RHH's photos with the keyword: grand rapids

This old barn, once part of a farm, is now in the Ravines park in western Michigan.

This suspension bridge is on one of the trails at Grand Rapids Ravines, a park in western Michigan.

Photographed in Millennium Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this Red Admiral Butterfly looks somewhat worse for the wear. My wife and I hiked in the park while in Michigan recently and spring was just starting there, so it is possible that this butterfly overwintered. This one is for Pam who loves butterflies.

Not a very good photo but the only one I have of this common butterfly. The photo is from Millennium Park near Grand Rapids, Michigan.

When we were in Michigan recently we walked the trails at Millennium Park along the Grand River. The park is not far from where I grew up but at that time was a messy landscape of old oil wells, gravel pits, an abandoned railroad track and garbage. The river, too was so polluted that the fish were inedible, what few fish there were and the water a danger to swimmers. That has changed. The river is much cleaner with good fishing in the river, the gravel pits have been turned into wetlands and a wildlife refuge and partly into an area for boating and water sports, the old railroad grade has become part of the trail system and most of the old oil wells have been removed. These photos show some of wetlands and the old railroad bridges, one of which is falling down and the other which has been restored and is not used by hikers and bikers.

This is all that is left of the old railroad that used to cross the Grand River through what is now Millennium Park near Grand Rapids, Michigan. The bridge has been restored and is used by hikers and bikers to access the trail system on both sides of the river. The old railroad grades have become part of the trail system.

This old railroad bridge in Millennium Park near Grand Rapids, Michigan, is still standing but is not part of the trail system in the park. The area, once a maze of old gravel pits, oil wells, abandoned equipment and garbage, is now a recreation area and wildlife refuge and the old railroad grades are now part of the trail system.

This water, once an abandoned gravel pit along the Grand River near Grand Rapids, Michigan, is now part of a wetlands and wildlife refuge. There are many such pits in the area and they have become part of a recreation area and a place for hiking and bird-watching.

The four photos here, this and three insets, are all of spring growth on trees including flowers, seeds and catkins. These are the flowers of a Norway Maple, not a native tree, but I do not know what trees the others represent, however, and have neither the resources nor opportunity to try to identify them, since they were all photographed in Michigan and we, of course, live in Washington. In fact, I am not home now but in western Washington and have to lead a field trip a little later today for the Washington Native Plant Society. If anyone recognizes these trees I would appreciate the help.

These are the flowers or seeds of a tree, but I do not know which tree. They were photographed in Millennium Park along the Grand River in Michigan. I do not even know if they are a native tree but would assume so and would appreciate any help in identifying them.

These are the flowers or seeds of a tree which I believe to be the Box Elder. They were photographed in Millennium Park along the Grand River in Michigan. I do not even know if they are a native tree but would assume so.

These are, I believe, Willow catkins, but I do not know which Willow they represent. They were photographed in Michigan in Millennium Park along the Grand River southwest of Grand Rapids.

The mute Swan is not native to North America but has been introduced from Europe and Asia and has established itself especially in the eastern USA and Canada. Indeed, it has established itself so well that in some areas it is considered a nuisance, not only for its numbers but also for its agressiveness. We realized this on our recent trip to Michigan when we saw these swans on nearly every lake and pond.

While in Michigan we spent a day at Millennium Park near Grand Rapids and along the Grand River. One of the highlights of a great day spent hiking and doing photography was turtles. These were photographed along the edge of the river. The larger turtle is a Spiny Soft-shell Turtle and the smaller turtle is a Painted Turtle.

This is a Painted Turtle. He has to be turned upside down to see the reason for his name. The underside of his shell is beautifully marked with red and yellow. He was photographed along the Grand River in Michigan in Millennium Park near Grand Rapids when we were there recently.

These turtles were photographed in Millennium Park near Grand Rapids, Michigan. My wife and I were there recently for a wedding and to visit with family. We saw more turtles than I have ever seen before, including this Common Snapping Turtle and a Painted Turtle, the Snapper the larger of the two.

This photo was taken downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, from the Pearl Street Bridge when we were there for Artprize, an indoor/outdoor art show that is spread over many different venues. The photo was handheld and braced on the bridge railings.

While wandering around downtown Grand Rapids for the art show called Artprize I took some photos from the Pearl Street Bridge as the sunset and evening fell. This was one of them, handheld but braced on the bridge railing.