Monday, Remi & I traveled north to Mt. Pleasant where we hiked in the scenic, 60-acre, Mission Creek-Woodland Park. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 46 degrees and a light wind from all directions as it bounced around us in the sheltering forest. I headed north on the Creek Trail through a dense stand of Beech, Maple, Oak and Hickory where I also noticed several Witch Hazel trees in the understory including some with yellowing leaves and others beginning to flower. After descending a steep bank, I paused to take in the tranquil beauty of Mission Creek. This 2-mile long, narrow stream runs west to east where it empties into the Chippewa River at the Mt. Pleasant Country Club. I headed west along the creek where the trail passed through a grove of Canadian Hemlock and Eastern White Cedar. Close to the edge, it was easy to spot some bright red, toxic fruit of Woody Nightshade still hanging on. A short distance ahead, I glanced up at a sure sign of the season as some unknown deciduous trees had dropped their leaves to open up the canopy and reveal a partially blue sky. I turned around, climbed back up the bank and followed the upper trail where the leaf litter revealed an unusually large number of acorns as well as colorful leaves of Bigtooth Aspen, Red Maple and White Pine. I crossed the creek again where I was startled by a Great Blue Heron that took off from a nearby fishing spot. As the trail curved back to the south, more red colors of autumn including Sumac leaves and ripe apples caught my eye. Finally, after finding the car and admiring the surrounding fall foliage one more time, we were homeward bound.
Below the canopy
On leaf-colored ground
Over lying logs
Gray squirrels bound
In barren branches
Chickadees perch
Ants climb up trunks
Raccoons still search
Preparing for winter
Is now the cause
Tis the season
For nature to pause
D. DeGraaf
No comments:
Post a Comment