Bluebird at base of Turtle Hill – March 28, 2008

Bluebird at base of Turtle Hill, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Bluebird at the base of Turtle Hill in the sassafras trees.

Snow Again – March 28 2008

We got a few inches of snow last night. I love snow but I’m ready for spring. It does look pretty though.

Here’s a dogwood.

Here an animal come out of Turtle Hill then decided to go back.

Red Oak

Blanding’s Turtle on Hickory Trail Back of Shell – May 9 2007

Blanding’s Turtle on Hickory Trail Back of Shell, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

I’m walking to work around 7:30am and I spy this blanding’s turtle on hickory trail. I believe blanding’s are a species of special concern here in Michigan.

Eastern Box Turtle – May 6 2007

Eastern Box Turtle, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

I don’t usually find that many turtles on turtle hill, but this one is just calmly staying in place as I take a Sunday afternoon stroll. There’s so much pattern variation is turtle shells.

Decomposer Trio – Millipede Snail and Worm on Turtle Hill – May 6 2007

Decomposer Trio – Millipede Snail and Worm on Turtle Hill, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

This trio of decomposers is under a sheet of shed elm tree bark located on turtle hill. This is one of the largest millepedes that I’ve ever seen.

Waffer Ash Seed on Dirt April 5 2007

Waffer Ash Seed on Dirt April 5 2007Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Here at the base of turtle hill(turtle hill map) I spy this wafer ash seed on some bare soil. I like how the ‘wafer’ seems to be dissolving away.

I’ve read that water ash fruit has been use as a hops substitute.

Mayapples(Mandrakes) on Turtle Hill – April 1 2007

IMG_8035, originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Mayapples are starting to make their presence known to the forest again. They open up like umbrellas.

Mayapple’s scientific name Podophyllum peltatum, means “foot leaf” and “shield shaped”, which describes the leave shape quite well.

Well ripened fruits are edible by humans, having a lemony, banana like taste.

Mayapples grow in colonies. Basically they are all clones connected through underground root systems. That is why you rarely see just one mayapple.

Wildflowers – March 2007

Here are some of the newly emerging wildflowers:

Hepatica

IMG_7496_crop

Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

I can’t remember what this flower is??? I’ll have to look this one up:

These are dutchman’s breeches:

Turtle Hill Tree Nymph – Jan 24, 2007

This Turtle Hill tree looks almost like an easter island statue or a tree nymph.

Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Turtle Hill is a Beech/Maple Forest also called (southern mesic forest(pdf)). These forest are in great decline in fact there is less than 100 acres left of high quality beech/maple forest left in Michigan and Turtle Hill is part of that diminishing treasure.

Beech twig

Sassafras Leaves in October

Nov_Dec_2006 027Originally uploaded by Camp Naturalist.

Sassafras is one of the most strikingly beautiful trees of the fall! It grows on the edges of the forests. This one is growing at the base of Turtle Hill. 

It’s twigs, along with beech, can be used “green” as a fire starter. It’s twigs are actually green in color as well.