Trailside Guide V.1:
Michigan Wildflowers Summer Nichols Arboretum
Nichols Arboretum, better known as "the Arb", is a green space in downtown Ann Arbor with a diverse array of ecosystems including a forest, prairie, swamp, and the Huron River. On the campus of the University of Michigan, the Arb serves both college students and locals as a sanctuary for relaxation and a space for leisure. Beside well-worn paths, wildflowers spot the landscape in every shape and hue from early spring to late fall.
Trailside Guide V.1 is a guide to the summer Michigan wildflowers found in the Arb, but have been native to southeastern Michigan for hundreds of years. I documented, photographed, and identified wildflowers in the Arb, selecting 16 for the guide, ensuring every visitor would have high chances of finding most of the flowers. My love of nature and interest of identifying wildflowers lead me to make the guide to provide a deeper level of insight and engagement into our habitat.
College Students
Because the Arb is located on campus, college students trickle in to work on homework, toss a frisbee, or relax. The guide provides a relaxing distraction from studying and an immersion into nature, turning into a fun scavenger hunt to find the wildflowers on the guide.
Key & Measurements
Many details must be taken into consideration when identifying a plant, the most important being the color, leaf shape, and leaf arrangement. Symbols denoting the leaf shape and arrangement are assigned to each flower to provide a first level read for identification.
Descriptions accompany each wildflower providing more details of plant anatomy and size. The plant diagram and ruler serve to assist with the informational text.
Locals
Many residents of Ann Arbor also visit the Arb, for both exercise and leisure. The guide serves as an educational tool for all ages to learn more about our local habitat and to hopefully foster native wildflowers in their own gardens.
