June 23

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, we were with our good friend, Jeff Reynolds and his dog, Winston, hiking a nature trail in Mitchell State Park near his Cadillac home. The midday weather was sunny with a temperature of 70 degrees and a gentle westerly breeze. At the start of the trail, I noticed a patch of colorful Crown Vetch. This invasive plant is a problem in natural areas such as this where it excludes native vegetation by fully covering and shad­ing it. All parts of this plant including the leaves, stems and flowers are poisonous to humans. Ingestion can lead to death. Continuing along the trail, I spotted both St. John’s Wort and Beach Pea. Glancing over to a shrub next to the trail, I noticed a dragonfly sunning itself. Next, I spotted an unfamiliar plant called Leafy Spurge. This plant displaces native vegetation through shading and by usurping available water and nutrients. Also, it produces toxins that prevent the growth of other plants underneath it. It is an aggressive invader that can completely overtake large areas of open land. We paused at a deck overlooking a pond where Jeff spotted a magnificent Great Blue Heron taking off and perching on a dead tree sticking out of the water. Floating on the pond were several white flowers of Water Lily. Rhizomes and leaves of this plant were used by Native Americans as remedies for a wide variety of ailments, from colds to ulcers. The leaves and roots are eaten by beavers, muskrats, porcupines and deer. Along the trail were several Blue Spruce trees. We crossed a small creak, where I noticed a Painted Turtle resting on a log. We got off the main trail and took a side trip into a dense wooded area where Jeff spotted lots of glossy-leaf, evergreen Wintergreen. I picked a leaf and crushed it to smell the aromatic scent. It is the leaf that essential oil is distilled from. Also on this trail were several Club Moss plants. This plant can be used as a potent anti-spasmodic, a sedative as well as a diuretic. Disorders such a indigestion and gastritis can also be treated using this plant. Itchy, irritated skin can be alleviated by application of prepared club moss spores as a topical treatment. Back on the main trail, I saw lots of Spreading Dogwood with their small, bell-shaped blossoms. Also, I spotted what looked like Yellow Loosestrife close to the path. Along the way, I observed several Honeysuckle plants with berries on them. Even though birds will eat them, they are not recommended for human consumption. Walking along, we saw a few snail shells on the stone path. Also, I noticed lots of blossoms on Viburnum shrubs. Next, we came across a small Canadian hemlock tree. As we neared the end of our hike, I was pleased to see a Monarch pollinating a Milkweed flower. Finally, we returned to the car and headed back to our host’s house.

The dandelions spread across the meadow

And dot the vibrant green with wondrous yellow,

And dot the vibrant green upon the meadow.

The sunlight plays upon this field I see,

And orchestrates a wind-chime melody,

A chorus playing over this field I see.

What nature tenders, I soliloquize,

The green and yellow meadow before my eyes,

And the sunlight strings that are playing just for me,

A wind-chime chorus over this field I see.

Tom Kraft