June 1st started with my sister, Sugar, we biked to Minnie Skwarek Nature Preserve in Spring Lake Township. Then walked through the Preserve. We saw lots of plants and had a nice little walk.
The next outing was to Hofma Preserve in Grand Haven Township with my daughter, Betsy, and Max (my brother-in-law's dog). Another short trip.
On the 6th of June I got two adventures in one day. First I drove north to met my sister, Marie, at Clear Springs Nature Preserve and Henderson Lake Nature Center in Montague Township.
That evening Mike and I were able to fit in a walk at Connor's Bayou in Ottawa County.
June 9th Marie and I decided on Allegan State Game Area in Allegan County, Michigan. One of the places we visited was Happy Boots, a fun area of wet woods, more of a jungle this time of year..
Frostweed (Helianthemum canadense) Rockrose Family
We also stopped to check on the American Columbo plants. We found some but they were not yet blooming. We were probably only a week early.
American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis) Gentian Family. These are tall plants up to 8 feet. The picture just above is the basal rosette. "It persists as a rosette of 3-30 basal leaves for 5-15 years (or more), finally bolting as a flowering plant that becomes 3-8' tall for a single season, and then dying."
Here is a photo of the flower of American Columbo that I took a different year.
June 11th Mike and I walked at Riverside Park in Ottawa County. We walk here often, the trail leads you out on a long peninsula of land that is between the Grand River and Max Lake.
Also that day we saw this...
June 16th Marie and I took a road trip to southern Michigan, and visited Fred Russ Forest in Cass County. The 13 acre park is part of a 580 acre research forest.
June 24th Marie and I explored places in Barry County, Michigan. We saw orchids.
June 27 Mike and I hiked at Crockery Creek Natural Area in Ottawa County. "The 331-acre natural area includes frontage on both the Grand River and Crockery Creek. About two miles of hiking and cross-country ski trails meander along the creek, mature wooded ridges, floodplain forest, open hardwoods, wet meadows and buttonbush swamps. These diverse communities provide habitat for a wide variety of flora and fauna including bald eagles, sandhill cranes, red-headed woodpeckers and river otters. In addition to resident wildlife, the area provides staging areas for many migratory birds. The existing farm house and barn are from a Centennial Farm and are currently closed to the public. "
For the first time this year I saw a Michigan Lily blooming. It was across a ditch filled with water. So I didn't get very close.
June 29th Marie and I went to Muskegon State Park in Muskegon County. Here are just a few things we saw that day.
We found more than 35 separate plants of this orchid in one small area.
So that was some of my month of June. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!
