November 26

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.

However, due to the continuing deer-hunting season, I again stayed in Alma and hiked through Pine River Park. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 48 degrees and no wind. I left the van and was immediately greeted by a large flock of noisy geese flying west over the river and a small flock of Ring-billed Gulls flying east underneath them. From the boat launch, I again headed west along the riverbank on a paved path where I noticed a few Dark-eyed Juncos fluttering in the underbrush. I paused on a large deck over looking the river and saw a pair of swans swimming gracefully nearby. Next, I turned south and walked through the same woodlot I visited last week. Near the entrance to Conservation Park, I noticed a few White Spruce and Juniper trees. I headed south on a dirt road and found the entrance to a different off-road bike trail from the one I was on last week. I stopped and observed several large trees lying on the forest floor. A sign nearby stated that these trees had blown down during the great windstorm of 1998. I followed that trail west as it snaked through a grove of huge Beech, Maple, Oak and Cherry trees where I noticed a few Fox Squirrels. I continued along the convoluted trail and spotted a few dead Ash trees whose bark had been stripped away by the Emerald Ash Borer. Also, I was surprised to spot three, 2-inch long, brown Garden Slugs crawling slowly across the path. Slugs are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. An individual may start out as a male, become both male and female, and finally become solely female. Certain species may even self-fertilize, producing viable offspring without mating. Next, I came out behind the Girl Scout cabin where I heard a few crows in the distance. Walking past the cabin, I saw a stand of leafless Staghorn Sumac with their reddish brown cone-shaped fruit. I turned north on the same dirt road that I was on earlier where I recalled a few days ago seeing and hearing the elusive Pileated Woodpecker. I followed the road for about 100 yards and turned east on a paved road that was closed for the winter. I walked past Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Red Pine and a cluster of rustic benches known as the Eyer Learning Circle. The late Les Eyer was a long-time Alma College biology professor and an avid naturalist. Next, I followed the road as it curved back toward the river where I observed a patch of golden Foxtail Grass and some pale green Velvetleaf. I returned to the path on the riverbank that I started on and noticed some sickly looking Black Spruce. Also, I was surprised to see Dandelion blossoms mixed in with the green lawn. While retracing my steps back to the boat launch, I saw some Mallards swimming near the shore. Finally, I got in the van, drove past the State Street Dam and turned for home.

This is the treacherous month when autumn days

With summer's voice come bearing summer's gifts.

Beguiled, the pale down-trodden aster lifts

Her head and blooms again. The soft, warm haze

Makes moist once more the sere and dusty ways,

And, creeping through where dead leaves lie in drifts,

The violet returns. Snow noiseless sifts

Ere night, an icy shroud, which morning's rays

Wildly shine upon and slowly melt,

Too late to bid the violet live again.

The treachery, at last, too late, is plain;

Bare are the places where the sweet flowers dwelt.

What joy sufficient hath November felt?

What profit from the violet's day of pain?

Helen Hunt Jackson

November 19

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.

However, due to the potential danger of hiking at the Nature Area during deer hunting season, we stayed in Alma and hiked along the south side of the Pine River through Pine River Park. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 43 degrees and a slight breeze out of the southeast. I began walking west from the boat launch on a paved path and noticed a few leafless Common Buckthorn trees with their clusters of black berries as well as some crab apple trees with their reddish orange fruit. I continued along the riverbank where I saw a huge Weeping Willow with its gorgeous golden leaves on long, drooping branches. I glanced at the river and spotted a single, white Swan feeding along the far shore. Further along, I hiked past an Eastern Red Cedar Tree with pale blue berries hanging from its branches and an Eastern White Cedar tree with brown seedpods hanging from its branches. Also, I walked next to a couple of scrawny-looking Jack Pine trees. I paused on a wooden deck overlooking the river and noticed there was a gentle current flowing east. The Pine River rises in from Pine Lake in eastern Mecosta County, flows mostly south and east through Isabella County, then south along the eastern edge of Montcalm County, then east and north through Gratiot County and Midland County, emptying into the Chippewa River just about two miles before it joins the Tittabawassee River near Midland. Next, I turned away from the river and followed the trail south through a beautiful deciduous woodlot that included a few large White Pine trees. The trail came to an opening where I noticed a large rock with a plaque identifying this area as Conservation Park. The Gratiot County Conservation League established this 53-acre park in 1937. I followed a dirt road north past some tall Norway spruce. I continued past the Girl Scout Building and entered a foot trail. I turned east where I heard and saw a few Black-Capped Chickadees. I continued to an open field that was an easement under some high-tension power lines. I walked across the field and followed an off-road bike path back into a dense forest where I observed lots of deer tracks. The trail meandered along the edge of the Pine River Cemetery through a stand of 50 ft. tall Red Pine as well as a few Scrub Pine. Also, I saw some small Viburnum trees with their attractive clusters of scarlet red berries. I followed the trail back to a paved road that was closed for the winter. Next, I completed the loop as I returned to the path along the riverbank.  I retraced my steps east back to the boat launch where I saw 3 seagulls perched on the dock posts.  Finally, I got in the van, drove over the State Street Bridge and turned for home.

There is music in the meadows, in the air --

Autumn is here;

Skies are gray, but hearts are mellow,

Leaves are crimson, brown, and yellow;

Pines are soughing, birches stir,

And the Gipsy trail is fresh beneath the fir.

There is rhythm in the woods, and in the fields,

Nature yields:

And the harvest voices crying,

Blend with Autumn zephyrs sighing;

Tone and color, frost and fire,

Wings the nocturne Nature plays upon her lyre.

William Stanley Braithwaite

November 12

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 31 degrees and no wind.  A nearly full moon was quite evident against a clear blue sky. The dusting of snow that covered the ground yesterday morning had melted away. On today’s walk, I planned to focus on the green color of the fall flora before it faded away for the winter. Even though most of the deciduous trees and shrubs had turned color, I knew there was still some green vegetation to be found before the colder temperatures and shorter photoperiods destroyed all the chlorophyll. Since much of the landscape was no longer green, it would be easier to spot those plants that retained their color. Not the pale green color that was quickly turning yellow, but the bold, lush green of summer. I started down the hill and paused at Mallard Marsh where I noticed a thin layer of ice on the water while the shoreline was well defined by dense, green grass. Walking through Bobolink Meadow, I saw a few green leaves left on the Autumn Olive shrubs even though most had turned yellow. Entering North Woods. I followed the trail west where I was surprised to see a few, young, green Autumn Ferns emerging from the leaf litter. I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field where I looked up just in time to see a Great Blue Heron fly over South Woods. I entered the woods and noticed lots of deep green moss growing on the bases of trees and on decaying logs. Exiting South Woods, I turned north toward Willow Wallow and walked east along the edge of the pond on a mowed trail that was as green as a spring lawn. I ascended Reflection Hill and noticed lots of green clover leaves mixed in with the grasses on the trail. I continued down the hill, past Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery where I observed a few young, deep-green White Pine saplings. I entered the cemetery and paused at the top of the hill to look down at the neighbor’s farmland and see long rows of green Winter Wheat beginning to sprout. Exiting the cemetery, I entered Native Grassland, stepped off the trail and walked west to an old cement slab that was once the foundation for a barn. I was amazed to see that much of the slab was covered with thick green moss. Also, perched on a nearby tree were a couple of Slate-colored Juncos. This bird is a true harbinger of winter. I hiked along and paused at Grebe Pond where I once again saw some green Duckweed floating next to the north shore. As I passed the barn, I noticed some dark green Common Mallow plants hugging the ground. Walking along the west side of the Granary, I was surprised to see a small clump of Hoary Alyssum in full bloom. I passed the Classroom Building and finish the hike. Finally, the dog and I hopped in the van and headed for home.

When the trees their summer splendor


Change to raiment red and gold,

When the summer moon turns mellow,

And the nights are getting cold;

When the squirrels hide their acorns,

And the woodchucks disappear;

Then we know that it is autumn,

Loveliest season of the year.

Carol L. Riser

November 5

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The mid day weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 46 degrees and a steady wind out of the south.  Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I paused to look far to the southwest and noticed how the willow trees at Willow Wallow had turned a beautiful amber color. Walking through Bobolink Meadow, I observed that the color of the field was mainly due to the brown and beige Golden Rod along with a few patches of golden Reed Canary grass and some green Autumn Olive leaves.  Also, I was surprised at the sight of a Sulfur butterfly with its pastel yellow wings flying next to the trail. I turned at the entrance to North Woods and followed the trail of still green grass south toward Willow Wallow. I turned west at the pond and continued around Succession Field where I noticed that most of the remaining leaves on the trees were the rusty red, burnt orange and deep brown oak leaves. Walking along the far west trail, I noticed a few bronze-colored dragonflies buzzing around. Following the path along the edge of South Woods, I was pleased to see a Downy Woodpecker land on a Birch tree and begin to peck away. Pausing at Artist Overlook, I heard a few distant crows calling out. Crows are highly social birds, more often seen in groups than alone. In addition to roosting and foraging in flocks, crows often stay together in year-round family groups that consist of the breeding pair and offspring from the past two years. The whole family cooperates to raise young. They are not true migrators. Winter roosts of crows sometimes number in the thousands. Often admired for their intelligence, crows can work together, devise solutions to problems, and recognize unusual sources of food. Some people regard this resourcefulness and sociality as an annoyance when it leads to large flocks around dumpsters, landfills, and roosting sites. Crows work together to harass or drive off predators, a behavior known as mobbing. Next, I continued along the south trail where I could see patches of maroon-colored branches of leafless Dogwood shrubs. Turning north at Frog Fen, I climbed Reflection Hill to see only a small number of green Phragmites plants on the north edge of Grebe Pond. It appeared that the herbicide application of a year ago had done the job and kept the plants from spreading.  Right near the Phragmites, I once again spotted a Great Blue Heron standing on a log.  I descended the hill and proceeded across the boardwalk where the burgundy-red branches of this year’s new growth of willow could be easily seen on my right. I arrived back at the Classroom Building. got in the van, drove down the drive way where I noticed a large number of cue ball-size walnut husks scattered on the front lawn under the walnut trees. Finally, I turned south and headed for home.

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,

No comfortable feel in any member.

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,

No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds.

November!




Thomas Hood