In a couple of places there are bits of views of the Flat River. The river may be flat, but this particular piece of trail was surprisingly hilly.
After I crossed another road, the area became much more dry and with lots of areas of open sand. This one has been used as a campsite. That makes the fire area nice and safe, but it's really too close to the trail. I did my good deed by picking up more toilet paper and trash, but then negated it by losing my chapstick somewhere!
The real treat was the profusion of wildflowers- and much farther into the season than here at home. This one is Celandine. It's so pretty with clear yellow flowers, but of course, I'm sorry to say that it's alien too.
Here's a plant of much higher quality, Solomon's seal. See the little green flowers hanging below the stem?
And a flowering dogwood with the petals wide open. It was practically glowing in the woods.
The wild cherries have also started to bloom. This one had quite pink flowers- unusual. I'm thinking it may have hybridzed.
Wild geranium was beginning to open.
And a very new eruption of Squawroot!
The hike was a great interlude between (gag) shopping and a nice evening with Chuck and Sylvia.
In other news today- I was at a vendor event all day long. Did pretty well, and then had to drive all the way home. There wasn't time to completely fool around on back roads, but I took paved roads I don't see too often instead of the interstate. It took a little longer, but not much- totally worth it for the scenic value.
North Country Trail miles hikes in 2021 is at 285.
North Country Trail, Kent County, MI, South crossing of Grindle St to Montcalm Ave and back. 5.4 miles
 | See NCT- Kent County |
Charlee: "Look at that pole and tree arch! That would be so much fun to scamper along!"
ReplyDeleteChaplin: "We could totally pounce on things from up there!"
Lulu: "The both of you are crazy."
Wow, look how green it is. Love it. I've never seen that squawroot before. It's fascinating. It kind of looks like pinecones.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had Flowering Dogwood here. It barely gets north of Lake Erie.
ReplyDeleteC & C - I have two little doggie friends who would 100% agree with you.
ReplyDeleteAnn- Indeed it does look like pine cones- even more so as it begins to dry.
Stew- I thought it didn't even get as far north as me (this is 60 miles south). But I have found a few isolated trees at my latitude. Not much though.