2012 Redbud Reveal and Art on the Hill, Sunday, April 29

Redbud Reveal 2012

The 2012 "Redbud Reveal" ceremony will be presented on the lawn of the Haven Hill Gate House at Highland State Recreation Area on Sunday, April 29 at 1:00 pm. Our organization's President, Mr. Dick Russell, will give a kick-off speech for the 2012 spring and summer season. Casual refreshments and snacks will be served.

"Art on the Hill: Maps Art - Haven Hill in Place and Time" In addition to a few words from Mr. Russell at the Gate House, FOHRA is pleased to announce a 2012 season event series "Art on the Hill" that will debut on Sunday morning. During the day we will display an art show on Haven Hill on the lower section  of this beautiful and historic road. Our first display, "Maps Art - Haven Hill in Place and Time", was curated using amazing full color graphic maps that were designed, developed, and donated by Oakland County Planning & Economic Development Services. The maps depict many fascinating aspects of our local area. Please park at the circle parking lot and walk a short distance to see this outdoor presentation before or after the Redbud Reveal at the Gate House.

Come out and visit historic Haven Hill on Sunday, April 29th!

Snakes Released in Heavy Snow at Haven Hill

The snow and snakes were flying at the Chief Pontiac Trail Snow Snake Event, held on Sunday, January 29 this year. Everyone had great fun racing their snakes even as snow fell throughout the day at the Edsel Ford Barn.

The scouts sponsored the event which was supported by the Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA). This years' event was in jeopardy of being cancelled due to lack of snow, but snow began to fall the weekend of the event and permitted filling of the wooden snow snake track for everyone to enjoy.

Snow snakes of all designs and colors were let loose at Highland State Recreation Area in White Lake, Michigan on Sunday.

The Edsel Ford Barn, which is being rebuilt by the volunteer organization Friends of Highland Recreation Area, was the backdrop for this years' Snow Snake event...

Get outside and enjoy the outdoors this winter at Highland Recreation Area!

Snow Snake Track Testing at Edsel Ford Barn

A snow snake was on the loose at Highland State Recreation Area this last Sunday!

  On Sunday January 22, a team of Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA) volunteers got together to build the 2012 Snow Snake track at the Edsel Ford Barn in Highland State Recreation Area. Later in the day after the assembly was complete and the track was filled with snow, some "adult FOHRA kids" tested the track by letting a snow snake loose for exercise.

See video below...

http://vimeo.com/35539400

Thanks for watching! Come on out to the barn and enjoy the fun on Sunday, January 29th at 1:00 pm. Cold weather permitting of course!

Summer Sites in the Woods of Highland State Recreation Area

The Highland State Recreation Area has many wonderful things to experience in the summer. Put on some sun screen and some insect repellent and get outdoors! Brave the heat and some of the parks' natural insect population (read "bugs") and enjoy the trails that traverse the areas deep into the woods of the park... here's a few pics from a hike on July 18th on the trails north of Haven Hill Lake... Above: Ferns carpet the forest floor.

Above: Beautiful wild flowers abound in Highland State Recreation Area.

Look closely for things big and small...

Mushrooms and fungi in the shade on the cool forest floor.

The small glacial ponds are full of almost flourescent green algae...

The wetland trail was filled with bird life...

Such as this Cedar Waxing...

The Waxwing was probably searching for these berries...

On the return leg of the hike the water lillies on Haven Hill Lake had started to open in the morning sun...

Enjoy the summer... hike Highland State Recreation Area... one of Michigan's true wonders.

www.fohra.org

FOHRA to March in Milford, Michigan 4th of July Parade

This years' 4th of July Parade in Milford, Michigan will be held on Saturday, July 3 at 11 am. The Friends of Highland Recreation Area will walk and drive in the parade to promote the Highland State Recreation Area, the historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford Haven Hill estate within the park, and the upcoming summer "Haven Hill Festival". The Festival will be held from 10 am until 4 pm on Saturday, August 28th in the Goose Meadow picnic area of the park. A vintage 1929 Model A Ford, driven by Chuck and Jean Sherman, members of the Livingston A's driving club, will escort FOHRA's members the length of the parade. Come on out and enjoy supporting FOHRA in the community!