August 20

Wednesday, Remi and I hiked a section of the Pere Marquette Rail Trail, 5 miles east of Clare. The early afternoon weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 73 degrees and a refreshing breeze out of the west. Heading west on the wide, paved path, I spotted some wildflowers that I’d never seen before including Virgin’s Bower (Devil’s Darning Needles) and Prairie Phlox. Also, I picked up the subtle, sweet aroma of Swamp Milkweed that grew in abundance on both sides of the trail. I paused to observe a small stream that was flowing fast due to the recent rains. Further along, I noticed a few blossoms of Bouncing Bet, a small patch of the invasive Crown Vetch and the bright red fruit of Mapleleaf Viburnum. Hopping quietly through the underbrush was some kind of small brown wren that I could not specifically identify. Leaving the rail trail, I turned south and followed a little-worn path into the Lawrence A. McDonald Wildlife Sanctuary, an 11-acre preserve that is part of the Isabella County Park system. The land included a small cattail marsh, a grove of mixed conifers and an open meadow. Almost immediately I spotted a Pearl Crescent Butterfly sunning itself near the ground. Scattered around me were a few small patches of white Aster, a sure sign of the fall season to come. Continuing south, I climbed a small hill and noticed a Blue Bonnet flower as well as a few stalks of a warm season grass called Big Blue Stem. On the crest of the hill, I walked through a patch of Autumn Olive shrubs that were displaying their ripe fruit. Approaching the car, I glanced up at a Red Oak tree and was pleased to see that it was full of acorns. Finally, we found the car and headed back to Alma.

Note of weekly hikes

On terrain high or low

Summertime or winter

Over mud or deep snow

Trail maybe hard to see

Maybe smooth or rough

Journey maybe easy

Journey maybe tough

View maybe foggy

View maybe clear

Whatever’s before me

Mother Nature is near

D. DeGraaf