May 2014 in Michigan

Some places I visited in May 2014.

 
2014 05 04 Riverside Park Ottawa County 

 

    Grand River

    Bloodroot   
For more of Riverside in May see 
 http://plantsamazeme.blogspot.com/2014/05/riverside-park-and-aman-park-in-ottawa.html

2014 05 05 Warren Woods, Kesling Nature Preserve - Berrien County see
 http://plantsamazeme.blogspot.com/2014/05/warren-woods-kesling-nature-preserve.html

2014 05 08 Long Lake - Kent County, Patterson Park - Muskegon County see
 http://plantsamazeme.blogspot.com/2014/05/kent-county-michigan-park.html

2014 05 12 Dowagiac Woods - Cass County, Mud Lake Bog and  Trillium Ravine - Berrien County

 

                     Blue-Eyed Mary Collinsia verna Figwort family 

 

 Bent Trillium Trillium flexipes

   Mud Lake

Trillium Ravine

 Many trillium at Trillium Ravine!

 Spider with worm giving a high five.
 
2014 05 19 Barry County Places, including Maher Audubon Sanctuary

2014 05 20 Aman Park Ottawa County

 Virginia Bluebells

 Redbud

 Sand Creek at Aman Park

2014 05 27 Bass River Rec. Area, Ottawa County

 

 Johnny Jump-Up Viola tricolor Violet family

 Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Buttercup family 

                     Yellow Iris  Iris pseudacorus  Iris family

 Super secret pond at Bass River Rec. Area, there are several super secret ponds here. 

 Around home we had a bumper crop of Squawroot Conopholis americana Broomrape Family - An underground plant without leaves or chlorophyll!  

 

 That was as much as I remember about May.  I did take a kayak trip down the Pigeon River but didn't have my camera with so no photos.  Since June is almost over, maybe I will compile the month of June into a post.  
Marie and I found two wild orchids at Bass River Rec. Area this week but I guess you will just have to wait until next month to hear all about it!  Now you are all on the edge of your seats. Right?

Warren Woods, Kesling Nature Preserve, Southwest Michigan

 Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)  Geranium family

My sister, Marie, and I started the month of May 2014 with a visit to southwest Michigan.  Warren Woods State Park, we were here in 2009 (before the blog began).

 We saw many old friends!  Wild Geramium, Large-flowered Trillium, Large-Flowered Bellwort, hepatica, violets, Spring Beauty, Marsh Marigold, buttercup, ferns, Prairie Trillium, Dwarf Ginseng, Squirrel Corn, Dutchman's Breeches, Wild Ginger.  I look forward to finding these spring wildflowers each year. 

Warren Woods State Park - Michigan

Legally dedicated natural area, Nation Natural Landmark

Size: 312 acres  Located in southwestern Berrien County, Michigan - 3 miles north of Three Oaks

"Warren Woods is a virgin beech-maple forest, the last of its type known in Michigan. There are outstanding individual trees of several species, including many greater than five feet in diameter and more than 125 feet in height. Spectacular displays of wildflowers are best viewed in April and early May." 

Large-Flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)  Lily family Most interesting part of the plant is how the leaf and stem come together. The base of each leaf is perfoliate – it completely surrounds the stem.

 

 

 Dwarf Ginseng (Panax trifolius) Ginseng family

 Prairie Trillium (Trillium recurvatum) Lily family

 

 

 



The footbridge at Warren Woods, over the Galien River.  A beautiful place to take a walk in the woods.
Then to Kesling Nature Preserve, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, along the south branch of the Galien River.
http://www.swmlc.org/content/kesling-nature-preserve

          Another interesting place to visit! 

 

Looking down into the ~40 foot ravine at Kesling Nature Preserve.

            Spring Beauty

 

          Marsh Marigold

We were just a mile from Indiana, so we drove across the Michigan - Indiana state line.  Then north to the town of Three Oaks, Michigan.
Harbor Country, website http://www.harborcountry.org/  We have used this site before to research parks and places in SW Michigan.  We actually came across the Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce 15311 Three Oaks Road Three Oaks, MI 49128. 

We had another day with perfect weather.  Fun!