Is this a knapweed or thistle? As hard as I try to identify some blossoms, I often get stuck. Especially since some are very similar. I came across this pretty purple flower along the nature trail at Wixom Habitat in Michigan. I think it is a knapweed but the more I research it, the more confused I get.
My confusion started when I realized I had previously posted a bud and blossom of a thistle. There are some similarities, aren’t there? Now,I have doubts about being right on either one.
For this week’s One Step at a Time #24, I headed out to Lyon Oaks County Park in Wixom, Michigan. The lovely intertwining trails took me through a beautiful forest and a meadow full of mushrooms, wildflowers, and berries.
Thanks to all who shared a post last week. Here are the links from last week’s prompt. Please let me know if I have missed anyone.
One Step at a Time is a place to share the beauty of nature as you enjoy the outdoors. Add a link to your post on the comments below. Also, please tag your post with One Step to make it easier for others to find. Click here if you’d like more info on One Step at a Time.
Kensington Metropark is where the battle for the best shot took place. Across from the Blue Heron Rookery, photographers and birders gather along the boardwalk by the dozens.
On this particular day, I decided to take a few shots of other photographers, hard at work at their art.
Another photographer, who stood out in his red jacket in downtown Chicago was featured on “A Photographer’s Magnet“.
Milford Township, Michigan is a place called home! After moving to eight cities in five different states over the years, we settled in Michigan two years ago.
A suburb of Detroit, Milford has a population of roughly 17,000 people. One main reason for choosing Milford was its proximity to Kensington Metropark. The first photo of the sunrise was captured a few steps from our front door. On the photo below, the Metropark is on the far left where the trees meet the sky.
Two snowy Michigan scenes were also shared in an earlier post “Close to Home.“
One Step at a Time is a place to share the beauty of nature as you enjoy the outdoors. Add a link to your post on the comments below. Also, please tag your post with One Step to make it easier for others to find. Click here if you’d like more info on One Step at a Time.
One Step at a Time #22 is from a random find while taking a different route home.
The first and third photos were taken along the edge of Orchard Lake in Orchard Lake Village, Michigan.
The image above was captured about a quarter mile from the lake on a trail that goes through Orchard Lake Nature Sanctuary.
I am so thrilled with all the images that have been shared over the last few months. Participation in the challenge has increased but most importantly, I’ve enjoyed the beauty of the steps captured. Well done by each and every one of you! Let’s keep going One Step at a Time.
Here are the links from last week’s prompt. Please let me know if I missed anyone.
One Step at a Time is a place to share the beauty of nature as you enjoy the outdoors. Add a link to your post on the comments below. Also, please tag your post with One Step to make it easier for others to find. Click here if you’d like more info on One Step at a Time.
A forest growing alongside a hummock or sand dune at West Beach – Indiana Dunes National Park.
Both of these scenes were snapped along West Beach earlier this summer – July 2026. An early morning pic a few miles away along Lake Michigan was featured on “The Meeting Place.“
One Step at a Time is a place to share the beauty of nature as you enjoy the outdoors. Add a link to your post on the comments below. Also, please tag your post with One Step to make it easier for others to find. Click here if you’d like more info on One Step at a Time.
