Aman Park Trail Guide
As you walk the Interpretive trail, you will find (stations) numbered posts, which mark areas of interest.
Station 1: Forest
You are in a mature stand of hardwoods known as an upland climax forest.
If the agricultural lands of Michigan were left unfarmed, the fields would eventually become a woods like this. Red Oak, White Oak, American beech and Sugar Maple are the dominant trees here. Their presence indicates rich, well-drained soil. There leaves form a canopy that shades the forest floor and permits slow reforestation; Typical understory trees that thrive with less sunlight are Dogwood, Witch-Hazel and Ironwood. A profusion of spring wildflowers bloom when the sun warms the woodland floor before the trees leaf out. Woodpeckers and Scarlet Tanagers can be seen from here.
Station 2: Creek
Sand Creek winds its way through open farmland in Northern Ottawa County.
After heavy rains, the water carries soil, fertilizers and chemicals from the cultivated areas. Many of these pollutants are removed by the natural processes such as sunlight and aeration. Others are eaten or absorbed by plants and animals, which become part of the food chain. The logs, sticks and trapped leaves provide good habitat for many invertebrates and fish. They also trap sediments.
Station 3: Lowlands
The lower elevation of Sand Creek.
Entirely different trees, such as: American Elm, Red and Silver Maples and Sycamore grow in the low and often wet areas. Pawpaws are the understory trees near the bridge. The long, narrow depressions on both sides of the trail were probably the remains of Sand Creek before it changed its course. When melting snow and spring rains fill these holes, there becomes a frenzy of activity from the mating Wood Frogs. These intermittent ponds usually dry up during the summer.
Station 4: Succession
An example of the succession of plants from field to forest.
As the field ages, Blackberry (upright stalks), Dewberry (horizontal stalks) and Goldenrod, Yarrow and Strawberries have invaded the grasses. The invading bushes are Honeysuckle, Gray Dogwood and Russian Olive. Quaking Aspen, White Pine and Black cherry are sun tolerant trees that have grown rapidly and are creating conditions for eventual growth for Oaks. Their shade will cause the sun-loving plants to die off.
Station 5: Soil
Dry, Acidic, sandy soil limits the types of plant that can thrive in this area.
Spurge and berries grow among the grasses. A colony of Ground Pine (club moss) is growing approximately ten yards west of this post. The Oaks are bushy because they have no competition for sunlight, but they lack adequate water and nutrients to reach their full potential. On the other hand, Pines do very well in these sandy conditions. Two Pine plantations were planted in the 1920's and 1930's, their locations are Northwest and West of this spot.
Station 6: Stream
Stream quality is determined by water temperature, clarity and velocity, as well as the types of organisms living there.
The Caddisflies and Mayflies in Sand Creek are a sign of fairly clean water. The fish that can be found here are Brown Trout, Bluegills and Minnows such as: dace and Creek Chubs. Steelhead and Salmon migrate to this stream from Lake Michigan by way of the Grand River.