October 15

Thursday, Remi and I traveled 10 miles west of Alma to hike around 8-acre, Twin Lake, located just south of Lake Montcalm Rd. in Montcalm County The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 45 degrees and a steady wind from the west. We left the car and walked south on a two-track lined with tall Pine trees. After pausing by one of the trees and examining a lower branch, I counted two needles in a cluster and a needle broke when bent, so I knew they were Red Pine. Continuing south, I came to the edge of lovely Twin Lake where a couple dozen noisy Canada Geese took off from the middle. Approaching the shoreline, I noticed it was covered with a white substance that upon closer observation turned out to be goose down. Down is the soft under plumage feathers that geese have to keep them warm and dry. Plumage feathers have hard quills, down does not. I continued south and stopped to enjoy the setting of a small creek that was outflowing east from the lake. Nearby, I spotted a leafless Gray Dogwood shrub with its white berries which are an important food source for birds. I turned around and retraced my steps back near the car where I noticed the summer green leaves of a Bur Cucumber vine snaking around a Wild Grape vine. Passing the car, I continued north across Lake Montcalm Rd. into a woods of colorful fall foliage including the red-colored leaves of White Oak and the rust-colored leaves of Swamp White Oak. The yellow and brown leaves of Royal Ferns also caught my eye. On the ground, I spotted several patches of variety of strawberry that I had not seen before, called Sand Strawberry with their larger glossy leaves and reddish stems. The leaf litter revealed color changes in some Red Maple leaves. Finally, we returned to the car for our return trip to Alma.

High in a canopy

Touching a cloud

Leaf of scarlet

Lost in the crowd

Time to let go with

Time to break free

Tis the season

Fall from the tree

Waft thru branches

Without a sound

Welcome to earth

Color the ground

D. DeGraaf