A New Flower... To Me!

Okay, I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before. We came upon it and it was off the trail a few feet. It was such a bright orange that it caught my eye. I'm still researching what it is, but it was intriguing. What I've found so far is a description of a "Green Dragon" plant, but the leaves don't look the same. Its leaves are like a Jack-in-the-Pulpit, but they don't have berries like this that I've ever seen and we have some of those in our backyard. A mystery!! Let me know if you know what this is!

I think I've found the answer: I think it is a Jack-in-the-Pulpit! I found one in my backyard and it had a flowerhead like this. How fun!!

The Spirit of the Forest

Just a little ways down the path from THE HILL, I found this interesting tree. It looks to me like there is a face in the burl, so I wonder what type of dryad this would be. I am a huge fan of the Narnia books (and the movies) and dryads, which are featured in the books, have always fascinated me. So, imagine my surprise and delight when I found this!

Hiking Again...

Yesterday afternoon we went for another hike. It was a beautiful fall day, sunny and breezy. On one of the trails, there is a rather steep climb that can leave you winded. At the top, your reward!! A sign congratulating you for your trek. I did it and wanted to share it with you!

The Bear (River)

Believe it or not, this is right in the middle of town. The Bear River flows through Petoskey and you can hike on either side of the river, never knowing that you're walking through the city. It is quite a steep ravine at times with the river at the bottom. Yesterday we hiked along both sides, crossing at a footbridge many in Petoskey probably don't know about.

In years past, this area was filled with mills, factories, and other industry and the river was dammed in at least 4 places. There is still one dam left, (shown on June 28, 2008), that was part of this extensive network. Now it is all a nature area with a few hiking trails, lots of woods, and a lovely river nearby. A great place to hike!

Bear-ly There!

The Bear River goes right through the middle of town. There are only 4 bridges that cross the river, so if you want to get from one side to the other, you have to go on one of those 4 streets. The top of this bridge is one of the main highways in Northern Michigan and there is a lot of traffic on it every day. But few ever see the beauty beneath the bridge. There is a lovely hiking path that goes along the river for about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile through town. When you're on the path, you would never know you're in the middle of a city; it is quiet except for the water rushing by and the birds chirping in the trees. Such a lovely summer hike! You should try it sometime!