping Turtle.
 
 My first orchid of the year, Pink Lady's Slipper or Pink Ladyslipper (Cypripedium acaule).
 Stream at Loda Lake

On the way home I took a picture of this barn, I think I have taken pictures of the same barn in the past.

That was about it for another wonderful day outdoors.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I found that first place by accident one day, and I've always meant to go back when I had more time. I can see from your post that I do need to do that, and visit Loda Lake as well!

Plants Amaze Me said...

Newaygo Prairie is a special place, mostly just a big field no water, but we did see birds! Loda Lake is close to M-37 so it could be a quick stop on the way up north. It is quiet, but does have one house on the lake and a boat launch.
:)

New Hampshire Gardener said...

I'm surprised that you still have spring beauties blooming there-we haven't seen them here for over a month now. The bird's foot violet was a good find. I don't think I've ever seen one. I still haven't seen a bladderwort this year either. That was a nice trip-seeing real prarie is getting harder to do all the time.

Anonymous said...

The Prairie Smoke was the best! What a flower and so many of them. I wonder if it's because the abundance of rain we've had. We should have used a quarter to show the large size of those Birdfoot Violets. Strange that we like a place with no water but it is special. Loda Lake is always good, too. Our one-and-only Pink Ladyslipper this year. Thanks for sharing. M :)

Plants Amaze Me said...

I was surprised by the Spring Beauty still blooming too. The Newaygo Prairie is 50 to 60 miles northeast of where I live and inland so maybe that helped but it still seems late.

We have found Birdfoot Violet in three different locations recently. The flowers are quite large. And yes more bladderwort. There are cactus, Hoary Puccoon, Sand Cherry, many plants I didn't include. I should add a list to each post of all the wildflowers we see blooming, even if I don't have a picture.

:)

Plants Amaze Me said...

Yes, we did go the right time to see Prairie Smoke and the prairie is special.
Soon we will see more wild orchids, just wait 'til you hear the whole plan
for the adventure next week!!
:)