Photo of the Week: Turkey Sculpture at Environmental Interpretive Center

A shiny silver metal sculpture of a turkey with wings made of layered silver spoons and legs made from rebar. The turkey bends its neck toward the ground as it forages for food. A nearby hollow log made from metal files lies on the ground, with several shelf mushrooms growing horizontally from the log. The sculpture is surrounded by brown wood mulch. In the background are green-leaved native plants and shrubs.

A shiny metallic sculpture of a turkey marks the entrance walkway past the rain garden, a different type of bird for those of us gathered for an early morning bird hike.

Created by local artist Laura Steiner, the sculpture was installed at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center (EIC) in mid-August 2025.

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Photo of the Week: Fairlane Lake at University of Michigan-Dearborn

white fluffy clouds in the blue sky and green and red trees reflect in the calm waters of Fairlane Lake.

While we haven’t had any frosts yet here in southeast Michigan, I saw my first fall color changes this weekend on a morning hike at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center. Along with about a dozen other morning risers, we traipsed the Dogwood, Sugar Maple, and Lakeside Trails at the 300-acre center. It wasn’t… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Fairlane Lake at University of Michigan-Dearborn

Photo of the Week: Shagbark Hickory in Spring

Green buds of the Shagbark Hickory unfold amongst the peach-orange bracts

I almost missed seeing the beautiful buds of the Shagbark Hickory as I was hiking the trails at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center and looking for colorful spring birds. Some movement caught my eye. I turned around to see the unfolding compound leaves of the hickory buds. Not sure I’ve ever seen Shagbark… Continue reading Photo of the Week: Shagbark Hickory in Spring