Ross Costal Plain Marsh

2013 04 22  We made several stops on this outing, not quite sure where to go.  Favorite places in Ottawa County are flooded, and with a slow spring not many wildflower were blooming.  So south
to Allegan County.
We checked out the train trestle in Hamilton, Michigan.  The Rabbit River was high but the falls/rapids were unimpressive because of that high water.  The water just doesn't fall when the river is so full of water.

Hamilton, Michigan

We went on one of our favorite roads in Allegan County, 133rd Avenue. 

Train bridge on 133rd Avenue

 We saw some white Trout Lily, but it was too early and cold for this wildflower to be open.

                                                    Trout Lily
 On to New Richmond Park, Fifty-seventh Street bridge.  This is on the Kalamazoo River and Rabbit River joins the Kalamazoo just upstream.

 Half of the parking area was under water.
 

 

 

 

New Richmond Park

Our next stop was in Van Buren County, Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve.

Not much was flowering here but it was a wonderful day to walk.  First we walked to the pond where we found Meadow Beauty blooming one year.  We were able to walk all the way around this water, no signs of flooding.

 

 

 About 1 1/2 miles from the parking area is Mud Lake.  We sat and enjoyed this place.

 

Geese on Mud Lake

Not far on the same road (county road 376) is Barvicks Sand Dunes Nature Sanctuary.

Here the little creek had been flooded, we found just a few wildflowers.

 

 Barvicks Sand Dunes Nature Sanctuary

Spring Beauty

Many stops on this adventure and we walked four miles, a good day.

Finding Meadow Beauty and Autumn Coralroot!

So this very hot August day (92 degrees),  we decided on a road trip to Brown Sanctuary along the Paw Paw River in the northern section of Berrien County.

Sign for Brown Sanctuary

Paw Paw River from Brown Sanctuary

Paw Paw River

After Brown we went south to Grand Mere State Park and Natural Area.

We were driving north just into Van Buren County and stopped by Barvicks Dunes Nature Sanctuary.  But what I thought was the best part of the trip was a stop at Ross Coastal Plain Marsh Preserve, where we found two plants I have been wanting to find.  First was the Autumn Coralroot!

Autumn Coralroot (This is an Orchid!)

And the best find of the day was, drum roll please...

Meadow Beauty

                         What a day to remember!