Tuesday, after traveling 13 miles due west of Alma into Montcalm County, Remi & I hiked on fellow nature guide, Ron Patton’s 102-acre property next to Marl Lake. The early morning weather included a bright sun burning off patchy fog, a temperature of 43 degrees and no wind. Started down a wide path into a wooded area, I soon came to a small pond whose smooth surface reflected a stand of large spruce and pine trees on the far shore. On the ground were a few blue blossoms of Beardstongue. Following the trail, I spotted some colorful blossoms of New York Aster while picking up the familiar call of a Pileated Woodpecker. Walking along the edge of a small stream, I noticed some Nodding Bur Marigold. Next, I saw a few small patches of Maidenhair fern and a large patch of Bracken fern. As the trail curved to the east, I entered a mature forest of tall Maple and Beech just as the sun broke through the canopy. Also, I observed a some yellow Waxy Cap mushrooms growing on the leaf litter. Veering off the trail, I came to the edge of 17-acre Marl Lake where I alarmed a few Canada Geese. After briefly exploring a small stream that fed into the lake, I began retracing my steps and spotted a fresh Coral fungus as well as lots of Beech Drops poking up through the soil. Nearing the end of the hike, I caught a glimpse of a couple of large maples beginning to change colors, a sign of things to come. Finally, we made it back to the car and headed home.
Waning days of summer
Nature’s colors revealed
Purple aster blossoms
Dot the golden field
Maples of the forest edge
Those in between
Still hold their leaves
Still show their green
Rose hips of red
Berries of blue and white
New food for the finch
New season in sight
D. DeGraaf
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