October 22

Thursday, Remi and I traveled 15 miles south west of Alma to hike again in the Vestaburg State Game Area, in another section off Pinegrove Rd. in Montcalm County. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 45 degrees and still air. We left the car and walked north a short distance to the edge of Fish Creek where its gentle current made the water tremble. Also, my eyes caught a few poisonous, red berries of Bittersweet Nightshade left on the bank. This creek begins it journey just south of Vestaburg and runs 30 miles south where it feeds into the Maple River, south of Carson City. Next, I followed a 2-track east into a wooded area where the leaf litter revealed the presence of oak and aspen trees. On the ground beside the trail, I spotted a few feathery leaves of Yarrow poking through. Observing colorful leaves on nearby trees, I recognized Scarlet oak whose name is based on its autumn color and Burr Oak whose name is based on the spiny cap of its acorn. Continuing east, I paused in a clearing to look and listen to a Nuthatch as well as one of many Chipmunks. The “chip-chip” sound of this creature is a warning call most likely made by a highly territorial female toward an intruder perceived as threatening the burrow. The high-pitched sound is repeated every few seconds and may be echoed by a chorus of concerned neighbors. Further ahead, I saw some Brown Crust fungi on the trunk of a Black Cherry tree. Finally, we turned around and made it back to the car for our trip home.

Trees take their places

Nature sets the stage

Forest curtain opens

Autumn comes of age

Colorful leaves exposed

By early morning sun

Paint a barren ground

End of scene one

Canopy has thinned

Revealing sky of blue

Geese in formation

End of scene two

D. DeGraaf