October 26

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, today he stayed home and I hiked with nature guide, Ivan Palmer on his property on Caris Rd. south of Vestaburg. The mid-morning weather was mostly cloudy, rainy with a temperature of 41 degrees and a light wind out of the north. We began by walking on the edge of a neighbor’s woods where Ivan pointed out the remnants of a pine stump fence that used to be common around here in the 1800’s. The woods consisted of mostly large Red and White Oak trees along with some Sassafras. Next, we hiked on Ivan’s land where he showed me some of the rocks he has collected over the years. One of the most distinctive was Puddingstone which is a conglomerate of quartzite and pebbles of jasper including bright red ones. Michigan Puddingstones were formed a billion years ago in northeast Canada. They are a type of sedimentary rock which first formed in river channels. During the Ice Age, they were pushed down through Eastern Michigan from Ontario Canada by the glaciers. The white is quartz sand which has cemented itself together over millions of years. Other rocks in his collection include this Granite Gneiss and Granite colored by pink Feldspar. Next, we explored his brother’s property across the road where we spotted an abandoned nest of the Baldface Hornet hanging on a tree limb. The hornet collects cellulose from weathered and rotting wood, chews the wood adding its saliva, and takes this paste and makes a papery material to construct the nest. We also spotted some berries of a Maple leaf Viburnum shrub and woodpecker holes. Hiking through the woods, we saw lots of Pokeweed. The raw berries are edible for wildlife but not for humans as they cause vomiting and diarrhea. The rootstock is rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute. Some Native American tribes used Pokeweed as a Witchcraft Medicine, believing that its ability to totally purge the body by causing drastic diarrhea and vomiting would also expel bad spirits. Fruit was made into a red dye used in painting horses and various articles of adornment. Continuing our hike, we noticed that most of the dominant trees were Sugar Maple and American Beech. Near the end of the hike, we observed some fresh bracket fungi. Finally, we returned to the car for my trip home.

An aura of autumn

Before snows come

Where beside glades

Are colors and shades

Of scarlet and gold

Trees, young and old

Where frost of fall

Coats it all

In crystalline white

After a longer night

Morning sun’s glow

Nature’s first show

D. DeGraaf

October 19

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. Instead, we hiked a trail next to the Seville Township Hall on Madison Road in western Gratiot County. The early morning weather was overcast with a temperature of 45 degrees and a slight breeze out of the west. We left the car and hiked south on a well-worn trail where I noticed a few blossoms of Spotted Knapweed along the edge. There were lots of deer tracks on the sandy path. Walking near a cemetery, I spotted a beautiful “pineapple pie” Coreopsis flower next to the trail. I imagined the plant grew from seeds blown from a gravestone decoration nearby. Entering a woods of Maple and White Birch, I was startled by a deer hunter sitting still with his bow perch about 20 feet up in a tree stand (can you see him with his red hat?) staring down at us. After greeting him, the dog and I continued our saunter. I crossed a drainage ditch and continued on the trail where I was surprised to see a few blossoms of Bouncing- Bet. Also called Sweet William or Soapwort, this plant was brought over by the colonists to be used as a soap substitute. When bruised or boiled in water, the leaves produce a lather with detergent properties that even removes grease. Moving along, I noticed most leaves had changed colors including Poison Ivy and White Oak. I came to a clearing and followed the trail as it turned east where I saw a few berries left on an Autumn Olive shrub. On my left were sand hills and hummocks where those with dirt bikes and four-wheelers had been frolicking. The trail turned back into the woods where I admired a stately Maple tree that had lost most of its leaves. Heading back to the start, I spotted a Mullein rosette with its velvety soft leaves. As a smoking herb, Mullein is a respiratory medicine and so smoking the dried leaves is one way to bring that medicine directly into the lungs. For recreational use, it is a soft, cooling, airy base for herbal smoking mixtures. Also, it is very mildly sedating. Finally, we found the car and left for home.

Cold day in October

Signs of fall appear

Leaves color the trail

Antlers on fleeing deer

Moving in the meadow

Wooly bears aren’t shy

Under scattered clouds

Geese cross the sky

Seedpods of milkweed

Burst with silky white

Glistening from frost

In the morning light

DeGraaf

October 12

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was sunny with some ground fog, a temperature of 45 degrees and no wind. Today, I would look for Mother Nature’s dark side, not the attractive rainbow colors of autumn, but the blacks and browns of death, decay and sometimes, living things. From the crest of the hill, I proceeded down the hill to Mallard Marsh where I was surprised to see a male Redwing Blackbird perched in the same spot that Max occupied during the spring nesting season and another one in the spot that Mark occupied. Since all the Redwings had left several weeks ago. I was unsure if they were the same birds and why they were there. I hiked through Bobolink Meadow where I noticed the flower heads of Queen Anne’s lace had folded up and turned black. I entered North Woods and headed west where I saw plenty of dark, decaying logs on the ground. Underneath the colorful leaf litter was dark, humus-rich soil. Next to the trail, I spotted an aging White Birch tree trunk covered with black fungus and lenticels. Exiting the woods, I circled Succession Field and turned east along the edge of South Woods where decaying Aspen leaves covered the trail. Following the trail through South Woods, I couldn’t help but notice the dark bark of a Black Cherry and Apple tree. I exited the woods, headed east and turned north toward Willow Wallow where I paused to watch several waves of noisy geese flying in formation high overhead. I walked east along the edge of the pond where I was again surprised to see a male Redwing perched in the same tree Will occupied months ago. Climbing Reflection Hill, I noticed some of the Goldenrod galls had turned dark including both the ball gall and bunch gall. At the top of the hill, I spotted a Honeysuckle shrub with blacken, “witches broom” galls. I descended the hill to the south and paused near Frog Fen to see and hear another male Redwing perched in Fred’s tree. Proceeding toward Brady Cemetery, I could still see the charred branches of a White Pine tree killed by a wildfire over a year ago. Passing the cemetery, I turned north into Native Grassland where the black seed heads of Purple Cone Flower punctuated the meadow. I paused at the edge of Grebe Pond where a dozen geese swam on the green surface. Continuing along the edge of the pond, I noticed a small Cottonwood tree whose leaves were turning black. Also, I heard a Redwing in the same tree where Gabe perched in the spring. Flying low above the meadow was a large flock of Redwings. At my feet, I spotted a black and brown, Wooly Bear Caterpillar. Arriving at the barn, I walked to the north side where I spotted a few rotting, blacken hulls of Black Walnuts on the ground. Finally, we passed the classroom and arrived at the car for our trip home.

Autumn marches onward
Nature sheds her green
Dark colors exposed
Falling leaves are seen
Meadow changes clothes
Frost touches the ground
Swallows leave the pond
Wooly bears crawl around
Plants cease to grow
Creatures have their way
Comes the colder night
Comes the shorter day

D. DeGraaf

October 5

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. Instead, we hiked in Lumberjack Park along the Pine River in western Gratiot County near Riverdale. The midmorning weather was rainy with a temperature of 63 degrees and no wind. I followed the trail into a wooded camping area where the dense canopy was dominated by Sugar and Red Maple and the understory was dominated by Witch Hazel and Hickory. Approaching the river, I saw some red fruit of Winterberry. I paused at the riverbank where I noticed the river level was high and the current was strong. Continuing on the trail away from the river, I could hear the steady rain penetrating the canopy and could see fresh mushrooms growing on the damp forest floor. Also, I spotted a patch of Wild Ginger growing in the leaf litter. On the wet ground, I saw a mixture of Sugar maple leaves and White Pine needles. Returning to the riverbank, I was fascinated by the seedpods hanging from a Golden Rain Tree that looked like Chinese Lanterns. Turning around, I retraced my steps through the woods where I saw a mixture of lichens on a Red Maple tree trunk and some Pileated Woodpecker holes on a Black Cherry trunk. Also, I spotted a single, scraggly, White Cedar tree growing in the dense understory. Nearing the end of the hike, I looked carefully at the ground where I saw a patch of Partridge Berry. Finally, we made it back to the car to dry out and leave for home.

In the course of life, made it my quest
To experience nature at her worst and best
Putrid smell of carcass hidden in the grass
Sweet scent of blossoms in a meadow I pass
In sunny sky so blue, a white, fluffy cloud
In a coming storm, clap of thunder so loud
In a forest of winter, stark, leafless trees
Woods in autumn, many colors to please
No matter the season, no matter the scene
Both extremes and everything in between

D. DeGraaf