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Tag: Flora

  • Full Moon Nature Walk (November 16, 2024)

    Moonrise Walk to the Pond collage

    WHO: Everybody is welcome WHAT: Join us for a meditative walk to the pond to experience woods in the dark. WHERE: Meet at the main entrance to Scarlett Mitchell Woods (the kiosk west of Scarlett Middle School and south of the bus turnaround loop). WHEN: 6:00 PM Saturday November 16, 2024 WHY: Get a different…

  • Maple

    Maple tree, leaf, bark, seed

    Maple (acer) is a hardwood tree.  Maple timber is commonly used in flooring and furniture-making.  Maple syrup is made from the sap of some maple species including sugar maples (acer saccharum).  Maple tree pests are fungus, caterpillars, aphids and Asian long-horned beetles. The maple leaves are palmately (like a hand) lobed.  The leaves are in pairs…

  • Red Oak

    Oak Tree, leaves, bark, nuts

    Oak (genus Quercus) is a hardwood tree.  Oak timber is commonly used in construction and furniture-making.  Oak barrels are used for aging alcoholic beverages such as wine, sherry and whisky, giving them an added flavor and aromas.  Oak smoke is used to flavor a number of food products.  Oak trees have a large number of pests…

  • Shagbark Hickory

    Shagbark Hickory, leaf, bark, nut

    Shagbark hickory (Carya ovate) is named after the recognizable feature of the mature tree.  The bark in the higher truck splays out thus the adjective shagbark.  Hickory is a hardwood tree. The leaves of the shagbark hickory are a compound odd numbered pinnate (central stem) leaf.  The compound leaf is 12 to 24 inches long.…

  • Sunrise Nature Walk (October 5, 2024)

    Sunrise at the pond collage

    Judy and I walked to the pond at 7:10. We were later joined by Michael and Peter. I saw the pond, pale orange sky, ducks, geese, egret, raccoon, squirrels, reflections on the pond, small amount of fall colors, light on the trees, poison Ivy, leaves drifting down, … A gorgeous egret circled over the pond…

  • Exploration of Scarlett & Mitchell Rain Gardens Nature Walk (September 7, 2024)

    Collage image of exploration of rain gardens

    WHAT: End of summer Nature Walk Featuring Solidago & Sunflower/Pollinators & Predators WHEN: 10:00am Saturday, September 7, 2024 WHERE: Meet at the main entrance showcase (kiosk) to Scarlett Mitchell Woods. We’ll explore the rain gardens at Scarlett Middle and Mitchell Elementary schools. WHY: Solidago is the scientific name of Goldenrod. If the weather is right,…

  • Ann Arbor Parks and Nature Areas

    Ann Arbor Parks map

    The City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County and the Public School system own many parks and nature areas. The Parks and Rec Department owns 50 of the 90 acres of Scarlett Mitchell Woods. Scarlett Mitchell Woods is the big star on the lower right corner of the Ann Arbor map. Ann Arbor has a huge…

  • Northern Blue Flag Iris

    Northern Blue Flag Iris on the edge of the pond

    Last year I photographed the irises on the west edge of the pond, but I never saw them in bloom. This year I did the workday on June 1st and the irises were in bloom. Now, one can identify them as northern blue flag irises (Iris versicolor, which means “variously colored”). The iris has 6 petals,…

  • Doug Fulton’s, A Naturalist’s Journal

    MSWA Logo's Bird

    Doug Fulton was a journalist with the Ann Arbor News. He wrote hundreds of articles. Many of the articles were environmental and nature based. He wrote two full page articles on Scarlett Mitchell Woods. On the ‘Mitchell Scarlett Woods Nature Area’ sign is an image of a bird. Ever wondered what’s the bird, well the…

  • Spring Beauty

    Spring Beauty Flower

    The Spring Beauty (Claytonia) is one of the spring ephemerals. It is a low plant with loose clusters of 5 petals white or pink flowers, striped with dark pink. It has a pair of slender leaves This picture was taken on April 4, 2024, on our first Spring Serendipity Walk. In the morning at 10:00,…