Sunday, September 22, 2013

September 21


Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, instead we went hiking with one of our nature guides, Joe Fox and his daughter, Molly on their property off Polk Rd., southwest of Alma. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 57 degrees and no wind. We headed south along a two-track where we spotted a Northern Catalpa tree with its large leaves. This tree is the host plant for the Sphinx Moth whose caterpillar feeds on the leaves. Along the ground were small patches of Ragweed. Continuing south, we saw fresh fungus and lichens growing on a tree trunk. We entered a large forest, dominated by large, healthy Maple trees along with several dead and dying Ash trees being killed by the Emerald Ash Borer. We came to a low area where I noticed some Joe Pye Weed flowers going to seed. Also, I spotted Smartweed, a small patch of the deadly Water Hemlock and a striking red Cardinal flower. Beautiful but deadly, this plant was used as a medicine but is also very poisonous. It contains fourteen alkaloids similar to those in nicotine. Extracts of the leaves and fruit produce vomiting, sweating, pain and finally death. Exploring the muddy ground, we found a few Raccoon tracks. We continued south to the picturesque Pine River that meanders for several thousand feet along the edge of their property. Walking as quietly as possible, we had a brief stare-down with curious, twin fawns. Exploring the banks of the river, we spotted Thornapple trees and Wild Cucumber vines. Despite it’s name, the green fruit of this vine is not edible. On the ground, we found the skeleton of a Whitetail buck and wondered if it had died from EHD (Epizootic Hemorrphagic Disease), a disease that has killed many deer in the area. As we turned around and began heading back, I was amazed to see fuzzy, Poison Ivy vines as thick as my arm growing up a tree trunk. Some of the branches off the vines had leaves 6-8 inches wide. Just before exiting the woods, we admired the complex, lateral root system of a maple tree that had been exposed earlier in the spring by floodwaters. Finally, we made it back to our car and headed for home.

Walk softly in fields
Hear a distant call
Birds of the sky
Both big and small
Walk in woods
Ears to the ground
Wildlife whispers
Hear a faint sound
Solemn nature hike
Human noises cease
In nature’s quietude
The earth is at peace

D. DeGraaf

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