Fall color

Many local trees have lost their leaves already but a few still show spectacular color, like this maple in Kalamazoo's Bronson Park.

The Botany Photo of the Day has an interesting post on how sunlight affects color development in individual leaves.

After Halloween

In my front yard this morning...

Sandhill Cranes

The Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) have returned to the Audubon Society's Baker Sanctuary as they migrate south for the winter.

Crash

This morning, I saw a hawk swoop low across a courtyard at WMU. It flew out of sight but I heard a thud. It had crashed into a glass door at Dunbar Hall & when I took this picture I thought the poor bird was dead. But, almost immediately its eyes flickered and then fully opened. A few seconds later it flew up and landed in typical hawk pose. It looked a bit confused but on its way to recovery.

Orange Fringed Orchid

This pretty bog flower is usually called the "Yellow Fringed Orchid" but our local ones are orange. A less common but more romantic name is "Bobwhite’s Moccasin." Platanthera ciliaris is its current Latin name. It's legally protected in Michigan as an endangered species.

Portage linear park

Portage Creek Bicentennial Park is a paved trail hidden behind Westnedge Ave, Kalamazoo's main commercial strip. It's a popular spot for biking, rollerblading, and strolling. Parking is available at the Portage Library, Celery Flats Interpretive Center (Garden Lane), Milham Avenue, and Kilgore Road. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the Celery Flats livery on summer weekends. It's the centerpiece of Portage's bikeways.

Yellow Coneflower

Yellow Coneflowers, ratibida pinnata, make a striking impression among the tall prairie grasses.