MICHIGAN BOTANICAL CLUB
SOUTHWESTERN CHAPTER FIELD TRIP
Dowagiac Woods and Trillium Ravine
With Stewards Harold Gleaves and Dave Wendling
Saturday April 30, 2022 from 10 AM to Finish
Join Michigan Nature Association Stewards Harold Gleaves and Dave Wendling to see the spring wonders of Dowagiac Woods followed by a trip to Trillium Ravine for those who wish to go. You may want to pack a lunch.
The 384-acre Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary is considered a “crown jewel” of MNA’s sanctuaries. More than fifty species of wildflowers carpet the forest floor. Since the woods has been minimally disturbed (never plowed, pastured, or clear cut) it is regarded as a high-quality example of southern mesic forest, thus serving as a living museum of how this forest looked prior to settlement. The large size of the property, the lack of disturbance, and its matrix of floodplain, southern-mesic forest and hardwood swamp are essential in maintaining the ecological diversity of the woods. The easily navigable 1.5-mile loop trail allows visitors to observe the sights and sounds Dowagiac Woods has to offer. The path is complete with boardwalks over seasonally wet areas, as well as benches for visitors to relax and take in the beauty. There will be muddy areas along the trail so dress appropriately.
Michigan Nature Association (MNA) acquired Trillium Ravine Plant Preserve in 1983. It is approximately 15 acres in size on the upper part of a sloping wooded ravine but easily navigable. The area is dominated by sugar maples; there are also elm, sycamore, beech, paw paw and hackberry trees. The soil is sandy loam. In the spring is populated with Trillium recurvatum and Trillium sessile, both state threatened, with some Trillium grandifolum. There’s also Solomon Seal, Squirrel Corn, Dutchman’s Breeches, and yellow Trout Lily. Nodding pogonia, Triphora trianthophora was present in the preserve in August of 2012.
Harold Gleaves is a volunteer conservation steward for Trillium Ravine and Brewer Woods, two Michigan Nature Association Plant Preserves. He has a BS in Biology 2014, he is also a certified Master Gardener and beekeeper. He is married to his wife Kathy and they live on 15 acres in Lawton, Mi.
Dave Wendling, a retired Family Physician, and former President of the MBC, SW Chapter. He is a long time MNA member and is a steward for Dowagiac Woods. He is an amateur botanist and his main interests are Michigan Ferns and Bryophytes.
Directions: An approximate address for Dowagiac Woods is 31875 Frost St, Dowagiac MI. From Kalamazoo take I-94 west to exit 56. Take M-51 south to Dowagiac, MI and turn right on M-62 west. Go about 4 miles and turn left on California. Take California for one mile and turn right on Frost Rd and Dowagiac Woods will be on the right in about one mile. Directions are easy to find on Google Maps just put in “Dowagiac Woods Nature Sanctuary”. Approx 1 hour from Kalamazoo.
From Dowagiac Woods to Trillium Ravine Preserve
1669 Riverside Rd, Niles, MI 4912
Take Frost Street west to Indian Lake rd and turn left. Indian Lake Rd turns right and becomes M-51 S Take Ullery Rd to M-139 N
Take Walton Rd to E Geyer Rd/Riverside Dr Turn left onto E Geyer Rd/Riverside Dr. Approx. 20 minutes driving time.