Orchids are Blooming in Ottawa County

We have been seeing Pink Lady's Slipper, a wild orchid, blooming in Muskegon and Ottawa County.  Especially good timing since my "orchid growing" sister, Mary Jo, is visiting us this week!

Gale's Pond Nature Trail and Genevieve Casey Nature Sanctuary

2011 May 31  Gale's Pond  Oceana County...again. 

Gale's Pond

Trumpet Honeysuckle

       Liverwort!  (Marchantia polymorpha)  This is very small you have to put your eyes to the ground to see it but it was everywhere.

We saw many plants and yes they all amazed me.  This is a Purple Avens.  We also saw Blue-bead Lily, (Clintonia borealis),  Black Snakeroot (Sanicula odorata), and many different flowering shrubs.

 Bridge on the north side of the dam, don't miss this part of the loop trail.

                       We had lunch under this wonderful tree. 

Next we drove west of Shelby, west of US 31 to Genevieve Casey Nature Sanctuary, part of the Michigan Nature Association.  First time I was here.  It is a nice place to visit, although the trail was hard to keep track of and several times we almost turned back.  There is a loop trail that takes you around a large marsh.


We were greeted at the entrance by many Wild Columbine blooming.

Also Blue-Eyed Grass

Cool bridge over Hmm...maybe Cargill Creek I'm not sure.

                         Along the sometimes very wet trail.

                            The last of the Marsh Marigold

                     Pine in the dry area of the sanctuary.

      Several  Pink Lady's Slipper were looking nice in the pines.

                                             Dragonfly
Well I'm having trouble with this Blogger not working so I'll end the day there.  Another great day!

Parks Nearby

May 6th 2011  Betsy and I were heading up to the Lakes Mall but on the way we made a few stops.  First East Grand River Park (we call it East End Park) on the east side of Grand Haven.  Updates have recently been made to this park, new playground equipment and new boardwalk through the marsh and right to the Grand River. 

      From the new boardwalk at East End Park
We didn't see any flowers near the water, just violets and Storksbill (Erodium cicutarium) in the lawn.


   There was work being done at the boat launch.

   New Playground Equipment at East Grand River Park
Another quick stop was made to Rycenga Recreation Area (16401 Hemlock Dr, Spring Lake, MI 49456).  This is a good park to see Pink Lady's Slipper  later in May, there was no sign of them yet.  We did see many Marsh Marigolds and violets.  There is a nice boardwalk and bridge over the stream.