Grand River Park

2012 01 23 Another gray, rainy day for a walk, but that's OK.  We have been to Grand River Park many times, it is an Ottawa County Park.  Here is what we saw...

  Restored native grassland

 Little bit of ground fog

 Just another field

 American Sycamore with hanging fruit balls

Another American Sycamore tree

 Some of the trails were now streams.

  

We made our way to the Grand River, as close as we could get.  Past the trees is the river.

 Grand River flooding, watch where you step!

We had to circle around because of the flooding, we went through another field, and down a path to see the Paw Paw trees.  We sat on the bench at the edge of a field and had a snack in the rain.

This is the small lake near the entrance to the park.
I know these photos are not much to look at...but it was still good to be out there.

Large-Flowered Trillium Blooms at Aman Park Ottawa County Michigan

May 3 2011  Aman park is covered with Large-Flowered Trillium, a native perennial wildflower of Michigan, a member of the Lily family.  This park (331 acres) is along M-45 just east of the Grand River in Ottawa County about 6 miles west of the city of Grand Rapids.

                                    Large-Flowered Trillium

Also ready to bloom are hundreds of  Virginia Bluebell also a native perennial plant, this one is part of the Borage family.

     The Virginia Bluebell were just starting to open.

               Blue Cohosh through Marie's hand lens

Even though it was quite cold (42 degrees) my sister Marie and I spent 4 1/2 hours among the wildflowers at Aman Park.  Wildflowers were blooming! 

Some of the wildflowers we saw blooming, Bloodroot, Yellow Trout Lily, Large-Flowered Trillium, Virginia Bluebells, Spring Beauty, Round-Lobed Hepatica, Wild Ginger, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Dutchman's Breeches, Squirrel Corn, Cut-leaved Toothwort, Toothwort, Blue Cohosh, Early Meadow Rue, False Rue Anemone, various violets, Wild Blue Phlox, Large-flowered Bellwort, Purple Cress, and Buttercups.  Wow that's a few.  I probably missed some.

Wild Ginger

The Shad (Serviceberry) are blooming, so is Spicebush. 

We found some young Paw Paw trees at the north end of the park with new growth on the stems, flower buds I think.

                                                Paw Paw

Back at the car we enjoyed a cup of coffee and piece of cake then went to see wildflowers at Riverside Park in Robinson Township.  Riverside Park was flooded. 

                                                   Riverside Park Ottawa County