Jasper Woods
Encyclopedia
Elmer P. Irene Jasper Woods Memorial, commonly referred to as Jasper Woods, is a 49 acres (19.8 ha) nature sanctuary located in St. Clair County, Michigan
in the United States
. It is maintained and preserved by the Michigan Nature Association
, which is a non-profit organization
dedicated to protecting Michigan's exceptional natural habitats and extraordinary and endangered plants and animals.
in a bargain sale. In 1982, it was renamed Jasper Woods as a memorial to Elmer and Irene Jasper who were founding members of the Michigan Nature Association
and both served as officers and directors in its early years.
, oaks
, white and yellow birches, and wild black cherry
. The groves of hemlock, especially on the south central section, are the most prominent feature. Shrubs include northern arrowwood, chokeberry
, Michigan holly
, leatherwood, and maple-leaved viburnum
.
Jasper Woods is home to three kinds of trillium, which bloom at slightly different times and in different habitats. Earliest is the red trillium, which is found in the rich wet deciduous
woods. It blooms in early May, depending on spring weather conditions. A few days later comes the white trillium, which appears in the drier woodlands. Finally, in mid-to-late May the painted trillium appears. This beautiful trillium is a Michigan Endangered species
and is found only in St. Clair County
and Sanilac County. It has a preference for hemlock woods.
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is maintained and preserved by the Michigan Nature Association
Michigan Nature Association
The Michigan Nature Association is an association in the U.S. state of Michigan which was established in 1952. It is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting Michigan's exceptional natural habitats and extraordinary and endangered plants and animals...
, which is a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
dedicated to protecting Michigan's exceptional natural habitats and extraordinary and endangered plants and animals.
History
Jasper Woods was acquired in 1977 from Elva Rabidue. Known then as Schenck Woods, the land had been in her family since 1869. She wanted to see it preserved for wildlife and sold it to the Michigan Nature AssociationMichigan Nature Association
The Michigan Nature Association is an association in the U.S. state of Michigan which was established in 1952. It is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting Michigan's exceptional natural habitats and extraordinary and endangered plants and animals...
in a bargain sale. In 1982, it was renamed Jasper Woods as a memorial to Elmer and Irene Jasper who were founding members of the Michigan Nature Association
Michigan Nature Association
The Michigan Nature Association is an association in the U.S. state of Michigan which was established in 1952. It is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting Michigan's exceptional natural habitats and extraordinary and endangered plants and animals...
and both served as officers and directors in its early years.
About the Sanctuary
Jasper Woods is a cool northern-type woods primarily made up of hemlock, white pine, maplesMaples
-People:* Chauncy Maples , British Anglican missionary and bishop in Africa* John Maples, Baron Maples , British politician* Marla Maples , American actress, former wife of Donald Trump...
, oaks
Oaks
-Horse races:"Oaks" is generally used to describe a Thoroughbred horse race restricted to 3-year-old fillies. Among the best-known races using the term are:*Epsom Oaks, The Oaks Stakes, at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, England; the original "Oaks" race...
, white and yellow birches, and wild black cherry
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina, commonly called black cherry, wild black cherry, rum cherry, or mountain black cherry, is a woody plant species belonging to the genus Prunus...
. The groves of hemlock, especially on the south central section, are the most prominent feature. Shrubs include northern arrowwood, chokeberry
Chokeberry
Aronia, the chokeberries, are two to three species of deciduous shrubs in the family Rosaceae, native to eastern North America. They are most commonly found in wet woods and swamps. Chokeberries are cultivated as ornamental plants and also because they are very high in antioxidant pigment...
, Michigan holly
Holly
Ilex) is a genus of 400 to 600 species of flowering plants in the family Aquifoliaceae, and the only living genus in that family. The species are evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbers from tropics to temperate zones world wide....
, leatherwood, and maple-leaved viburnum
Viburnum
Viburnum is a genus of about 150–175 species of shrubs or small trees in the moschatel family, Adoxaceae. Its current classification is based on molecular phylogeny...
.
Jasper Woods is home to three kinds of trillium, which bloom at slightly different times and in different habitats. Earliest is the red trillium, which is found in the rich wet deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
woods. It blooms in early May, depending on spring weather conditions. A few days later comes the white trillium, which appears in the drier woodlands. Finally, in mid-to-late May the painted trillium appears. This beautiful trillium is a Michigan Endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
and is found only in St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
and Sanilac County. It has a preference for hemlock woods.