What to See: Plants and Animals
Spring wildflowers include Dutchman's breeches, red trillium, nodding trillium, spring beauty, blue phlox, Solomon's seal violets, doll's eyes, Mayapples, geraniums, waterleaf and many, many more—too many to count! Of course, there are other plants to admire while at the preserve. Queen of the prairie is the most striking of flowers, and restoration has brought back the Michigan lily, swamp goldenrod, cup plant and several species of sedge. Skunk cabbage, golden ragwort, marsh marigold, jewelweed, and blue-eyed Mary cover the forest floor. Above, the canopy is created by beech, maple, tulip, black cherry, black walnut, red elm, and bur oak on 28 acres of old-growth forest.
Flying across the sky or nesting in a standing dead tree could be a number of different species of birds: Barred Owls, Great Crested Flycatchers and migrant species like cerulean warblers, blue-gray gnatcatchers, ovenbirds, scarlet tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, red-eyed vireos, wood thrush, and Acadian flycatchers.
Easy to moderate terrain, two looped trails through the preserve and the beauty of nature will make for a great day of hiking. Watch out for stinging nettle, the most prominent plant in the woods during the summer months.
For More Information
Division of Nature Preserves
