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