Hike through the Lupines at Chipman Preserve in Galesburg
Hike through a sea of purple lupines at Chipman Preserve trails.
Lupines are blooming at Chipman Preserve in Galesburg. This sea of purple will be around for only four weeks, so I encourage you to head on over. Depending on the weather, the lupines begin blooming late May into June. The preserve contains over 3 mile of trails through open fields and wooded areas and is maintained by the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.
Hiking the Preserve
Besides lupines, the columbine and phlox were also in full bloom. Recent changes are occurring at Chipman Preserve to help make the trail system more user friendly. Parts of the trail are closed as they work to assist with erosion control. Curious about the changes, here is additional information about the trail updates from SWMLC , which include future “You Are Here Signs”.
Enhance Your Experience
Pick up a copy of Miss Rumphius, a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Barbara Cooney. It features the life story of Miss Alice Rumphius, the Lupine Lady, a woman who sought a way to make the world more beautiful and discovered it by planting lupines in the wild of Maine.
““You must do something to make the world more beautiful.”-”
This beautiful story sparked conversations with my children about spreading kindness and making the world a more beautiful place. A message that we all need to strive toward. What better time than now to brainstorm ideas and challenge your family to share love with others. Our family not only planted our own lupines, but decided to plant multiple flowers to be able to share flowers bouquets with others this summer. To help inspire you here are 25 Ways to Make the World a More Beautiful Place.
Lupine Facts
Wild lupines are usually purple, while cultivated lupines can produce white, yellow, pink, red and blue flowers. Lupines can be anywhere from 1 foot to 5 feet tall, and blooms can last up to 4 weeks. They are biennial or perennial. Lupines help to improves soil and they attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds for flower pollination. Lupines self-seed when the lupine pods eject seeds several feet away from the mother plant.
Nearby Parks
There are no restrooms at the preserve. If you’re planning on making a day of it or need restrooms, some nearby parks include Merrill Park and Royal Oak County Park.
Merrill Park 5845 Comstock Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Merrill Park is a spacious park that runs alongside the Kalamazoo River. It has free access and features a large modern playground, covered pavilions with picnic tables, bathrooms and full size basketball courts.
River Oak County Park is a sprawling park with a playground, splash pad and dog run, as well as soccer & softball fields. There is a $5.00 entrance fee. The Splash Pad is open Memorial Weekend – Labor Day from 10:00am-8:00pm
With a plethora of outdoor activities and hikes in Southwest Michigan here are some more great hikes to explore this summer. Here are 8 Kid-friendly Hikes Near Kalamazoo. As you plan your summer adventures make sure to Pin and Save for later. Follow Discovering Anew for more hiking trails, campground reviews and Michigan adventures.
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