Trails that Receive this Designation are Among the Best of the Best in the State of Michigan The Paint Creek Trail was recently named a Pure Michigan Trail by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The award was presented to the Paint Creek Trailways Commission at the Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism held in April in Grand Rapids. Eryn Grupido and Melissa Ford pose with DNR State Trails Coordinator Tim Novak following the presentation of the Pure Michigan Trail … [Read more...]
Paint Creek Trail Recognized as Pure Michigan Trail at Conference on Tourism
July 3, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Dear Crabby, Have you ever been to a Dark Sky Park?
September 17, 2021 by 1 Comment
Dear Crabby, Have you ever been to a Dark Sky Park? If so, which ones do you recommend? Sincerely, Celestial Observer Dear Celestial Observer, I barely go to parks in the day time, why would I go at night. Parks are packed with wild things and the scary ones come out at night -- bears, coyotes, wolves, bats, snakes, mosquitoes, and hippies -- who wants to deal with all that. However, you know what else comes out at night ... stars! I believe that may be the point to your … [Read more...]
Invasive Species: Autumn Olive
June 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) is a fast-growing Asian shrub that can be found in nearly every open field in Oakland County. In fact, it has established itself throughout the Great Lake states, the Midwest, New England, and south all the way to Florida. The shrub can grow upwards of ten feet high, and easily that much across. Its leaves are a narrow oval with a pointed tip. They grow alternately along the shrubs branches. The leaves are green, with a silvery-green underside. It was … [Read more...]
Invasive Species: Oriental Bittersweet
May 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment
By Matt Forster The classic image of the South, ancient trees dripping with Spanish moss, has changed in the past few decades. The trees are certainly draped with something. It’s the frightfully fast growing kudzu, which has spread from Texas to Virginia, Florida to southern Ohio, blanketing the South in a suffocating green quilt. The climate zones are gradually shifting northwards here in the United States, but so far our cold Midwest winters have kept the kudzu at bay. Another Asian … [Read more...]
