Hofma Preserve Grand Haven Michigan. October 2021

 A walk at Hofma Preserve in Grand Haven Township 

This is the park I walk at most often.  It is close to home, it has woods, water, lots of trails. 

Hofma Preserve has 446 acres with approximately 4.5 miles of trails, an 885 foot floating bridge, 17 space parking area and a restroom.

Hofma Park has 120 acres with 1 shelter, a restroom, a soccer field, 78 space parking area, a softball field and a developed playground.

October 2021 Texas, Gentian at Hemlock Crossing, Ludington State Park, Grand Haven Pier

 We have had a beautiful and warm autumn this year.  Today is November 11 2021 and the trees are still so bright and golden.

This is our driveway, no sun but still warm and glowing gold.

I took my third trip to Texas for the year, this time I went to just play with our youngest grandkids, ages 6, 4, and 2 years.  We played lots of hide and seek at their new house, went in the pool, visited a nature preserve, and a pumpkin patch!  Grandkids amaze me!  What interesting and curious people they are. Each one has their own uniqueness, they are curious and have their own ideas in those adorable little heads. 

 

I really do love being up in the clouds!

After Texas, my sister from Minnesota visited Michigan.  We took her to Hemlock Crossing Park and Nature Center.  This is the park I have been watching some beautiful Closed Gentian, and we checked on those gentian and they were still blooming!  Mid October.

Hemlock Crossing 

We went into the nature center here at Hemlock Crossing and talked with Kristen Hintz, she has so much good information, it was fun seeing her again.  She works for Ottawa County Parks. 

Four sisters go for a walk!  We went together to Ludington State Park, we walked  Lost Lake/ Island  Trail.  It was a wonderful walk and so nice the four of us could be together on a perfect day.

In Grand Haven we went all the way out on the south pier on a very calm day.

That is it for this post.  I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by.

Autumn Wildflowers Ottawa County Michigan

Bass River Recreation Area is the place I go to see Closed Bottle Gentian and Nodding Ladies Tresses, and many more summer / fall wildflowers.  We didn’t have much rain this summer so most of the small ponds were dried up.  I didn’t see as many gentian as some years.  Throughout August and September I visited Bass several times. I really like this place, you can wander anywhere you want.  It is not a "stay on trails" sort of place.

 

We also find the white variety of the Closed Gentian here.

And Nodding Ladies Tresses Orchid are tucked in all over the place at Bass!

 

There are tons of Cardinal flower here too.

         Monkey Flower

     Gerardia

Fields of Joe Pye Weed

                    Chicory 

                          

                 Frogfruit

 

  

   Ironweed

 

Sunshine, Sunny for short

My new Grandpuppy is with me two days a week.  She likes the water but doesn't stop to look at the flowers!