Wildflowers

Spring Ephemerals of our Woodlands

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

The season of spring ephemeral wildflowers is well-underway and is reaching its peak in the southern part of our county; but there’s still a way to go in the northwoods of Oakland County. However, if you wait too long for a woodland walk, you will miss this colorful short-lived show of nature’s spring ephemerals altogether. But just what is a spring ephemeral?

When the word ephemeral is used to describe wildflowers, it means the blossoms are short-lived. The word ephemeral was originally a medical term meaning “lasting only one day.” Ephemeral is not used very often in relation to woodland wildflowers, but it’s an accurate and descriptive word since woodland wildflower blooms last only for a very short time, and some only for a day.  

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Wild Moments of May

Oakland County, MI Government 4 Comments
A 2x2 collage of photos that includes a yellow lady slipper orchid, an Eastern Bluebird, a shagbark hickory terminal bud, and a white trillium

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each.” – Henry David Thoreau The Journal, 1837-1861 (Thoreau, 2009)

A park guide crouches down to show a young girl a bug on her finger
A man, woman, and two small children walk through a wooded area on an overcast day
A woman wearing a hiking pack stands near a small child who has discovered something on the forest floor.

Nature’s way springs to life in May with greening of the woodlands, the blooming of wildflowers, bird song at sunrise, and delightfully longer hours of daylight. It’s the month that not just every naturally curious child, but every adult, should embrace the joys of nature’s way. May is also a month of surprising finds and totally unexpected encounters in wetlands, woodlands, and along our trails.

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Yellow Goat’s Beard of Oakland County

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

In the sultry days of August, meadows, fields and un-mowed roadsides of rural sections of Oakland County present colorful potpourris of wildflowers of every size and shape. Many are native species, others are naturalized plants that crossed the oceans with early immigrants and now thrive in our midst. The flowers attract butterflies and insects of all sorts, as well as human admirers. Among the mix in Oakland County is Tragopogon dubius, a lesser known species with several common names including yellow goat’s beard and yellow salsify. It’s an attractive, but rather unremarkable yellow flower whose presence often goes unnoticed; however its three to four-inch globe-shaped seedhead is eye-catching and resembles a giant dandelion on steroids. And when the sunlight hits the seedhead just right, it’s stunning. Continue reading →

Summer Solstice – Nature’s Way

Oakland County, MI Government 2 Comments

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

The summer solstice officially arrives in Oakland County today, June 21st at 11:54 a.m. EST. This annual astronomical phenomenon heralds the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and conversely, brings the shortest night. The longest day of the year, and all the days of summer that follow, are ideal for exploring the ways of nature in the wilds, and the not so wilds of Oakland County. The Farmer’s Almanac may be a great resource to follow seasonal changes and weather predictions, but just a simple walk in the woods and on the trails of Oakland County will confirm that summer is really here, and so today, I share some of my favorite natural confirmations of summer. Continue reading →

Who’s Doing the Tall Bloomin’ of June?

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

As the month of May faded, frisky fawns frolicking in meadows drew attention away from emerging spring wildflowers. But by the middle of June, the fawns will retreat into the protective shelter of woodlands where they will continue to learn the ways of the wild under the watchful eyes of the does. The meadows, woodlands edge and lakeshores are now ablaze with some of summer’s finest and tallest wildflowers, and by the time the heat of July takes hold, they will be at peak beauty. A half dozen of our tallest and most beautiful wildflowers of summer are now competing for center stage, and the fawns go unnoticed. Continue reading →