Belle Isle, Michigan

[mdvaden]

Is that "island" an island all year, or just in the more rainy season?

That's still a pretty big island if it's close to a 1000 acres.

[DougBidlack]

It's an island all year. There is a bridge to the island from the Michigan side of the river though.

Doug

[PAwildernessadvocate]

The last time I was on Belle Isle was August of 2016, but it wasn't to visit the forested areas. We were there to see the Draken Harald Hårfagre, a Viking longship that was visiting the Detroit Yacht Club!

[DougBidlack]

Maybe I'll have to say a bit more about the history of Belle Isle in a future post. Bell Isle was almost sold off because of Detroit's debt problems. Luckily the State stepped in and it looks like it will remain in public hands for the time being.

Doug

[Erik Danielsen]

This topic really solidifies my recent tendency to think of Michigan and NY as the twin "bookends" of the great lakes. Not only are the latitude range and set of ecotypes similar (if arranged a bit differently), the set of rare trees is a pretty close match too! Shumard Oak, Shellbark Hickory, and my favorite- pumkin ash! I need to write a post on pumpkin ash in NY. Glad the Michigan champ is still standing- definitely seems like it must be getting treated, right?

[DougBidlack]

Erik,
I agree but with one modification. Southeastern Michigan and western New York are the "bookends" of the eastern Great Lakes. The western Great Lakes like eastern New York have more differences.
Yes, I'm pretty sure the pumpkin ash is still getting treated.
Doug

[Lucas]

https://geo.eatoncounty.org/ecgis.html

FYI
Possible handy MI info I stumbled on. A friend found rock elm in this county. Have you seen it in MI?

[DougBidlack]

I've never seen rock elm in Michigan. At least I've never noticed it!

[Lucas]

I've never seen rock elm in Michigan. At least I've never noticed it!

Click on image to see its original size

"It is about 20 feet east of Michigan Highway 50. GPS coordinates 42.580838, -84.835881"

http://eatonrapidsjoe.blogspot.ca/search?q=rock+elm


He tried to find the MI record one but failed. MI records are so poor though it was not surprising. The tree may be gone or misidentified, too.

[Lucas]

http://www.americanforests.org/magazine ... -champion/

"Rock Elm (350 points): This tree is only half an hour’s drive from the last stop (the Green Ash champion). After making your way to Dowagiac, Michigan, take M-62 southeast 9 miles to the town of Cassopolis. Stay on M-62 and drive south another 1.5 miles to Brownsville Road. Go east on Brownsville Road for 2.75 miles. The tree is on the north side of the road."

I am surprised to find directions to it but then I saw this at the bottom of the page.

Kirk September 17, 2017 at 11:27 am - Reply
The Rock Elm referenced above has died.


Christopher Horn October 18, 2017 at 3:46 pm - Reply
Kirk,

"That’s very sad to hear, and thank you for letting us know. It seems that it was dethroned awhile ago by a rock elm in Kansas."

https://www.google.ca/maps/@41.8828758, ... 312!8i6656

The directions say it was this one in 2013 but it doesn't look elm or 100 feet.