January 7

Wednesday, while Remi remained home with an injured leg, I hiked the nature trail at Odyssey High School, which is part of the Shepherd School District, located 13 miles north of Alma off from Wise Rd. in Isabella County. The mid-day weather was mostly sunny with a frigid temperature of 7 degrees and no wind. With the sun at my back, I left the parking lot heading north on a trail lined with birch and aspen and covered with 4-5 inches of snow. Further ahead, the trailed was shaded by a dense stand of mature Eastern Hemlock on my left and Red Pine on my right. Several immature Beech trees, still with their leaves on, comprised the understory. I turned west and hiked on a boardwalk over the narrow, ice-covered Onion Creek. Turning around, I wound my way back to the north and followed another boardwalk out to an observation deck overlooking 10 acres of wetlands with Onion Creek meandering through the middle. Looking more closely at the thick vegetation of brown stalks topped with seed heads that covered the area, I recognized it as Purple Loosestrife. Unfortunately, this invasive plant had grown unchecked for some time and had displaced native cattails and pondweed which are important wildlife food plants. Next, I turned around and headed south where I spotted a disturbed area of leaf litter where hungry deer had foraged for acorns. Finally, I made it back to the car and headed north to Mt. Pleasant to run some errands.

Year and month commence

Winter season revealed

Fresh snow surrounds

Pond surface sealed

Night creatures move

Tracks mark their way

Back in their lairs

When dark welcomes day

Sun through the canopy

Shadows cross a white floor

Mother Nature’s artwork

Witness am I once more

D. DeGraaf