Trail walkers and forest wanderers could be in for a treat this fall – if they are lucky and keep their eyes open.

A late-blooming shrub is giving Michigan forests a glow-up right now with its crinkled golden blossoms offering some of the only color to be seen now that most of the leaves are on the ground, according to the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy.

We’re talking about American witch hazel. It’s a native understory shrub that can grow quite tall. It has scalloped leaves and a “remarkably late flowering season” from late September into November, the conservancy said on Facebook .

“You might wonder what the plant’s strategy is for blooming so late in the season, or how it manages to flower when most insects have already called it quits for the year,” the post said. “Witch

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