July 27

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, I was in Muskegon attending my wife’s 45th high school reunion while Remi remained in Alma. Today, we planned to hike a scenic trail at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park just south of Muskegon on Lake Michigan. The early morning temperature was partly sunny with a temperature of 63 degrees and a stiff westerly wind. Before starting out, we explored a small butterfly garden near the visitor’s center where I spotted Butterfly weed and Jerusalem artichoke. We headed west toward the lake through a mature beech-maple forest where I noticed some fresh bracket fungi growing on logs. Next, we came to a fork and chose the path to Lake Michigan rather than the steep dune climb stairway. Along the way, I spotted several Canadian Hemlock trees mixed in with the broad leaf trees. As we got closer to the lake, I began to see Sassafras trees. So, I picked a leaf from one of them and crushed it to smell it’s citrusy aroma. Also, I spotted a large tree trunk with several patches of lichens growing on it. Continuing on the trail to the lakeshore, we were greeted by the sound of wind and waves. Hiking through the fore-dune, I noticed a few blossoms of Evening Primrose as well as an unknown set of mammal tracks in the sand. Near the water’s edge on the beach were lots of seagull tracks and feathers. Just ahead, I spotted a gull feeding on something. As I approached the bird, it took off so I could see that it was a fish carcass it was feeding on. We turned around and headed back where I noticed how the dune sand had migrated into the edge of the woods and covered the bases some trees. As these trees die, the dune will grow larger and the forest will get smaller. Continuing back toward the car, I saw a Daddy-longlegs resting on a Beech leaf. These arachnids are not true spiders and eat decomposing vegetative and animal matter. They do not have venom glands or fangs. Therefore, they are not poisonous to humans. Back at the car, I looked up and noticed the Beech tree above us was loaded with Beechnuts which are a favorite food of the many squirrels that live here. Finally, we left the park and headed back to the hotel.

Here I am at Michigan Lake
Hiking a trail for nature’s sake
Displays of beauty, I’m attune
Through a woods, over a dune
Tall trees, mountains of sand
Place where water meets land
Beautiful beach where I stroll
Loud sounds of waves that roll
Terns and gulls I’m looking for
Walking along a scenic shore

D. DeGraaf

July 21

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, I was returning from a week on Beaver Island and Remi remained in the kennel. So, Sunday we were glad to be back to hike familiar trails. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 59 degrees and no wind. At the crest of the hill, I walked over by the weather station where I picked a blossom of Hedge Bindweed to smell its pleasing fragrance.  While I descended the hill, Max sang to me from his usual tree perch. On both sides of the trail, I noticed some Milkweed plants were beginning to sprout seedpods. Since they’re edible when 1-2 inches long, I picked a few and enjoyed eating them. While looking unsuccessfully for Monarch Caterpillars on Milkweed leaves, I spotted a Japanese beetle and a Milkweed beetle. Next to Mallard Marsh, I saw a lovely Blue Vervain plant. Continuing through Bobolink Meadow, I was very excited to see two male and one female Bobolink perching on a bush. It’s hard to believe they would be nesting here this late in the breeding season. Heading toward North Woods, I noticed lots of Queen Anne’s lace dotting the field with white. At the entrance to the woods, I spotted a single Purple Loosestrife plant. Since this plant is extremely invasive in wetlands, I will have to destroy it soon.  I turned south, walked to Willow Wallow and turned west into Succession Field where I thought I had a rare sighting of a Monarch Butterfly. However, after it landed and spread its wings, I noticed the black band along the hind wing that indicated it was the Monarch mimic, called a Viceroy. Circling the field, I saw an abundance of flower or bunch galls on Goldenrod along with a few Curled dock plants. I turned south, passed Sora Swale and followed south trail to Frog Fen, turned south again toward Brady Cemetery where I spotted some Chicory flowers. Passing the cemetery, I entered Native Grassland that displayed a variety of wildflowers including Purple Cone Flower and Alfalfa. Also, bees were busy pollinating as I saw a Bumblebee on Bergamot and a Honeybee on Mountain Mint.  I paused at weed-choked Grebe Pond in time to see a Green Heron flying over giving off its distinctive shriek. Following the edge of the pond toward the barn, I counted a few dozen Tree Swallow fledglings sitting on the power lines to the east. Arriving at the barn, I circled around to the east side where I saw flowers of Catnip and Burdock. Finally, we made it to the car for our trip home.

It came from a crane

Captured by a cloud

It came from a cardinal

Clinging to a conifer

It came from a cricket

Crawling in a crevice

From a chorus of crows

In a green colored canopy

Constant companions

Cosmic connections

Calls of creatures

Calls of the wild

Calling me home

D. DeGraaf

July 14

 Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, I was traveling to our rental cottage on Beaver Island and Remi was at the kennel in Alma. So, I waited until Sunday and planned a beach walk south from our place. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 60 degrees and a slight southerly breeze. Starting out, I was pleased to listen to waves gently lapping on the shore. Soon, I start spotting blossoms in the foredune including Huron Tansy and Yarrow. Also, I noticed that most of the blossoms of Bladder Campion were closed already since they open at night. Suddenly, I noticed a tiny toad hopping along the beach as its color blended perfectly with the sand (can you find it?). Continuing south, I saw Silverweed and Evening Primrose blossoms while nearly stepping on a gull carcass. Up on the bank below one of the cottages, I observed a patch of the invasive Crown Vetch. Nearby were some deer tracks along with a deer carcass. Looking up, I paused to watch a solitary gull flying south. Following the foredune again, I spotted a clump of Marsh Bedstraw and lovely Forget-me-nots. Nearing my turn-around point, I noticed a few clumps of Stonecrop. As I turned around and headed back, I spotted a single Swamp Thistle plant. Also, I noticed a tiny Ladybird Beetle. Suddenly, a few feet in front of me, a three-foot Water Snake began crawling quickly toward cover. Next, I saw some Beach Pea and Heal All blossoms. Approaching my destination, I admired a gull feather lying on the sand surrounded by plenty of Zebra Mussel shells. Finally, I made it back to our cottage just in time for morning coffee.

Mother Nature joins me today

On a beautiful island far away

Walking barefoot on the sand

Hearing waves as they land

Seagulls searching for a meal

Gentle breeze is good to feel

Colorful rocks catch my eye

A few butterflies flutter by

Driftwood scattered about

Flowers spotted throughout

Deer tracks on the ground

Mussel shells are all around

Love to walk along the shore

Much to observe and explore

D. DeGraaf

July 6

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 70 degrees and no wind. At the crest of the hill, I looked west at a landscape dominated by lush, green vegetation. Descending the hill, I saw lots of Milkweed plants and was puzzled that I still haven’t seen any Monarch caterpillars or butterflies. Many of the plants still had green clusters of flower buds called umbels. These buds first appear in early summer and can be harvested for about seven weeks. I picked one of them and ate it. It had a mild leafy taste. The flowers themselves were quite fragrant and were used by Native Americans to make jam. Next, I passed Mallard Marsh and entered Bobolink Meadow where I stopped and broke off a Milkweed leaf to reveal the white “milky” sap that gives this plant its name. It contains 1-2% latex and scientists during World War II tried to create rubber from it, but concentrations of latex were too small. Because this “milk” is sticky, it’s a defense mechanism for the plant as some insects will get their mandibles stuck when feeding on the leaves. Monarch caterpillars, on the other hand have developed methods of draining the sap before they consume the leaf. Continuing through the meadow, I counted a dozen Redwings-male and female, young and old, moving about and another dozen perched in some tall trees on the edge of North Woods causing quite a commotion. Next, I turned south and headed toward Willow Wallow where I spotted another type of Milkweed called the Swamp Milkweed. Like Indian hemp, the stem of this plant becomes very fibrous in the fall and makes excellent cordage. I turned west at the pond and hiked around Succession Field where I saw a lovely Little Wood Satyr butterfly sunning itself. I turned south past Artist Overlook where I could not see but could hear the mimicking song of a Catbird. Following south trail, I spotted an unusually large flower gall on a small Ash tree caused by Eriophyid mites. Heading east toward Frog Fen, I came upon a patch of Canadian Thistle. Turning south, I walked past Brady Cemetery and turned north into Native Grassland where I could smell the sweet aroma of White Sweet Clover. I paused at a desolate Grebe Pond and was puzzled by how few Green and Blue Herons I’ve seen here compared to last year. Continuing around the pond, I noticed more Milkweed on both sides of the trail. I broke off another leaf, touched the white sap and remembered that it also contains a Cardenolide toxin that is lethal to many herbivores except Monarch caterpillars. Also, the larva and the adult butterfly sequester this chemical in their tissue, making them toxic to many potential predators. This sap can also cause mild dermatitis in some people and acute chemical burning of the eyes resulting in temporary blindness. Finally, we made it past the barn and classroom to the car for our trip home.

Why do I walk an earthen trail?
Weekly hikes come rain or shine
Why do I get up early and go
Start before the stroke of nine
What brings me to this spot?
With meadow, pond and hill
Why do I always return?
There’s a need I can fulfill
My spirit connects to nature
My feelings for her are strong
I found somewhere special
A place where I truly belong

D. DeGraaf