Muskegon State Park is where we found Cross-Leaved Milkwort in 2010 so we thought we might find this plant blooming again. And we did. It is a very small plant, as you can see compared to the cranberry in the background.
Cross-Leaved Milkwort (Polygala cruciata aquilonia) Milkwort family
Lost Lake at Muskegon State Park - September 27, 2016
We hiked through the dunes near Lake Michigan, it was windy, cloudy, and sunny.
Lake Michigan
We have been to Bass Recreation Area in Ottawa County to check on the Bottle Gentian and Nodding Ladies' Tresses.
This is the white variety of Bottle Gentian we find at Bass, the photo above was taken on August 23, 2016.
And the photo below was taken on September 13, 2016.
The more common color of the Bottle Gentian is a beautiful purplish blue like in the photos below. These plants were also found at Bass, only in a different area.
Can you see all of the Bottled Gentian blooming in the photo? We find this cluster of Bottled Gentian near a place at Bass that we call Cardinal Flower lane.
Below is Cardinal Flower Lane in bloom August 23, 2016.
At Bass we also find many Nodding Ladies' Tresses which are in the orchid family.
The orchid book is 8 inches tall, so this plant was about a foot tall.
One of the many ponds to explore at Bass Recreation Area in Ottawa County, Michigan.
Allegan County, Michigan has wonderful places to explore! Last year, Marie and I visited "Happy Boots" and found 19 Purple Fringed Orchids in the wet woods that we named Happy Boots.
So after a very difficult spring and early summer, we finally had the opportunity to explore and Happy Boots was the place. It is just part of Allegan State Game Area, used for hunting, hiking, skiing, and for us, wildflowering.
It felt great to be back in the woods, looking for purple among the ferns, Lizard Tail, Touch-Me-Not, Tulip Trees, so much green! So many plants, such fun! We didn't find 19 this year, I think it was 11 - Purple Fringed Orchids, but that was just fine.
Also in Allegan County, we stopped by Goose Lake. The water was way down this year, so we were able to walk where there had been water the year before. It was very interesting to see the plants and frogs and butterflies that live here. And, of course, we saw hundreds of Meadow Beauty!
Pickerelweed
Funnel Web Spider
Beautiful day. Thanks Marie for taking me!
