October 2021 Texas, Gentian at Hemlock Crossing, Ludington State Park, Grand Haven Pier

 We have had a beautiful and warm autumn this year.  Today is November 11 2021 and the trees are still so bright and golden.

This is our driveway, no sun but still warm and glowing gold.

I took my third trip to Texas for the year, this time I went to just play with our youngest grandkids, ages 6, 4, and 2 years.  We played lots of hide and seek at their new house, went in the pool, visited a nature preserve, and a pumpkin patch!  Grandkids amaze me!  What interesting and curious people they are. Each one has their own uniqueness, they are curious and have their own ideas in those adorable little heads. 

 

I really do love being up in the clouds!

After Texas, my sister from Minnesota visited Michigan.  We took her to Hemlock Crossing Park and Nature Center.  This is the park I have been watching some beautiful Closed Gentian, and we checked on those gentian and they were still blooming!  Mid October.

Hemlock Crossing 

We went into the nature center here at Hemlock Crossing and talked with Kristen Hintz, she has so much good information, it was fun seeing her again.  She works for Ottawa County Parks. 

Four sisters go for a walk!  We went together to Ludington State Park, we walked  Lost Lake/ Island  Trail.  It was a wonderful walk and so nice the four of us could be together on a perfect day.

In Grand Haven we went all the way out on the south pier on a very calm day.

That is it for this post.  I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by.

More Spring Wildflowers

 Here are some pictures of spring from the last few weeks.

           Large Flowered Trillium at Aman Park

                            Miterwort in my woods

     Bloodroot in my woods

     A nearby swampy area I enjoyed for a few hours.  

     A tree flower ready to open.

We visited Gales Pond County Park and Genevieve Casey Nature Sanctuary in Oceana County Michigan.

    Leatherleaf

 

We also went to Clear Springs Nature Preserve and Henderson Lake Nature Center.

      Trailing Arbutus

I visited our son, daughter-in-law and family in Texas.  I left April 29th and came home May 4th, things had really changed in those few days.  So much green!

     It was a bumpy ride to Texas but well worth it to play and play with those sweet grandkids! 

When I came home Mike had flowers, and a steak dinner for me.  And a walk at Riverside park in Ottawa County.

      Redbud at Riverside Park!

A perfect Wild Geranium

   Wild Blue Phlox!

                        In our woods I'm just starting to see Squawroot!

I'm sure I missed some flowers and adventures.  Hopefully I can post again soon.  Thanks for stopping by.

There are bugs in the next photo so stop here if you don't want to see bugs.  I thought these mites were very interesting.  

Adventures in Michigan from December 2018

Some walks from December 2018 

 December 6  2018    Southern section of Hoffmaster State Park with Marie. The same day a walk around Black Lake Park.  We saw just a bit of the sun, and it was a nice day for a hike.

Lake Michigan

 .

     Little Black Lake

December 10 2018 Out for fun with my sister Marie, again.  This time we went to Grand River Park in Ottawa County, Michigan. 

Grand River

    Bambi Tree at the parking lot

We saw deer tracks going up this tree.  Must have been the rarely seen Tree Climbing Deer! 

 Some clouds, some sun.  Great day for a walk!

December 17 2018 Southern trails at Saugatuck Dunes State Park
This walk according to the map is 5.5 miles.  You start in tree covered sand dunes and end at Lake Michigan!  It is a beautiful walk, especially when the sun is shining. 



     Cloudy

    Sunny

Turkey Tails

 

  Beautiful Lake Michigan
  

 

 

 Part of the South Trail is a large loop, so going back we were on different trails than earlier.  Marie remembered a bunch of stumps that we came across last time we were here. (probably 2014)  And sure enough it wasn't long before we started to see stumps, lots of stumps dotting the dunes.
 
They are the stumps of Austrian Pine. "Around 2012 the DNR burned the pines to remove the Austrian Pines that were planted by a previous owner of the property to control erosion .  It is an invasive species.  The problem with Austrian pine is that it blocks the sunlight from the ground where native species are trying to grow, there presence tampers with the natural process of succession."


 

 

 It is a long uphill sandy climb on this section of the trail.  Whew!

 

Then back through the woods to the parking area.  It was a good hike!

December 19  My sister, Sugar, met me at Ottawa Sands, the new park in Ottawa County.  We also had a nice walk.  It is always good once you get out there.  Sometimes it is the getting out there, that is the hard part.

 

December 23  We were lucky enough to entertain our granddaughter, Vivienne, for the day.  We took her for a walk at Hofma Preserve.  Look more blue sky!

Christmas Day 2018   Our daughter, Betsy, and her husband Aaron joined us for a walk at Crockery Creek Natural Area. 

 

    Crockery Creek

So that wraps up 2018, well except for a trip to Big Bend National Park but who knows if I will get around to that post.  Hopefully more posts coming soon.  Thanks for stopping by!