Wayne County Parks
Nankin Mills Interpretive Center
Adult Public Interpretive Programs
Calling all plant lovers: Come and enjoy the great outdoors!
Do you love to hike in the woods? Would you like to know more about the beautiful plants growing along the trails? The
Nankin Mills Botany Hike Series is a chance for adults to explore some of the hidden treasures of Wayne County Parks
and learn more about identifying different plants with the Park Naturalist. We will visit different sections of Holliday
Nature Preserve and the Bennett Arboretum throughout the year.
The fee is $2.00 per adult for county residents, $3.00 per adult for non-Wayne county residents.
Pre-register at the Park Office: 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland. Call 734-261-1850 with any questions.
Spring Wildflowers and Folklore – Cowan Section Holliday Nature Preserve, Westland
Saturday, May 11, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
We will meet at the Cowan Section of Holliday Nature Preserve to hike and enjoy a fabulous
display of spring wildflowers along the Tonquish Creek floodplain. This is truly a hidden gem!
Along the way, the naturalist will share interesting bits of folklore and discuss historic uses of
plants that we discover. There is a small parking lot at the trail head off of Central City Parkway,
between Wayne and Warren Roads. Parking is also available across the street from the Preserve lot.
Trails can be rugged, dress for the weather.
Deciduous Tree Collection of Historic Bennett Arboretum – Northville
Saturday, August 24, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Bennett Arboretum was developed during the 1930s as part of the Middle Rouge Parkway (Hines
Parkway) project. Jesse Merle Bennett, a pioneer in roadside development and Director of Wayne
County Parks and Forestry in the 1920s and 1930s, was the visionary for the arboretum project.
Many rare trees from around the world were planted here, as well as maple, oak and beech
collections. We will hike the hilly terrain to see what trees remain today from these unique
collections, and explore the new plantings as well. Meet at the Disc Golf parking lot, off of Hines
Drive, north of Six Mile Road. Insect repellent recommended, but we will try to stay in open
areas!
Fern and Flora Fall Hike – Koppernick Section Holliday Nature Preserve, Canton
Saturday, September 14, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Yet another beautiful hiking trail in Holliday Nature Preserve! The western section of the Preserve
features a rich forest habitat with many different fern species, as well as large beech and tulip trees.
In addition to searching for ferns, we will learn about the many other botanical wonders along the trails.
Insect repellent is recommended, and trails can be wet in some areas. We will meet at the small parking
area at the trail head off of Koppernick Road. Koppernick Road is off of Hix Road between Ann Arbor
Road and Warren Road. Watch carefully, it can be easy to miss the road sign.
Conifer Tree Collection of Historic Bennett Arboretum – Northville
Saturday, November 16, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Join the naturalist at Bennett Arboretum (see parking information and location above) to explore the
historic Conifer Collections in the northern end of the Arboretum. Several unusual species were planted
here in the 1930s! Let’s see which ones remain! Trails are rolling and hilly. Dress for the weather.