Brauer Preserve — Attraction in Freedom Township

Nice preserve. Quite a bit of invasive buckthorn which is sad because it chokes out and hides the beautiful massive Bur Oaks, Red Oaks, and American Elm around this area. I would be on board with helping removing/managing the buckthorn if there was a movement for that.

There is also a patch of Norway Spruce on the way to the pond, growing in rows which makes me wonder if this area was a tree farm beforehand.

Lots of natives here that are great to see, some include Spice Bush, Brown eyed Susan, Elderberry, Green Ash, Hickory,...

226 acres of mixed land. Lots of fields - some corn, some beans, unused in the last year, I believe. There are some decent wooded areas, but it is fairly low and wet, so there are a TON of mosquitos - if you go during the wrong time of year, they can be absolutely intolerable. There is a very nice, small pine forest fairly close to the entrance. Other areas are more mixed forest and trails go through the grasslands, too. Also, there is a lake in the preserve, but you have to go through the most mosquito-filled area...

Very nice mixed woodlands, grasslands, and swamp. Lots of wild mulberries and blackberries for your enjoyment in the summer. Yes, you have to watch out for the mosquitoes in the marshy section, but nothing a little bug spray can't handle. Not many people come here despite it being on a somewhat major road, so you definitely won't have to worry about crowds. Nice habitat variety, quiet, easy to get to, and very pretty (my favourite section is the big...