MANISTEE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – There is a Giant Sequoia in Michigan, and you can visit it up close at Lake Bluff Farms in Manistee.

Once known as Lake Bluff Bird Sanctuary, Lake Bluff Farms is comprised of 76 acres that were originally landscaped as an arboretum. In 1948, six sequoia trees were planted there, and three remain. The Michigan Champion Sequoia, at 116 feet tall, is the biggest sequoia east of the Rocky Mountains.

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Giant Sequoia trees out west live up to the name. Some are as much as 300 feet tall with diameters in excess of 35 feet. These giants can have bark more than a foot thick that has helped some survive more than 3,000 years. While the Michigan sequoia is only about half that size, it is still impressive, and it is still growing.

Among the other tree species flourishing here, there is also a Champion Sycamore Maple. It is actually a maple with bark that resembles a true sycamore. This species is native to Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. They are large, growing from 60 to 100 feet tall and maturing in about 20 years. The sycamore maple is not just decorative, it brings many benefits wherever it is planted. Twenty-seven species of butterflies and moths feed on the leaves. Caterpillars are an important food source for birds.

Bu that’s not all. This tree is tough. It can tolerate wind, urban pollution, and salt spray. It has been cultivated as far north as Iceland. You can even make honey from the nectar produced by its flowers. On the other hand, the Sycamore Maple has been declared an invasive species in Australia and is prohibited or banned in Connecticut and Massachusetts. It has a huge crown with a spread of 50 feet or more. This crown blocks the sun which stifles plant growth while the sycamore maples seedlings are shade tolerant.

In addition to Champion Trees, this nature preserve includes 1,500 feet of Lake Michigan Shoreline and is a popular birding destination. The trails and gardens are improved by numerous plaques and signs explaining the different areas. A number of sites in the sanctuary are designed for observing migratory birds that flock to this area each year. Bald Eagles, shorebirds and migrating warblers are seen along the trails. Since the sanctuary is on a major migratory bird route, it is home to the Migration Celebration among other birding festivals.

Vision Statement:

Because the hallmark of Lake Bluff is protecting the flora, fauna, and inherent history not just for today, but for all future generations, Lake Bluff Farms will place a concentration upon preservation, education, protection and upkeep of the homestead and immediate surrounding areas.

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DIRECTIONS: From downtown Manistee, take Highway 31 north across the river past the SS Milwaukee to Lakeshore Dr. Go about 2 miles, pass Orchard Beach to Lake Bluff Farms, entrance on the left.