Get off the beaten track - the Yellow Trail takes you through a range of wetland to upland sites with all their subtle changes. This is the only trail to include the full set of local habitats that are open to the public on the site - flood plain, a kame (small glacial hill), old woodlots, the farmstead fallow fields in succession, and a restored demonstration prairie.
 
Discover very dynamic, natural-looking landscapes. The floodplain forests were never lumbered - it was too swampy - but invasive exotic pests have killed all the majestic American elms (Ulmus americana), larches (Larix laricina) and ashes (Fraxinus) in recent years. The former floodplain forest is in ecological shock. The meadows were prairie openings - notice the remaining huge oaks at several places - until farming began in the 1830s. Our historic farm house is one of the oldest in the region, as are the classic 19th century barns - all the lumber came from nearby trees. [The buildings are not open to the public.] The old meadows and pastures are being restored to their former prairie conditions.

The Yellow Trail parallels Fleming Creek for about half a mile then heads west toward the historic barns at the northwest end of the property. The last half of this 1.2 mile route takes hikers past prairies and oak opening habitats. At the Helen V. Smith Woodland Wildflower Garden it connects with the Red Trail.

The Yellow Trail is at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens site.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum trails need private support and provide donors with many giving opportunities and recognition. For more details, please contact the Development Office at 1-734-615-9475.

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