Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, today we hiked part of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail starting from Riverdale. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 16 degrees and a steady breeze from the west. We left the car and headed west against a frigid headwind where light snow flurries dusted the paved path. I followed the trail through a grove of young Aspens where I noticed a buck rub on one of the trees. Temporarily turning around, I watched the rising sun peak through the clouds. Continuing due west, I spotted a fresh carcass of a buck just off the trail that was partially eaten by scavengers. Based on its proximity to a nearby road, I surmised it was a road-kill. Further along, on one side of the path, I saw a mud-lined robin’s nest in a leafless Autumn Olive shrub and on the other side I saw a Staghorn Sumac with a solitary fruit cluster that forms reddish drupes called bobs. I walked another hundred yards and came to a small, partially frozen creek that ran under the trail. Continuing west through a grove of scraggly Box Elder trees, I noticed a few decayed Walnut husks on the trail and looked around to find the source tree. Walking along, I gazed to the north at a lone Red Pine and then stopped to observe a young sprout of Autumn Olive-one of the few deciduous plants that still had green leaves. After about a mile, I turned around and was relieved to have the wind at my back. Heading east, I noticed several young Eastern Red Cedar trees showed no evidence of deer browsing that I’ve seen elsewhere. Apparently, there were enough other food sources in the area to keep deer from trimming off the lower branches. Approaching the car, I was surprised to see a few Yucca plants along the trail. Finally, we got back to the car, turned on the heater and headed home.
It whispers to me in the wind
Beckons with calls of the wild
It displays a profound beauty
Makes me curious as a child
It surrounds me with life
With death and life anew
It shows a certain balance
Harmony thru and thru
It teaches me lasting truths
Joins me to the cosmic whole
Food for my body and mind
Nourishment for my soul
D. DeGraaf
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