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