2026 Spring in Michigan

 Four days before Spring 2026

Four days later March 20, Spring at Connor Bayou Park.

 American Bald Eagle at Connor Bayou Park.

When Spring began here in Michigan, I was on my bike pedaling down the road to see Skunk Cabbage.  It was 48 degrees with clouds and some sunshine.

This is where the Skunk Cabbage grow.

About an hour later I was in our garden where tiny chickweed was blooming. I looked up at the sky, and this is what I saw. Maybe a Sun Dog or sun halo.

The first full day of Spring we walked at Stearns Creek Park.  The temperature was 62 degrees, and it was sunny.  A beautiful Spring day!  I checked the Trailing Arbutus and saw some tiny buds.  I looked at Spicebush but not much happening there either.  Still, it was great to be outside on such a lovely day.

Then I saw a Mourning Cloak flutter past!  First butterfly of the year for me.  It was too lively for a picture, so we walked on.  Just then a pretty leaf caught my eye, it was just a beech tree leaf with the sun shining through it, or was it?  I stepped towards it and it flew away!  It was an Eastern Comma Butterfly!  So beautiful.  It landed on an American Beech tree leaf.  Of course, I don’t carry my camera anymore, but I had my phone so got a picture.

I

Stearns Creek Park in Ottawa County Michigan 

This winter Mike has been keeping busy making sour dough bread and maple syrup.  We put 15 taps in our maple trees on February 16th.  The next morning, we had 5 gallons of sap. We have had many more gallons of sap since then. 

Happy Spring! 

Seeking Spring?

March 25 2018

We still have some snow on the ground, and temps mostly in the 40's.  One day it reached 60, and there has been little rain.  We had to get out there to savor each little plant that is making its way up through the soil.

Marie and I visited three parks that day, all in Ottawa County.  First Hager (Hardwood) Park to find commas!  When Spring Beauty puts up its little leaves, we think they look like commas. 

 

    Spring Beauty leaves

Next stop Grand River Park...

 

 

At Grand River Park we see Harbinger-of-Spring, I was thinking it was just too early, and it was.  We did not find a sign of Harbinger-of-Spring, we did see something sprouting up though.

 

 

After the Grand River Park walk, we went on to Aman Park. 

 

We did find some Spring!

 

    Fur covered and very new, Hepatica

 These were on a hillside that had been scoured by the snow and ice.

 Hepatica leaves from last year....

 A very exposed Spring Beauty with tiny buds.

    Wild Leek   First the leaves show up, then after the leaves die off, the plant sends up a flower.

 We see many Paw Paw trees here.  Here is a fuzzy little bud.

 This place will be covered with Virginia Bluebells in a several weeks.
 

 Virginia Bluebell pushing out of the ground.

 

This is the place where we see hundreds of trillium blooming in late April and early May.  It looks bare for now.

Marie and I sat in the woods and listened for Spring... You could almost here the plants growing through the dried leaves, almost.  Then we heard a weak croaking sound coming from nearby.  I think it might have been a Wood Frog waking up.
It was so perfect sitting quietly in the woods....

 

2017 04 26 Aman Park in Ottawa County, Michigan

 

                         All the white is trillium!

                                     Sand Creek

                            Virginia Bluebell lots of them!

 This was just a quick trip with my sister and brother-in-law.  And I know this post is out of sequence as far as date, since I still have March to finish.  I just thought if anyone happens to see this and they are able to go to Aman Park, they could see this beautiful display of wildflowers, it is a good time.

Spring 2015!

Spring will be arriving in just a few minutes here in Michigan.  To make the day special, we honored it by visiting several parks in Muskegon County.  And we found the first blooming wildflower of the year!

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) Arum family

Dowagiac Woods, our first visit of 2014

April 11, 2014 was a bonus adventure day for my sister, Marie and me!  It has been a slow warm up this spring, I can still see snow piles along my driveway.  The day started out cold, mid 30's but with a promise of sun and 50's by noon.

Harbinger-of-Spring was blooming in my woods so we decided to go to Grand River Park in Ottawa County, Michigan - since in years past we have found Harbinger-of-Spring and other early spring wildflowers here. 

 Grand River Park entrance

Harbinger-of Spring

We went to Grand River Park and we were not disappointed.  Many Harbinger-of-Spring plants were blooming!
So that was nice, but we both decided we wanted to check out Dowagiac Woods in southwest Michigan.  That's about 100 miles to drive, one way.  Dowagiac Woods is owned by Michigan Nature Association and is well-known for its beautiful display of spring wildflowers.

 Old sign from 2008, and below the new sign.

We made it to Dowagiac Woods, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the temperature had risen into the 60's!  How could we not come to Dowagiac Woods today, why not.  Maybe there would be nothing blooming.  We were excited.
The woods were quite gray and brown, but what a great day to be in the woods.

And then we saw wildflowers.  Many Harbinger-of-Spring, hundreds!  One Spring Beauty.  Then Hepatica!  We heard frogs!  Saw a toad.  We sat, and listened to Spring.

 Sharp-Lobed Hepatica

 Hepatica in so many colors.

 

 

 

 

  

Toad

 Hepatica

 Hepatica

 

 

I'm so glad we made the trip.  The hepatica were lovely and we had the whole place to ourselves, except of course for the wildflowers, and frogs, toads, butterflies...

Thanks again Marie for your excellent driving skills, and  enthusiasm!