December 9

On Tuesday, Remi and I returned to the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, 12 miles southeast of Ithaca to hike what was called on the map, the Whitetail trail just off Woodridge Rd. The early afternoon weather was overcast, hazy with a temperature of 36 degrees and no wind. I left the parking area and followed a trail west where patches of snow remained from a light overnight snowfall. The surrounding trees were mainly oaks, maples and pine. From the leaf litter, I noticed leaves of Pin Oak that gets its common name from the practice long ago of "pinning together" the timbers of a barn with the tough, resilient branchlets of this tree. Looking up, I spotted a squirrel's nest in a one of these trees. Continuing west, I noticed the skeletal remains of a small mammal, perhaps an opossum or raccoon. Scattered among the leaf litter were large patches of Winter Green leaves with their fragrant smell, once they are crushed. Also, I found several patches of Sphagnum moss. Observing fresh boot tracks on the path in front of me made me wonder if a deer hunter had been by earlier since this is Muzzleloader gun season. The trail turned south and took me through a stand of White Birch where some Rosette Lichens on a tree trunk caught my eye. Stopping to turn around, I was impressed how quiet and peaceful this place was. Just before reaching the car, I paused to observe a mysterious, 4-inch diameter, silky patch attached to a snag and wondered if it was some kind of insect larvae or spider nest. Finally, we made it back to my dirty car and headed north toward Alma.

Overnight

All turns white

Virgin snow

Puts on a show

All it takes

Billions of flakes

Paint the scene

Make it clean

Nature makes it

A winter blanket

Covers the brown

On the ground

Welcomed display

December day

D. DeGraaf