Swan Creek Trail Allegan County

 Sunday April 10, 2022 

A nice sunny day for a 5.44-mile hike in Allegan County Michigan, south Swan Creek Trail.  It has been many years since we have been on this trail.  Long, long ago we camped at Pine Point campground on the east side of this trail.

We walked counterclockwise starting on the west side of the bridge and dam on 118th Avenue.  It warmed up quickly to 55 degrees and it was sunny.  I found just one hepatica blooming, and we saw Skunk Cabbage blooming. It took us almost 3 hours, including a couple of rests along the way and a short Facetime session with the grandkids.  They wanted to see what we were seeing on our walk.  

The trail on the west side of Swan Creek is marked by yellow paint on the trees.  The trail in this section is easy to follow.  There were some trees down blocking the trail, but we were able to go over or under them.  There are some hills along the trail, nothing too strenuous.

At the south end of the trail, you come out on 116th Avenue.  You cross over the creek on the gravel road that has two large culverts under it.  Now we will head north along the east side of the creek.  There is a sign with a yellow arrow pointing the way, well-marked.  

The trail heads uphill here so you are up and away from the water.  In my opinion, even though it was beautiful on this day, this side of the creek is less scenic.  For me four miles is far enough to walk generally, at this point we had past that mark. 

One other observation about this trail, is that on the northeast side of the creek the trail is not as well marked.  Then, of course you have to walk alongside 118th Avenue crossing the bridge to get back to the trailhead parking area.

It is a more secluded and quieter hike for the most part.  We met a few other hikers, there is some road noise near 118th Avenue, and some gunshots in the distance.  This is mostly State Game Area property.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  

Hepatica Hill March 22, 2021

 

Marie and I made a trip to Hepatica Hill today and found Hepatica blooming!  It was a beautiful day, sunny and in the 60's.  We really weren't expecting the Hepatica to be blooming.  But at the exact same time we each saw the pretty blue flowers.  Such fun.  These beautiful little wildflowers blooming on the south facing side of a hill in Allegan County.

This is what the hill looks like, so we have to stop and look for the hepatica.

     They are just such happy little wildflowers!

We also stopped at Happy Boots.  We saw Skunk Cabbage and some buds of Marsh Marigold.  Then we drove along 133rd Avenue and saw Spring Beauty blooming! 

                         Spring is here in Michigan!
 

Hepatica April 3 2019

 Our first stop on Wednesday April 3, 2019  was Schutmaat Park on the Rabbit River in Hamilton, Michigan. 

Our second stop was New Richmond Bridge Park on the Kalamazoo River located at the historic village of New Richmond  -  Allegan County, Michigan.

 

 
Our third stop was our very own Happy Boots. 

 

 We saw Skunk Cabbage.

 Marsh Marigold Buds

 

And a surprise, Golden Saxifrage!  We have found it here before but not this early in the year.

We saved our special Hepatica Hill for last, hoping that the sunny day would warm the Hepatica and tempt them to bloom.  They were blooming!  What a sight to see.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Happy Boots and Purple Fringed Orchids in Allegan County!

On Monday July 17 2017, Marie and I took a trip to one of our favorite sites, Happy Boots!  A wet, muddy, jungle of a forest in the Allegan State Game Area.  It never disappoints! 
We saw 12 Purple Fringed Orchids blooming, I'm sure there were more than 12 but they are not always easy to find in this green tangle of a maze.  But they are so fun to find.
First here is a look at the place.

 Happy Boots

The plants you see here are Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus).  The Purple Fringed Orchid enjoys hiding among these Lizard tails.

 

And below are the Purple Fringed Orchids.

 Here are some other things I found interesting on this trip.

 

 Moth - Haploa clymene

 Wild Leek blooming, the leaves of this plant come up very early in spring but the leaves die away and now it blooms!  Just a stem coming right out of the dirt with the flower.

 Here at Sand Creek, there was a small bridge but it was replaced recently with this culvert. 

 Helleborine Orchid (Epipactis helleborine) a non-native but still quite pretty.

 There were many of these guys flying around.  Very friendly.

 This is one of Marie's and my favorite wildflowers, Heal All (Prunella vulgaris).  From above the plant, then straight on.  I think the flowers look like tiny orchids.

 

 And then we found Monkeyflower (Mimulus ringens)  Figwort family,  blooming.  It use to bloom near the bridge but that area was destroyed when the culvert was put in, luckily the plant found a new home.

 

 Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)  This is a wildflower, not a mushroom or fungus.

 Spotted Touch-Me-Not, also called Jewelweed, (Impatiens capensis)

 

Another Purple Fringed Orchid, just hanging out in the woods.

 I spotted these little fungus on this tree, taking a closer look they are tiny mushrooms of some sort.

 
We saw a few butterflies, moths, and dragonflies - this one below just stopped fluttering for a second on this leaf.

 

 

 This was just another of our fun outings in the woods.  I have so many more great trips to tell you about, soon I hope.