Courtesy Photo The Dwarf Lake Iris is seen in this courtesy photo. The rare flower blooms mid-May to early June.

The Dwarf Lake Iris grows in abundance at the Misery Bay Nature Preserve every spring in May. This small purple native wildflower carpets the woodland floor and Lake Huron shores, denying the fact that it is rare and endangered. The Dwarf Lake Iris is the designated Michigan State Wildflower — quite the celebrity. The iris blooms from mid-May to early June.

Visitors and local residents can find displays of the iris growing on the trails of the Misery Bay Nature Preserve, located at the east end of Misery Bay Road. To get there from Alpena, drive Ford Road then Misery Bay Road almost to the end where you will see the Preserve parking lot on the left. It is open dawn to dusk for self-guided walks using a brochure that is available at the kiosk.