November 16

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, due to the potential danger of hiking at the Nature Area during rifle deer hunting season, we hiked in Pine River Park in Alma. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 37 degrees and no wind. I exited the car and followed a paved trail west along the river where I noticed a few crab apples still clinging to a tree. The vegetation along the shore was alive with fluttering birds including: a Blue Jay, a Cardinal, a Downy Woodpecker, a few Nuthatches, several Juncos and even a Starling. Next, I paused to listen to a noisy female Mallard swimming near shore. Continuing west, I noticed a Weeping Willow tree still had lots of leaves. Further ahead, I spotted an abandoned nest of Bald-faced Hornets. I turned south away from the river and followed a path through a dense woods . The leaf litter at my feet first indicated Big Tooth Aspen and then Red Oak. I continued on a dirt path into an area called Conservation Park where huge Red Oak, White Oak and Sugar Maple trees towered over me. Passing the Girl Scout cabin, I followed a trail south where I saw some delicate British Soldier Lichens growing on top of a wooden fence post. Turning east, I spotted a few colorful blossoms of a Spindle tree. I followed a trail into a dense forest of evergreen trees including Spruce and Pine. The trail first meandered through a grove of White Spruce and then Red Pine where the ground was littered with cones and needles. Continuing to follow the path, I spotted a Scotch pine branch on the ground that had fallen from a nearby tree. Approaching the exit to the woods, the leaf litter showed a mixture of oak, maple, pine and aspen. I exited the woods and returned to the path along the river where I spotted a few bright red fruit of High bush Cranberry. I continued east and finally came to the car for our trip home.

Far away from the hunter’s gun

Run, river run

By light of the moon, light of the sun

Run, river run

Your journey’s not over, only half done

Run, river run

Keeping you clean is priority one

Run, river run

Ice flows have not yet begun

Run, river run

Walking beside you is lots of fun

Run, river run

D. DeGraaf