August 24

Monday, while Remi remained home recovering from cataract surgery, I drove 32 miles northeast to hike at the 1200-acre Chippewa Nature Center, located in Midland County at the confluence of the Pine and Chippewa Rivers. The early afternoon weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 70 degrees and a stiff westerly wind. Of the many trail options, I chose to hike the Wetlands Trail that circled around 3 large cattail marshes. Leaving the parking lot, I followed the trail east along the edge of Heron Marsh where I spotted a Bull Frog sitting on a stump out in the water surrounded by Lilly pads. Directly ahead, I could barely see a well-camouflaged Carolina Locust resting on the earthen path. Left of the trail, I noticed a few patches of Horsemint and to the right mixed in with the cattails were flowers of Purple Loosestrife and Lady’s Tresses Orchid. I continued on the trail as it looped around Dragonfly Marsh where I gazed at some geese and unknown ducks on the near shore and a wading Great Egret on the far shore. Behind me, strong wind whipped through a field of Golden Rod and prairie grasses. Next to the trail, I spotted a Soldier Beetle walking on a blossom of Queen Anne’s lace. Heading due west, a patch of Golden Tickseed Coreopsis caught my eye. Arriving at the edge of Muskrat Marsh, I spotted a Differential Grasshopper resting on a metal water regulator box. Near shore was a mixture of Narrow-leaf Cattails and bristly-topped, Umbrella Sedge. Approaching a dock, I noticed both pink Joe-Pye weed and white Boneset. Finally, I completed the loop back to the car and headed to the visitor’s center.

Season of summer

Leaves its mark

Cicadas whine

Dawn to dark

Lavender thistle

Turns fuzzy white

Finches of gold

Serenade in flight

Prairie flowers

Won’t surrender

Mother Nature

In all her splendor

D. DeGraaf

August 19

Wednesday, after driving 65 miles south to Williamston and dropping Remi off for cataract surgery, I drove a few miles west to Okemos to hike at the Harris Nature Center, located within the 200-acre Meridian Riverfront Park. The mid-morning weather was partly sunny, humid with a temperature of 77 degrees and a light, variable wind. I left the parking lot and followed an earthen trail north into a lush woods where swarms of mosquitos greeted me and Cicadas were heard loud and clear. Cicadas produce their sound by contracting a pair of ribbed membranes at the base of the abdomen, called tymbals. As the trail meandered along the edge of the Red Cedar River, I saw lots of blossoms of Virginia Knotweed and a few of Great Blue Lobelia. Crossing an old wooden footbridge, I paused to observe the flowing river. The Red Cedar starts out in Cedar Lake near Howell, flows through the Nature Center, continues west through the MSU campus and completes its 50-mile journey when it empties into the Grand River at Lansing. Continuing north, it was easy to spot the bright red blossoms of a Cardinal flower and berries of Jack-in-the-Pulpit. While passing through a corridor of tall White Spruce, I came upon a pile of fresh sawdust at the base of one of them being made by an active colony of Carpenter Ants. The ants do not eat the wood, but rather tunnel only to increase nesting space. In the forest, they feed on sap, pollen, nectar, fruits, and both living and dead insects. Continuing on, I came upon a patch of blossoming Jerusalem artichokes with their yellow pedals and green disc florets. Looping back to the south, I walked through a clearing while noticing that some Joe-Pye weed plants were near the end of their flowering stage. Also, a perching Autumn Meadow hawk dragonfly caught my eye. Near the trail’s end, I spotted vines of Wild Cucumber that were flowering. Finally, I found the car and headed back to pick up Remi for our trip home.

Because of you

Nature thrives

Because of you

Temperatures rise

Because of you

Earth turns green

Because of you

Butterflies are seen

Because of you

Blossoms abound

Season of summer

Glad you’re around

D. DeGraaf

August 12

Wednesday, my weekly hike brought Remi and I back to Forest Hill Nature Area. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 61 degrees and a refreshing breeze out of the north. Today, I decided to begin on Reflection Hill where I would walk around the circular path on top while taking in nature’s sights and sounds. Leaving the parking lot, I proceeded quickly west past the classroom, ascended the hill and glanced north where the surface of Mallard Marsh was completely blocked out by a dense stand of cattails. Moving counterclockwise, I spotted what I thought was a Monarch Butterfly perched on a milkweed, however the black horizontal bands on its hind wings told me it was a Viceroy. While facing northwest, I could first see Bobolink Meadow in the distance and further out, North Woods. From up in the clear blue sky came the call of a Killdeer. On both sides of the trail, Goldenrod were beginning to blossom while some Queen Anne’s Lace blossoms were beginning to close up for the season. Continuing around the west side of the hill, I spotted one of many juvenile Leopard Frogs crossing the path as well as a Milkweed bug sunning itself on a seedpod. Walking around to the south side, I paused to view Frog Fen and the neighbor’s cornfield in the distance. Moving to the east side, I stopped to scan Grebe Pond while listening to a few birds and Orthoptera. After completing the circle, I turned back to the south and followed the trail down the hill past Frog Fen and Brady Cemetery to Native Grassland where the colorful prairie wildflowers were in full bloom including a mix of Purple Coneflowers and white Mountain Mint as well as a mix of yellow False Sunflowers and lavender Bergamot. Continuing north, I paused to see that much of the surface of Grebe Pond remained covered with the invasive Watermeal. Approaching the barn and the end of my hike, I caught a glimpse of a Little Wood Satyr nestled in a Goldenrod plant. Finally, it was back to the car for our trip home.

Summer climbs Reflection Hill

Glistening dew, clouds are nil

Redwings sing from cattails near

Overhead is heard one killdeer

Crickets chirp in a field below

Off in the trees, caw of a crow

Frogs strum from a placid pond

Pheasants call from far beyond

Mother Nature directs her choir

Songs of her creatures I admire

D. DeGraaf

August 10

Last Wednesday, August 5, my wife, Caroline & my sister, Beverly joined me for a hike at remote Isle Royale National Park. Located in northwest Lake Superior, this 200 square mile taiga wilderness is accessible only by boat or plane. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 58 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the north. As we left the lodge, I was intrigued by a striking blue blossom that turned out to be an invasive called Mountain Bluette. Heading west along the scenic shoreline, I was amazed by the variety of lichens including Common Orange growing on the exposed Precambrian rock. Hanging from tree branches were Moose hair lichens while on the ground I spotted both Pixie cup and Dog lichens. Just ahead, I could see a Snowshoe hare sitting quietly among the Oxeye daisies. Next, we paused to admire this beautiful, rocky shoreline. Back on the trail, I was pleased to discover some never-seen wildflowers including the tiny Wood Nymph, White Pea and Pipsissewa. As the sun and temperature rose, more insects were evident including a Mosaic Darner Dragonfly and a Fritillary Butterfly. Turning inland, I spotted two more plants that were new to me, Thimbleberry with its white blossoms and huge maple-like leaves and Ninebark that displays both red buds and pinkish white flowers. Finally, after a rugged 3½-hour hike, we returned to the lodge for lunch.

Isle Royale wilderness

Far from a teeming crowd

Lapping waves speak softly

Red Squirrels chatter loud

Orange lichens paint the rocks

Green spires of spruce and fir

High in their boreal branches

Black-capped Chickadees stir

Superior's glassy waters

Reflect a midnight moon

Nature breaks her silence

Wail of a distant Loon

D. DeGraaf