Wednesday, Remi and I traveled 10 miles west of Mt. Pleasant and hiked around Gilmore Park. Part of the Isabella County park system, this 7-acre preserve is located on the north shore of Lake Isabella. The early morning weather was sunny with temperature of 61 degrees and a stiff northwest wind. We left the car and followed a well groomed, meandering trail into a partially wooded area lined with dense patches of Sandbar Willow as well as exposed areas dotted with Bergamot and Goldenrod. As the trail turned sharply to the left, I noticed the rusty red fruit of Staghorn Sumac, a crimson red, ripe raspberry and some scarlet red leaves of Virginia creeper, a portend of autumn. Perched on a reed was a dainty, Powdered Dancer Damselfly. The trail led me to a wooden deck overlooking the lake where I paused to enjoy the view and listen to the wind rustle through leaves of the aspen trees while a Blue Jay called from the canopy. Near the completion of the first loop, I looked down and admired some Turkey Tail Fungi growing on a dead branch. On the second loop, the trail circled an open field colored with large patches of Spotted Knapweed. I continued on the trail as it skirted a grove of Birch and Cottonwoods where I was pleased to catch a glimpse of a Black & Blue Widow Skimmer Dragonfly. Finally, we returned to the car and headed back to Alma.
The time is now
Place is here
Heaven on earth
Nature is near
No noisy cars
Or polluted air
No concrete jungle
Or lights that glare
A forest trail
Points the way
Nothing disturbs
But calls of a Jay
D. DeGraaf
No comments:
Post a Comment