Michigan Geocaching Organization (www.mi-geocaching.org) (MiGO) celebrates Michigan’s native wildflowers. There are more than 250 species of wildflower in Michigan. Some are seen everywhere, such as the Common Dandelion, while others are incredibly rare – or even threatened or endangered – such as Pitcher’s Thistle and Dwarf Lake Iris.
This cache celebrates Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens.
• Common Name: Wintergreen
• Other Names: eastern teaberry, the checkerberry,the boxberry
• Scientific Name: Gaultheria procumbens
• Habitat: Dry woods
• Season of bloom: Summer
• Height at blossom time: 3-7 inches / 8 to 18 cm
• Flower description: Flowers are small, white, waxy, egg-shaped, nodding, single blossoms attached to a red-colored flowerstalk..
• Notes: Wintergreen is a very useful plant, to humans and wildlife. Its red fruit, the actual "teaberry" is edible, with a taste of mildly sweet wintergreen similar to the flavors of the Mentha varieties M. piperita (peppermint) and M. spicata (spearmint) even though G. procumbens is not a true mint. The leaves and branches make a fine herbal tea, through normal drying and infusion process. For the leaves to yield significant amounts of their essential oil, they need to be fermented for at least three days. The berries and leaves contain methyl salicylate, a compound that is closely related to aspirin.
Wintergreen is not taken in large quantities by any species of wildlife, but the regularity of its use enhances its importance. Its fruit persist through the winter, and it is one of the few sources of green leaves in winter. White-tailed deer browse wintergreen throughout its range, and in some localities it is an important winter food. Other animals that eat wintergreen are wild turkey, sharp-tailed grouse, northern bobwhite, ring-necked pheasant, black bear, white-footed mouse, and red fox. Wintergreen is a favorite food of the eastern chipmunk.
The plant has been used by various tribes of Native Americans for medicinal purposes. The Delaware, Mohicans, and several other tribes made a tea from wintergreen leaves to treat kidney disorders. The Great Lakes and Eastern Woodlands tribes used a wintergreen poultice as a topical treatment for arthritic pain.
Wintergreen
This cache is located just off one of the many trails in Sleepy Hollow State Park. It was placed for the Haunted Hollow 2025 event. Most of the trails are well groomed and hard packed making a bicycle a great way to get to the caches in the area.
The Haunted Hollow 2025 caches this year celebrate Michigan wildflowers. Each of the featured wildflowers can be found growing in the wild somewhere in Michigan.
Keep in mind during hunting season to be aware of hunters in the area. Hunting is allowed most non-summer months, generally from September 15 until April 1st each year, so please be careful and dress appropriately, including Hunter Safety Orange, when hunting is allowed.
A Recreation Passport is required for all vehicles entering Sleepy Hollow State Park. They are best purchased with your Michigan license plate, but are also available at the park.
The Sleepy Hollow State Park modern campground is closed the entire 2025 camping season for major upgrades and refurbishment. Camping reservations for 2026 may be made at: www.midnrreservations.com within six months of the desired date.
The park closes to visitors at 10 p.m..
You must physically sign the log in order to claim a find on this cache. Bring your own writing implement.
Hidden by a Proud Lake Superior Member