Grand River Park and Grand River Open Space in Ottawa County Michigan

 Grand River Park- Ottawa County, Michigan
Early in September we had a beautiful day for a walk in the park.

Beautiful day, beautiful wildflowers.

 Moth Mullein  Verbascum blattaria  Figwort family

This is an introduced biennial plant. There are two basic color forms: plants that produce yellow flowers, and those that produce white flowers. The common name refers to the fancied resemblance of the flowers to moths.

       Great Blue Lobelia  Lobelia siphilitica  Bellflower family
  

 Beechdrops  Epifagus virginiana  Broomrape family 
This native parasitic plant contains no chlorophyll and obtains its nutrients from the roots of American Beech tree. Without the presence of this tree, Beechdrops cannot survive.

This  Jack-in-the-Pulpit  Arisaema triphyllum Arum family, had bright red berries that caught my eye.  It is a native perennial plant, the red berries are eaten by some woodland birds, including  the Wood Thrush and the Wild Turkey.

I saw more than one of these Hickory Tussock Moths (or Hickory Tiger Moth) Lophocampa caryae.  Very pretty but don't touch.

We also visited another Ottawa County property.  Grand River Open Space - 10851 Linden Drive Allendale, MI 49544.  Grand River Open Space is an undeveloped 233 acre wetland with 1.25 miles of Grand River waterfront. The property has undergone restoration which included planting 15,000 native tree and shrub seedlings such as swamp white oak, black walnut, hackberry, redbud, black cherry, witch hazel, dogwood and elderberry plus other species native to the floodplain. 
Available at the property,

• Small parking area and information kiosk
• Off-trail hiking and cross-country skiing
• Dogs are allowed on or off leash
• Firearm and archery deer hunting

 Grasshopper on a dried Common Teasel at Grand River Open Space.

Another beautiful day outdoors with my sister Marie.  We are very lucky to be able to go out one day a week to parks and places, seeking wildflowers and other interesting things. 

Happy Trails in Ottawa County, Michigan

So to start off July 2014, my granddaughter Vivienne and I went to a day camp "Happy Trails" at Hemlock Crossing Nature Education Center.  Vivienne is 4 years old so everything is interesting to her, she soaks up information and experiences like a sponge does water.  It was a special treat for just the two of us to spend some time together.

The Ottawa County staff were great fun and worked well with the group of 3 and 4 year old kids. After some instruction and games inside the nature center, we were then armed with hand lens and cardboard binoculars.  Outside we go, finding wildflowers and insects along the trail.

We made our way over to a wetland area and the instructors went about netting up critters from the water beneath the bridge.  They found tadpoles, water beetles, and other wildlife in the pond, which they placed in a container of water.  We got to observe these things close up.

As we looked over the edge of the bridge I pointed out a frog to Vivienne.  She said, "Look Gooma, the frog is camouflaged by a weed".  Well, the reporter from our local newspaper heard the comment and snapped a shot of Vivienne looking over the bridge.  The next day much to my surprise there was Vivienne on the front page of the Grand Haven Tribune! The reporter was Krystle Wagner.  Here is the link to the article,  
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/1049761   

      Vivienne looking over the edge of the bridge.

 Grandmother!  Gooma doesn't sound quite so old, but I'm happy to be a grandma. 

 Vivienne showing an early interest in trees at age 9 months.  And below happy to be outside.

Turtle, Bird, Moth, Wildflowers - A Mix from Michigan

June 2013
A visit to Happy Day Acres in Dalton Township, Michigan with my three sisters, one brother, one sister-in-law, one brother-in-law and one great nephew (who is 8 1/2 years old and into birds) was a bonus adventure.  We walked a bit south of the property to a wet area I had seen on Bing maps.  My great nephew spotted a bird off in the distance and identified it as a Cedar Waxwing!  I zoomed in on it with my camera and he was spot on.  What a beautiful bird with his tail dipped in yellow paint.

                                  Cedar Waxwing

Also near the swampy area we saw... 

   

 

 

As we walk through the woods one sister asked about something in a bush.  I thought it looked like dried leaves but wait...it had a pattern to it and little feet holding on to a twig!  I think this is a Small-eyed Sphinx, two of them!

                Small-eyed Sphinx  (Paonias myops)

The Small-eyed Sphinx (Paonias myops) is a species of moth of the Sphigidae family. It is found from south-eastern Canada to Florida and westward almost to the Pacific Coast.  The wingspan is ~2.47-2.72 inches.  Adults are more nocturnal than most sphingids; after an initial bout of activity after dusk, they fly throughout the night. Adults are on wing from June to September in eastern Canada.

More of what was in the woods at Happy Day Acres.

 
  

  

 I found this neat fossil but have yet to identify it.

Earlier that day, Marie and I took a walk near my home to the Grand River, there is a large wet meadow here where so many plants and animals live.  A quick walk to the river and we saw three Snapping Turtles laying eggs. 

Along the Grand River near Grand Haven here is what we saw...

 

What a nice visit with family and nature.

Trail Camera

Here are some pictures from my Truth Cam.

First the Great Horned Owl who lives in our woods. 

 

 

 

 Fox and opossum, look at the size of the opossum!

 
A skunk and raccoon sharing a snack.

 

Raccoon line up.

Notice the white thing flying in each of these pictures, does any one know what that is?

Maybe could it be a Luna Moth?

 

And of course deer.

 

 

That's all for now.

Inside Aman Park

2012 04 23 We dug into Aman Park for about 5 hours on this day.  Many spring wildflowers were still in bloom, they will soon be gone until next spring.
We started at the south end of the park, then cut through some interior sections where no trails go.  We had fun and it was a beautiful day, here are some pictures from that day.

 Starry False Solomon's Seal (Smilacina stellata Lily family)

Starry False Solomon's Seal

 Running Strawberry Bush
 (Euonymus obovatus Bittersweet family)

Running Strawberry Bush

                 Sand Creek

   Beautiful new oak leaves

 It was rough going in some places.

Marie spied a huge snake sunning itself, I only caught the tail end of it as it fled down a huge hole.

Wild Geranium  (geranium maculatum, Geranium family) is a lovely wildflower.  Here are three different ones, notice the centers - with anthers and pistil - at various stages of development. 

Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica Borage family) were at their peak. 

Then Marie spied what looked like a hummingbird, but we realized it was a moth or butterfly?  I got a few shots but the thing was moving around fast.

So it is a Hummingbird or Hawk moth?  It was pretty neat to see.

We found a single Squawroot
(Conopholis americana, Broomrape Family).

 An interesting insect on a shiny buttercup flower...

Finally after 5 hours we came near the north bridge, then time to head home.
Great day.