Palmer Property

Helping people protect the local wild and scenic places they care most about.

Local Couple Donate Conservation Easement to Protect
Land on Waubascon Lake

Kim and Lula Palmer have always loved their land. Originally from Georgia, the Palmers never thought they’d stay in Michigan after they retired. "We didn’t expect to be here this long," said Lula Palmer. "But we’ve grown to love it, and we can’t make ourselves leave this property."

When it came time for them to take steps to permanently protect the property they love and prevent development or other uses, they contacted SWMLC. In February of 2008, they donated a conservation easement to SWMLC on their beloved 48 acres to ensure their property would always remain as it is now.

"We are extremely grateful to the Palmers for protecting their land, which is an important part of the Kalamazoo River watershed," said Peter Ter Louw, SWMLC executive director. "The property includes a significant amount of natural, lush shoreline of Waubascon Lake. Waubascon Creek flows out of the west end of the lake into a marshy floodplain area of the Kalamazoo River just north of the botanically rich Augusta Floodplain. It’s a beautiful and diverse habitat."

The Palmer Conservation Easement protects a rolling mix of upland oak savanna, hardwood forest and lowland forest dominated by red maple. Wetland areas are also protected, including a prairie fen, an increasingly rare habitat in Michigan. An abundance of trails winds through the woods, and the entire property supports a great diversity of wildlife, including many species of birds. SWMLC volunteers found a yellow-billed cuckoo during one of their initial property surveys.

"The yellow-billed cuckoo is special because it is one of just a few species of birds that will actually eat gypsy moth caterpillars," noted SWMLC volunteer and past president, Becky Csia. "Its numbers are declining significantly due to habitat loss — just the kind of habitat the Palmer property provides."

The Palmer property is just upstream of the Kalamazoo River. Because the land has 1,272 feet of frontage on Waubascon Lake, protecting the property will contribute to the overall health of the Kalamazoo River Watershed.

Said Lula Palmer, "Waubascon is a little fishing lake. It’s very clean and good for ice fishing. We used to see all the way to the lake, but the woods have filled in over the years."

Something that gives her special joy is the diversity of wildflowers on the property. Mrs. Palmer has kept a wildflower inventory of the property and has found many beautiful native plants, including bloodroot and mayapple. SWMLC volunteers also noted species such as cinnamon, bracken and sensitive fern as well as field pussytoes, ironweed, boneset and Joe-pye weed.

"We found false foxgloves in one area," Becky Csia added. "These are increasingly rare and unique plants. Because false foxgloves have the highest conservation value possible and are a species of interest, their presence on the Palmer property indicates a relatively undisturbed habitat."

When the Palmers bought the land in 1980, it was their dream to own some property and have some horses. Although they no longer have horses, the Palmers are more than just "property owners." They have always been active in the health and management of their land and had a survey done around 1985. Together, they learned about the variety of trees on the property — hickory, tulip tree and sycamore are plentiful — and how to manage the timber. From the previous owner, they learned that the Adventist church had been built with lumber harvested from their property and adjoining property. The historic house they still live in was built in 1850 and renovated just before they bought it. Over the years, they have carefully maintained the integrity of the original structures and recently had the original barn to the property restored.

When asked what she loves most about their land, Mrs. Palmer is hard-pressed to mention just one attribute. "It’s so soothing at the end of the day. I love the quiet, even though it’s not really ‘quiet.’ Early mornings are the best, when the birds are twirping. It just feels fresh." Kim Palmer agreed and said he also enjoys getting out to gather wood. He added that he most appreciates the peacefulness found there.

Continued Lula Palmer, "I absolutely would recommend a conservation easement to anyone thinking about it. The process was very easy and Emily Wilke at the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy was wonderful to work with."

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