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TOPIC: Sakatah Lake State Park MN
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/ef16d890c20d7fd6?hl=en
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== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Sat, May 24 2008 2:55 pm
From: Lee Frelich

ENTS:

I just returned from an afternoon hike at Sakatah Lake State Park, MN (the
name is a Dakota word for 'Singing Hills'). The park has a small area
(probably about 100 acres) of Big Woods forest, sugar maple, basswood,
green ash, hackberry, and red oak on deep silty loess soils (windblown
silt). The trees have fantastic growth forms due to being decrowned by
several derechos during their lives.

Right now the main show is in the understory. There are acres of dense
carptes of yellow trout lilies, cut-leaved toothworts, and dutchman's
breetches covering the forest floor. Woodland phlox were also in bloom,
probably the best showing I have seen this far north. The real treat were
several hundred Showy orchis (Galearis spectabilis or Orchis spectabilis,
depending on how old the book you are reading is), an orchid about 6 inches
tall with several 3/4 inch long, pink and white flowers on each plant.

Lee

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Sun, May 25 2008 6:17 pm
From: dbhguru@comcast.net

Lee,

I am mightily impressed with the abundance and size of the wild flowers in the upper Mid-west that you have been describing. How has human influences affected the areas that you've studied with respect to wild flowers. Are there going to be any super shows around during the period June 13-15?

Bob

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Mon, May 26 2008 7:47 am
From: Lee Frelich


Bob:

Spring wildflowers will probably be finished by the time of your June
visit. Perhaps yellow and showy ladyslippers will be in bloom then. The
miniature boreal plants such as gaywings, starflower, pipsissewa,
goldthread, and coral root should be in bloom as well.

Human influences have included earthworm invasion, high deer populations,
and invasive plants that change the environment on the forest floor, with
some negative effects.

Lee