Fall Color from Michigan 2022

 It has been a perfect Autumn here in Michigan, nice weather, vivid colors, and long lasting!  Here is a collection of some things I’ve seen in the last few months.

 Connor Bayou Park  

Mike and I walked here on our 45th!!  Wedding Anniversary.  When we got married there was an announcement in the local newspaper, the headline was, “Couple to live in Grand Haven”.  That still makes me chuckle since both of us have lived here our whole lives.

Bass River Recreation Area

Silver Creek Pathway north of Luther Michigan

Armintrout-Milbocker Nature Preserve in Allegan

Dune Harbor County Park Muskegon County

Kirk Park Ottawa County

Stearns Creek Park Ottawa County. This is where we saw some of the most vivid red leaves,

Rosy Mound Natural Area with my favorite daughter Betsy.  So many stairs but beautiful.

Marie and I went to Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon County this week.  The temperature was in the high 60’s with sunshine and blue sky!

Marie and I went to Pigeon Creek Park in Ottawa County last week.  It was another beautiful day!

I hope you enjoy these walks and the pictures from them.  Happy Autumn!

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!