Maher Audubon Sanctuary

Tucked away in the southwest corner of Woodschool Road and 108th Street lies one of Barry County, Michigan’s best-kept secrets. The eighty acres of forest, wetland, and upland field deeded as a gift to the Grand Rapids Audubon Club by Dr. James Maher in the late 1970s are miles away from anywhere—and that’s just fine. [...]

Stormy Weather

It was one of these regular summer storms. It would get so dark that it looked all blue-black outside, and lovely; and the rain would thrash along by so thick that the trees off a little ways looked dim and spider-webby; and here would come a blast of wind that would bend the trees down [...]

Topwater Time

This is the time of day I love—this time right around sundown when the lake waters turn to glass, and the forested shoreline, gilded by the sun’s failing rays, glows gold against shadow-green before deepening into the twilight.
It is topwater time. Magic time.
I am standing on the shore of Hall Lake in the Yankee [...]

First Day Fishing

July 1, 8:59 p.m.
Whip…swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssshhhh…splash!
My white jitterbug hits the water.
It is my first cast of 2008. I begin reeling in, taking my time, enjoying the wobble, the bubbling splash of the lure; hoping for a strike but not holding my breath. If you’re me, you never hold your breath waiting for a fish to hit. You’d [...]

Showy Ladyslippers

They’re easy to find provided you know what you’re looking for. A short walk down a public walking path through a fen on the south side of Middleville brings you right to them. If you’ve got a nature eye, you’ll recognize them immediately.
I’m talking about showy ladyslippers (Cypripedium reginae). Mid June through early July is [...]