Friday, July 29, 2016

Allegan County Michigan Wild Orchids and More

Allegan County, Michigan has wonderful places to explore!  Last year, Marie and I visited "Happy Boots" and found 19 Purple Fringed Orchids in the wet woods that we named Happy Boots. 

So after a very difficult spring and early summer, we finally had the opportunity to explore and Happy Boots was the place.  It is just part of Allegan State Game Area, used for hunting, hiking, skiing, and for us, wildflowering.

It felt great to be back in the woods, looking for purple among the ferns, Lizard Tail, Touch-Me-Not, Tulip Trees, so much green!  So many plants, such fun!  We didn't find 19 this year, I think it was 11 - Purple Fringed Orchids, but that was just fine.




 
 Also in Allegan County, we stopped by Goose Lake.  The water was way down this year, so we were able to walk where there had been water the year before.  It was very interesting to see the plants and frogs and butterflies that live here.  And, of course, we saw hundreds of Meadow Beauty!
 
 Pickerelweed
 
 Funnel Web Spider
 
 

Beautiful day.  Thanks Marie for taking me!