Huron Valley Chapter

Join the Huron Valley Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Society! Join here! (This link will open in a new window.)

You can also fill in a membership form and mail it in. Click here to access the membership form.

In-person Programs are presented at Matthaei Botanical Gardens auditorium, 1800 N. Dixboro Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48105 at 7:00 pm on the 4th Tuesday of the months Jan-April and Sept-Nov. HVC meetings include a short business meeting, updates, and a natural sciences presentation.

Field trips are scheduled throughout the seasons at a variety of local and distant natural areas.

See below for Program and Field Trip information.

Huron Valley Chapter 2025-2026 Contacts & Officers

Officers & Committee Chairs

President: Neal Billetdeaux

Vice President (Programs): Robert Ayotte (734) 718-6114

Secretary: Julie McLaughlin

Treasurer: Deborah LaForge

Directors at Large:

David Malmquist (HVC Newsletter)
Brad Ruhfel (Webspace Manager)
Ken Shaw (Facilities Coordinator)

Field Trip Coordinator: Christian Tibaudo

Nominations Chair: Neal Billetdeaux

Refreshments Chair: Allison Krueger

Immediate Past President: Anton Reznicek (734) 764-554

We are always looking for people interested in helping at both the chapter and State Board levels. If you would like to help with something, please contact one of us! Currently, the MBS seeking folks who are interested in working with Archives, Finances, Education & Outreach, Environmental Advocacy, and Webspace Design.

Lecture Programs 2025

Fourth Tuesdays at 7:00 pm (unless otherwise noted) at

Matthaei Botanical Gardens Auditorium

2025

Tuesday 25 February 2025

Environmental Toxidromes: Part II: Poisonings - Robert Ayotte

What is a Toxidrome? Join Naturalist and retired Emergency Department Physician Assistant, Robert Ayotte, for a primer on outdoor-related toxic exposures common to the Great Lakes Region. This is a 3-part series that focuses on; Part I Allergies and Rashes, Part II: Poisonings, and Part III Bites and Envenomations. This evening, we will discuss Part II. Throughout the series we'll review real emergency cases and track their management and outcomes.

Environmental Medicine is a very broad field which addresses temperature related conditions and injuries, elevation sickness, chemical toxins, lightning strikes, infectious diseases, as well as allergies/rashes, poisonings, bites, and envenomations. For more information see The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) (aaemonline.org)

Presenter: Robert Ayotte is a naturalist, and former Emergency Department Physician Assistant with 28 years of experience treating emergency patients in both Traverse City and Chelsea, MI.

Tuesday 25 March 2025

Reconnecting with and Revitalizing a University-Owned Wetland: Celebrating the First 50 Years, and Planning for the Next 50 - Alex Hamilton, Jason Krick, Katherine Meono, Gwynne Powell, Molly Russell, and Emily Schultheis

The St. Pierre Wetland is a University of Michigan field property that has been underutilized for its mission of research and education for much of the past 50 years. Its high-quality prairie fen is currently threatened by several invasive plants. Without management, the site will lose biodiversity and ecosystem function value in the watershed, as well as its value for study. We developed an adaptive management plan toward site restoration and strategic engagement with both U-M and external parties. We will share our ecological assessment methods and results, as well as the development of a spatial prioritization model to guide management. We’ll also discuss the balance of learning from small-scale experimental glossy buckthorn removal, while also implementing large-scale invasives management. Spending numerous hours in such a unique and valuable ecosystem has given our project team a deep appreciation for St. Pierre Wetland and we hope to share that passion.

Presenters: The UM SEAS Master’s Capstone Project Team is comprised of Alex Hamilton, Jason Krick, Katherine Meono, Gwynne Powell, Molly Russell, and Emily Schultheis

April 29th (5th Tuesday Exception) 2025

Adventures on Isle Royale - Jesse Lincoln

The legend of Isle Royale looms large in the hearts and minds of Michigan naturalists. Botanical rarities, geologic curiosities, complex human dimensions, and geographic isolation weave together for a story like no other. In 2024 two ecologists from Michigan Natural Features Inventory set out to describe the exemplary bedrock features of the main island. This presentation will be a fun retelling of the adventure: describing the project, giving context to the stunning natural communities, and detailing the denizens that we may or may not be familiar with on the mainland.

Jesse Lincoln is a Plant Ecologist for Michigan Natural Features Inventory. In this role, he conducts thorough vegetation surveys on various public lands to identify important natural areas, document populations of rare plants, and integrate these elements into wildlife management plans. Identifying remnants of high-quality natural areas is a critical component of conservation and helps prioritize restoration actions. He has spent several seasons surveying natural communities across Michigan with several recent projects taking him to many islands in the Great Lakes.

23 September 2025: Current Invasive Species Concerns in Southern Michigan - Dr. Shikha Singh

Join Dr. Singh for a discussion about some of the current invasive species challenges we face in both aquatic and terrestrial environments in the Jackson, Lenawee and Washtenaw region. We will learn how to identify a few invasives, how to prevent their spread, and how to report their occurrence.

Shikha Singh is the coordinator for the JLW CISMA (Jackson Lenawee Washtenaw Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area). She has a BSc. in Biology from University of Western Ontario, and her master's and PhD at Michigan State University from the Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife. She has been working on Great Lakes environmental issues for 19+ years in the fields of water conservation and invasion biology. She works to assist residents and partners in identifying invasive species, providing management information, and how to prevent their spread to new areas. She also gives talks on strategies to increase accessibility and participation related to natural resources outreach and education. Outside of work, Shikha also enjoys nature photography, cooking and playing soccer.

28 October (TBD)

25 November: Environmental Toxidromes Part III: Bites and Envenomations - Robert Ayotte

What is a Toxidrome? Join Naturalist and retired Emergency Department Physician Assistant, Robert Ayotte, for a primer on potentially toxic exposures common to the Great Lakes Region. This is a 3-part series that focuses on; Part I Allergies and Rashes, Part II: Poisonings, and Part III Bites and Envenomations. Part III focuses on animal poisonings and envenomations with reference to caterpillars, ants, bee and wasp stings, spider and tick bites, scorpion stings, snake and turtle bites, and more. Throughout the series we review real emergency cases and track their management and outcomes.

Robert Ayotte is a naturalist, and former Emergency Department Physician Assistant with 28 years of experience treating emergency patients in both Traverse City and Chelsea, MI.

Field Trips

Saturday 1 February 2025 10:00 AM

Through the Seasons at Nan Weston Nature Preserve (A Four-Part Series), Part I: Winter - Trip Leader: Robert Ayotte

Join naturalist Robert Ayotte for a hike along the trails at Nan Weston for an exploration of plants in their winter condition with a focus on dormant trees and shrubs, evergreens, and persistent fruits. We’ll also keep an eye out for evidence of insects, birds and abandoned nests, and tracks in the snow.

Meet at the Nan Weston Nature Preserve Parking Lot on Easudes Rd. The hike will be 2.5 miles over relatively level terrain. If conditions are icy wear your Yak Trax.

This is the first of a four-part series whereby we will visit Nan Weston in each of the four seasons.

Saturday 5 April 2025. 10:00 AM

Early Spring Flora at Sanford Natural Area - Trip Leader: Scott Warner

Sanford Natural Area is a 34-acre closed-canopy floodplain forest, directly adjacent to the Red Cedar River on the Michigan State University campus. Join us as Scott Warner, a botanist with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI), leads us through this woodlot and showcases some of the earliest spring vegetation it has to offer. A pair of good boots is highly recommended, as much of the site is floodplain forest and may be inundated this time of year.

There are a number of pay-to-park areas on Michigan State's campus, and there is usually parking (paid) directly across Hagadorn Rd at the Community Music School.

Saturday 12 April 2025. 10:00 AM

Hunt for Harbinger-of-Spring, Erigenia bulbosa at Dexter-Huron Metropark - Trip Leader: TBD

A number of woodland perennial herbs take advantage of the increased light availability of early spring in order to complete their life cycles. These small but often conspicuous plants are often termed "spring ephemerals". They are dormant throughout the winter as modified underground stems including bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers. When the soil warms, and is moistened by spring rains, these structures quickly send up leaves, form flowers, and set fruit all before the development of heavy shade from the forest canopy.

One of the earliest of these ephemeral plants is the Harbinger-of-Spring (Erigenia bulbosa) , a diminutive but aptly named plant that signals the arrival of mild weather and relief from the cold darkness of winter. Join us at Dexter-Huron Metropark as we search for flowering individuals of Erigenia and discuss other spring ephemeral plants such as cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), spring-beauties (Claytonia virginica), wild leeks (Allium tricoccum), and yellow trout-lily (Erythronium americanum), among many others.

Meet at the far-eastern parking lot of Dexter-Huron Metropark (6535 Huron River Drive, Dexter, MI 48130)

Park Fee: $10 or Annual Vehicle Metroparks Pass

Saturday, 10 May 2025. 10:00 AM

"Through the Seasons" - A Four-Part Series: Spring (at Nan Weston Preserve) - Trip Leader: Bob Smith

Earlier this season we had the opportunity to experience Nan Weston Preserve through a very different lens. Now, dormancy has long been broken, and the growing season is well underway. Led by Bob Smith, we’ll examine these differences and enjoy the bountiful blooms that springtime in Nan Weston has to offer. Like last time, we plan to hike about 2.5 miles over relatively level terrain. Meet at the Nan Weston Nature Preserve Parking Lot on Easudes Rd. Conditions may be muddy and buggy, so bring your boots and bug spray.

Saturday, 17 May 2025. 10:00 AM

"Bog" Flora at The Eddy Discovery Center - Trip Leader: Christian Tibaudo

Peatlands are a specific type of wetland characterized by an accumulation of Sphagnum moss, which in oxygen poor environments partially decomposes to form peat. Bogs and fens are examples of peatlands but differ greatly in pH and hydrology. Some of our most attractive and conspicuous plants can be found in bogs and other nutrient-poor peatlands. The Eddy Discovery Center provides an excellent opportunity to see these plants and many others from the comfort of a boardwalk. On our walk to the "bog", we will meander through mature southern mesic forest where we will see notable plants such as leatherwood (Dirca palustris), and will pass through quality seep-fed southern hardwood swamp with goldthread (Coptis trifolia). In the "bog", we will see many outstanding plants, including blooms such as bog-bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) and various orchids.

Join us as field trip coordinator Christian Tibaudo leads us to the bog, and provides discussion on ecology and the vegetation it has to offer. We will meet at the parking lot furthest from the discovery center (42.32422021980183, -84.08530946902347). Note that they are making renovations on the discovery center building, so there may be some construction traffic.

Saturday, 31 May 2025. 10:00 AM

Sedges and Late Spring Flora at the Draper-Houston Preserve - Trip Leader: Anton Reznicek

The Draper-Houston Meadows preserve is just west of Milan with a diversity of habitats along a half mile of the Saline River. There are a couple of miles of trail, forming a nice loop. Along the river, there is a diverse floodplain forest with a variety of trees, including large stands of pawpaw, plus typical floodplain sedges. The wettest parts are silver maple bottoms, and open buttonbush wetlands, which will likely still be flooded. Upland from the floodplain, there are wooded slopes replete with wildflowers as well as stream valleys with a rich sedge and wildflower flora. At the far end of the preserve, there is a mature woodlot also with rare trees and interesting sedges.

Rivers are corridors for plants and animal migration, so we will see some southern plants that are generally uncommon in Michigan such as Kentucky coffee tree (Gynmnocladus dioicus), red mulberry (Morus rubra), pawpaw (Asimina triloba), four-angled ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata), and wahoo (Euonymus atropurpureus) and also southern sedges like Carex davisii and Carex frankii. Trails are flat or gently sloping, but may be muddy if it has recently rained. Depending on the season, there may be a few mosquitos. - Anton Reznicek

The parking lot address is 578 Mooreville road, Milan, MI 48160. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, or recommendations for future trips. I am hoping to have the schedule for the second half of the year figured out shortly.

HVC Field Trips 2024

Saturday, 10 February 2024

Tour of the University of Michigan Herbarium - Anton Reznicek, University of Michigan Curator Emeritus

While it is still too early to see much blooming outside, there are hundreds of thousands of Michigan plants pressed and stored in the University of Michigan Herbarium reflecting almost two centuries of botanical work in the State. We’ll look at how these specimens are used and “translated” into the Michigan Flora, who the major collectors were, and also specimens from some of the pioneers of Michigan plant exploration. We’ll also have a brief look at the world-wide breadth of the Herbarium beyond Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

Note: the Herbarium is at 3600 Varsity Drive (off Ellsworth) – parking is free on weekends. The building's front doors will be locked, so we’ll have to be near the doors to let people in, so do try to be on time.

Saturday, 13 April 2024. 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Rendez-vous with Harbinger of Spring at Dexter-Huron Metropark - Trip Leader: Robert Ayotte

Heat exposure over time (heat sum or degree heat days) is the main driver for spring blooming and leaf-flushing for Northern Temperate plants (Rathcke and Lacey 1985, Bertin 2008). Given the recent mild winter, we are expecting an early emergence on the part of our spring ephemerals.

The term “spring ephemeral” refers to small woodland perennial herbs that take advantage of a period of high light intensity to complete their life cycles. They are dormant through the winter as modified underground stems including bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers. When the soil warms, and is moistened by spring rains, these structures quickly send up leaves, form flowers, and set fruit all before the development of heavy shade from the forest canopy.

Under the floodplain canopy we’ll expect to see harbinger of spring (Erigenia bulbosa), cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), false rue-anemone (Enemion biternatum), and ramps (Allium tricoccum), and trout lily (Erythronium americanum). Along the B2B trail we may also observe the blooms of spring-beauty (Claytonia virginica), round-lobed hepatica (Hepatica americana), skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), and hazelnut (Corylus americana).

Meet at the far-eastern parking lot of Dexter-Huron Metropark

6535 Huron River Drive

Dexter, MI 48130

Park Fee: $10 or Annual Vehicle Pass

Saturday, 20 April 2024 - 10 AM - Noon

Mason High School Woods - Trip Leader: Scott Warner

Description: Paradoxically, municipal parks can support some of the oldest and richest remnant forests if they were set aside early enough and appropriately protected. This is true of Scott Woods Park in Lansing, Bennett Park in Charlotte, and the high school woodlot in Mason. This woodlot seems to be of little fame among the Michigan botanical community, but this is not for lack of quality. This mesic southern forest supports a canopy of large sugar maple, with lesser amounts of red oak, beech, and basswood. The spring flora is about as rich as any woodlot in southern Michigan, sure to delight the wildflower enthusiast. Among the flowers are Phlox divaricata, Trillium grandiflorum, Erythronium americanum, Dicentra cucullaria, Viola eriocarpa, Uvularia grandiflora, Sanguinaria canadensis, and Hydrophyllum canadense. There is also a diversity of sedges, the identification of which we will discuss, including Carex plantaginea, C. hirtifolia, C. woodii, and C. careyana.

Recognizing that this is a longer drive for many club members, attendees will receive a pamphlet with information about some other beautiful mesic forests in Ingham County, with directions included, to help make the trip worth the drive. Dansville State Game Area is also conveniently en route from Chelsea and Ann Arbor. Though it doesn’t support a rich spring flora, it offers very pleasant hiking.

Meeting place: Directly west of Ingham County fairgrounds, directly south of Rayner Park. Park and meet at trailhead on north perimeter of woodlot, at southern terminus of County Park Rd, 42.57198, -84.43149. From Chelsea, take M-52 N to M-36 W. Take M-36 W into Mason. At Rayner Park on the east edge of town, turn left onto County Park Rd. or Schaeffer Dr. Travel south along the park roads to the meeting location. Note: this is not the same as the rich woodlot on the north side of Mason near the elementary school.

Bio: Scott Warner is a botanist with a focus on the vascular plants of Michigan. He received his PhD in Plant Biology from Michigan State University. Since 2021, he has been a conservation associate at MNFI and since 2023 instructor of Plant Systematics at MSU.

Saturday, 27 April 2024 - 10:00 AM -2:00 PM.

A celebration of the mesic southern forest community (AKA beech-maple forest type). - Trip Leader: Robert Ayotte

Notes from the original Government Land Office surveys (1815-1856) suggest that, in Michigan, the pre-European settlement mesic southern forest community occupied about 6 million acres. It was, by far, the most common forest type in the southern half of the lower peninsula – with patches from less than one acre to over 400,000 acres (mean size of 9,000 acres). Land clearing for settlement, agriculture, timber, and development has confined this community to small fragments, often less than 40 acres. The NatureServe Global and State Conservation Status Categories are Global 2 (imperiled) and State 3 (vulnerable) (NatureServe 2024; Cohen et al. 2020).

Join the HVC for an exploration of two mesic southern forest fragments including Creekshead Nature Preserve (Legacy Land Conservancy) and Miller Woods (Plymouth Community School District). We’ll talk about the ecosystem dynamics, especially as regards the historical role of fire, and enjoy spring ephemerals along the way.

Parking at these sites is extremely limited so we’ll meet at Matthaei Botanical Gardens for Carpooling. Each of these walks will be about 0.5 miles. The trails at Creekshead NP are easy-going and flat while those at Springhill NP are gently sloping. As usual, we’ll be moving at a botanical-club pace!

Saturday, 4 May 2024 - 10:00 AM

Field trip to Mary Beth Doyle Park - Trip leader: Bev Walters

Another woodland gem! In this case a wet-mesic forest nestled along Mallets Creek in Mary Beth Doyle Park (Ann Arbor's south side) . Here we will find many of the common spring ephemerals: Trillium grandilforum (common trillium), Geranium maculatum (wild geranium) and Erythronium americanum (yellow trout-lily) that are typical in forested habitats in SE Michigan. The woods also support large populations of the more uncommon Erythronium albidum (white trout-lily) and Trillium flexipes (drooping trillium), whose down-turned flowers are sometimes hard to spot among those of its large-flowered cousin. These wildflower displays have been greatly enhanced by the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation restoration activities which have been ongoing in the woods for nearly three decades. Trails are a mix of plank boardwalks and footpaths that may be quite muddy or wet in places, so wear appropriate footwear.

Note: there are several entrances to the park - we'll meet at the SE trailhead at the Verle St deadend, west off Platt Road.

Questions? Guerin (734) 904-1484

Sunday, 19 May - 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Capstone Master’s Project: Joint program with the UM School for Environment and Sustainability. Trip Leader: Robert Ayotte

HVC members will join a University of Michigan School for the Environment & Sustainability 2024-25 capstone master’s project team that is conducting a detailed forest ecosystem assessment at Nature and Nurture Heirloom Organic Seed Farm of Dexter, MI. The 130-acre Farm, co-owned by Mike Levine and Erica Kempter, displays a mix of forest types home to a wide array of spring ephemerals and pteridophytes.

The Capstone team would like to collaborate with the HVC in order to develop a greater understanding of the landforms, soils, and flora of the wooded area. The goals include conducting an assessment of the farm's natural areas, producing a Strategic Stewardship Plan, and demonstrating the concept to the local farming community.

Friday, 31 May to Monday, 3 June, 2024

2024 Spring Foray

Save the Date: The Huron Valley Chapter is coordinating the 2024 Spring Foray at Adrian College.

Registration: Like previous forays, registration will be done online through CheddarUp. More information about the foray agenda and

ield trips can be found in the recent issue of Arisaema. Here is the link for registering:

https://mbs-2024-spring-foray-adrian-college-may31-june-2.cheddarup.com/

Saturday, 29 June, 2024 - (originally scheduled for 10 a.m. changed to 2pm due to weather forecast).

Pickerel Lake

Having fully recovered from the foray in Adrian, let’s meet at Pickerel Lake’s parking lot for a hike around the lake and into the oak barrens. This is a pop-up field trip with Robert Ayotte as FT leader. He’s up north on assignment with MFNI therefore prepping will be minimal, but he and we know enough to make for an excellent and informed outing. We’ll traverse through oak-hickory forest, check out the emergent vegetation in the lake’s shallows, visit the sand barrens with bird’s-foot violets, Tephrosia and dwarf chinquapin oak, scout for Lithospermum (puccoons) and lupines, and skirt some wet depressions dominated by royal and cinnamon ferns.

Other than a few short up- and down-hill climbs in the woods, we’ll be on mostly level solid ground. For those who remember getting ‘lost’ in the barrens searching for lupines, we’ll skip that part this time. Pickerel Lake is located off Hankerd Rd north of North Territorial in Dexter Township. Last I checked, North T is still closed at Dexter Town Hall Rd; access from the west (Chelsea) likely the easiest approach. Let’s meet at the Pickerel Lake parking lot (the one at the end of the drive, closest to the lake) at 2:00 pm. Questions? E-mail, call or text Guerin Wilkinson at (734) 904-1484.

Saturday, 20 July, 2024

Kitty Todd Preserve in Ohio

The Nature Conservancy’s Kitty Todd Preserve west of Toledo is arguably the most exciting destination for botanists within an hour’s drive of Ann Arbor. And if you’ve had the pleasure of being in the field or hearing a talk by Todd Crail, you would recognize him as among the most dynamic of presenters. Todd proposed this field trip as a follow-up to the one he led during the foray in Adrian.

Kitty Todd is the centerpiece of the 1300 square mile Oak Openings region. As TNC describes the preserve, It is “composed of low-lying wetlands and windblown sand dunes populated by prairie, oak savanna, woodland and forest in a rural suburban area. Home to the globally endangered black oak savanna community, the preserve has one of the highest concentrations of rare species of any nature preserve in the state.” As members of MBS have learned, It is ALWAYS a treat to visit this area.

At the University of Toledo, Todd teaches a course on the community ecology of the plants and herpetofauna of the Oak Openings region. He is particularly knowledgeable about the effects of both fire suppression and the use of fire as a management practice. He also teaches classes on the ecology and conservation of fresh water fishes and river mussels.

We will meet at 10:00 at Kitty Todd headquarters at 10420 Old State Line Rd in Swanton, Ohio. Questions? Call or text Guerin Wilkinson at (734) 904-1484.

Saturday, 24 August, 2024 at 10 a.m.

Field trip to Lake Erie (Sterling State Park), Trip Leader: Bob Smith

Of the 103 state parks in Michigan there’s only one on Lake Erie: Sterling State Park in Monroe. The state claims that the park protects more than 500 acres of Great Lakes marsh and restored lakeplain prairie habitat. These native ecosystems are ridiculously rare. Our field trip leader Bob Smith has visited this park a number of times in the past, and he has volunteered to lead a field trip there.

The big draw here is the American lotus (Nelumbo lutea). A lotus flower, here in Michigan! Bob says he also recalls Strophostyles, Echinochloa walteri, Oenothera gaura, and Sagittaria montevidensis. Of course it’s not just about the plant species. We’re doing deep(ish) dives into natural environments that were very common when Europeans arrived, and which now are barely hanging on, and only with great effort. That’s reason enough to join this field trip.

Sterling State Park is at 2800 State Park Rd. It has its own road (which runs off of Dixie Highway), so just navigate to the park. Interstate 75 will get you very close. It’s a 45-minute drive from Ann Arbor. Meet at the parking lot with a sign that says “Trail head fishing piers.” Enter the park, take the curve around to the right and continue a bit further in that direction.

Questions? Call or text Guerin Wilkinson at (734) 904-1484.

20 September 10 am - 12 pm

Return to Nature & Nurture Farm: A Focus on Asters and Goldenrods! Trip Leader: Kate Laramie & The UM Capstone Crew

Our University of Michigan Capstone graduate team will be meeting with HVC member Kate Laramie from the Huron River Watershed Council at Nature & Nurture Farm for a fall natural areas assessment. As a compliment to our spring assessment, we will add as much fall flora as we can identify.

Robert will bring the key for the Asteraceae. They are a tough family! Be sure to bring your Loupe!

Location: 7100 Marshall Rd. Dexter, MI

Saturday 21 September at 12:00 PM

Fall HVC Members Potluck at Furstenberg Nature Area

2626 Fuller Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Let’s celebrate the end of another fabulous field season! Furstenberg Nature Area is a 38-acre park on Fuller Road just west of Gallup Park. The green space borders the Huron River and comprises floodplain forest, oak savanna, and various wetlands. The Natural Areas Preservation staff has been conducting controlled burns for invasive and shrub removal since 1996.

There are picnic tables sans shelters so we shall hope for good weather and adjust as needed. Bring your favorite dish to share, and a tasty beverage. Consider bringing your fancy mess kit and scout’s utensils. (The M football game is not until 3:30 PM so traffic should not be too bad).

We’ll have a botany ramble after the meal; so don't forget your loupe!

Saturday, 28 September, 2024 at 10 a.m.

Fall 2024 Mini-Foray at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery

The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery is just west of Kalamazoo, off MI-43. The address: 34270 County Rd 652, Mattawan, MI 49071. The day will kick-off at 10 AM with the MBS State Board meeting, as well as hatchery tours and on-site bird watching with the Kalamazoo Audubon Society. There will be a bring-your-own lunch break at 11:30. At 12:30, Rachel Hackett with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory will provide a presentation on Michigan Fens. At 1:30, we will break into smaller groups for field trips to some close-by preserves. The day ends when you wrap up your field trip.

On-line registration at https://forms.office.com/r/EqVsPtm6hy

For further information contact Joe Trapp (joe.trapp66@gmail.com), Michigan Botanical Society, Southwestern Chapter

Location: Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, 34270 County Rd 652, Mattawan, MI 49071

Coordinates: 42.29467967389622, -85.78331290097005

Hatchery is west of Kalamazoo on M-43.

Schedule

10:00 am [Use on-line registration and select your choice]

-MBS State Board Meeting

-DNR Fish Hatchery tours

-On-site bird watching with Audubon Society of Kalamazoo

-Self-guided tour of Hatchery grounds

-None of the above

11:30 am Lunch Break – bring your own lunch.

12:30 pm Lecture – Rachel Hackett, Conservation Associate – Botanist, MNFI, “Michigan Fens”

1:30 pm Field Trips. [Use on-line registration and select your 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd choice]

Portman Nature Preserve offers 189 acres of high-quality prairie fen, wetland, oak savanna,

and woodland habitats, and is blessed with water from three lakes, a creek, and hundreds of

springs. The fen should be showing the typical fen composites Solidago rugosa, Aster puniceus,

and others. With canopy thinning, burning, and invasives control, the oak savanna is recovering.

The savanna features a large population of Frasera caroliniensis (columbo) that flowered in the

spring.

Leader: Mitch Lettow, SWMLC Stewardship Director

Location: 28779-27815 49th Ave, Paw Paw, MI 49079, (approximately 6 miles, 9 minutes from

Wolf Lake). Coordinates: 42.24094184199954, -85.83136874552353. Off street parking.

Difficulty Level: Moderate. The terrain is mostly flat. If entering the fen, rubber boots are

recommended. Insect repellent, sunscreen, water as well as suitable clothing are suggested.

Wolf Tree Nature Trails hilly terrain was formed by glaciers leaving behind tons of sand and

gravel when they melted. Of the 69 acres, about two-thirds of the property is wooded, with the

occasional iconic wolf tree reminding visitors of its savanna past. The other portion of the

property is rolling, open, and crowded with wildflowers in summer and fall. Years of restoration

efforts are producing great results.

Leader: David Riggs, Steward, Southwestern Chapter member

Location: 8794 W Kl Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, (approximately 5 miles, 7 minutes from Wolf

Lake). Coordinates: 42.28111151553189, -85.72261726086212. Off street parking.

Difficulty Level: Easy. Insect repellent, sunscreen, water as well as suitable clothing are

suggested.

Jepthta Lake Fen Preserve offers 49 acres of high-quality wetlands found along the shores of

Upper and Lower Jeptha Lakes. The high alkalinity and low nutrients of the spring-fed fens

support showy and unusual wildflowers, such as cotton grass, pitcher plants, marsh blazing

stars, and sundews. Of particular interest is the white form of swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)

that occurs here. A boardwalk provides easy access to the fen.

Leader: Chuck Jordan, Steward, Southwestern Chapter member

Location: 49123 County Rd 380, Grand Junction MI (approximately 16 miles, 20 minutes from

Wolf Lake). Coordinates: 42.346620779550214, -86.0237544031893. Limited parking.

Difficulty Level: Moderate. The terrain is mostly flat. If entering the fen, rubber boots are

recommended. Insect repellent, sunscreen, water as well as suitable clothing are suggested.

Paw Paw Prairie Fen Preserve is a 106-acre preserve along the east branch of the Paw Paw

River near Mattawan MI. Restoration began in 2004 with the removal of invasives and efforts to

restore the native savanna. The fen fed by alkaline, mineral-rich groundwater supports highly

diverse and rare plant life. There are several types of fens, but prairie fens, like Paw Paw Prairie

Fen, provide habitat for both wetland and prairie plants, making them especially diverse and

important to the preserve.

Leader: Dan Burton, Southwestern Chapter member

Location: 22nd St & S Avenue, Mattawan MI (approximately 11 miles, 18 minutes from Wolf

Lake). Coordinates: 42.17735757235693, -85.7648525819838. Off street parking.

Difficulty Level: Moderate. The terrain is mostly flat. If entering the fen, rubber boots are

recommended. Insect repellent, sunscreen, water as well as suitable clothing are suggested.

Saturday, October 12, 2024. 10:00am-12:00pm

Fall Botany at Leonard Preserve, Manchester, MI. Trip Leader: Neal Billetdeaux

The 259-acre Leonard Preserve is the largest natural area in the County’s system of NAPP preserves. Its

diverse landscape includes rolling hills, oak-hickory woods, wetlands, sedge meadows and prairie

remnants and nearly one mile of winding River Raisin shoreline. HVC has not led a trip to this wonderful

preserve since 2019. We will focus on trees and shrubs as well as some of the late goldenrods and

asters and perhaps a discussion on fall colors. We will be walking mostly on mowed paths which could

be a little wet. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Exploring other parts of the preserve is an

option following the hike for those interested. These coordinates in your browser will take you there:

42.1513, -84.0503. You can find directions at the link below:

https://www.washtenaw.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Leonard-Preserve-13

Previous HVC Meetings and Field Trips are archived here.