Eastern Hognose Snake, photo by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Of the approximately 2400 species of snakes in the world, Michigan has just 17. The State of Michigan’s page on the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) says (in part): Description: A thick-bodied, slow-moving snake with a flattened, upturned “nose.” Color is variable some have dark spots … Continue reading The Puff Adder aka Eastern Hognose Snake
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, photo by Jonathan Schechter/Earth’s Almanac In Season of the Massasauga Rattler!, Jonathan Schechter writes that the massasauga likes our sun-soaked trails in the waning days of summer and early autumn, so you may catch a glimpse of one if you’re out and about in Lower Michigan. The Michigan DNR page on the Eastern Massasauga … Continue reading Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus)
Northern Water Snake, photo by Brian Laskowski The Michigan Department of Natural Resources page on the Northern Water Snake says: Description: A water snake with dark bands or blotches on a light brown or gray background color. Some old adults may appear solid black or brown. The belly is white with reddish half moon shaped markings; … Continue reading Northern Water Snake
Blue Racer, photo by d charvat. “I liked to go on the road and catch the blue racers and sort of scare my brothers,” she said. “I’d drape them around my neck and around my wrist. I was the ultimate tomboy when I grew up here in Manistee and I loved the Great Lakes. “ … Continue reading Michigan Snakes: Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxi)
Eastern Hog Nose Snake 2, photo by ShaneWyatt. The Michigan DNR page on the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) says this is a: A thick-bodied, slow-moving snake with a flattened, upturned “nose.” Color is variable some have dark spots and blotches on a yellow, orange, or brown background, but other specimens are solid black, brown, … Continue reading Eastern Hog-nose Snake
Bothered, photo by Aaron Fortin. Aaron writes that he spent an entire summer tracking 18 of these snakes around the park and watching their habits and where they went throughout the season. Lots of fun trekking through swamps, up hills, through shrubbery, etc. You can see more of his rattlesnake photos (slideshow) including a great … Continue reading Michigan’s Rattler: the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
Garter Snake, photo by Alanna St. Laurent Photography The Michigan DNR’s page on the Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) says that the Eastern Garter is Michigan’s most common snake, inhabiting both peninsulas and even urban areas. Wikipedia notes that they are often mistakenly called garden snakes or gardener snakes and the UM Animal Diversity Web … Continue reading Garter Snake
Tulips by Rhonda Bonham Rhonda caught these tulips in glorious bloom last weekend at the Dow Gardens in Midland: Established in 1899 as a home for Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow and family, Dow Gardens now welcomes over 300,000 guests per year. Experience a dazzling 110-acre display of annuals and perennials punctuated by distinctive … Continue reading Tulips at Dow Gardens
Manistee Morning Light, photo by Heather Higham Terry Pepper’s Seeing the Light has an extensive entry on the history of the Manistee Pierhead Light with copious information and historical photos. Terry goes deep on Manistee’s history as a lumber port: Although the first sawmill had been established on the banks of the Manistee in 1841, … Continue reading Morning Light at the Manistee Pierhead Light
Ice is Nice, photo by cohodas208c I’ll never miss a chance to tout Terry Pepper’s Seeing the Light as one of the premier resources for information about Michigan’s lighthouses, as well as others on the Great Lakes. He packs them full of the history including the political maneuverings and economic reasons for lighthouse development and closure … Continue reading Ice is Nice at the Menominee Light Lighthouse
Michigan in Pictures 