Wednesday,
Remi and I traveled 6 miles west of Mt. Pleasant near Meridian Park to hike the 5-acre,
Hiawatha Hills Preserve, one of 19 properties owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 38 degrees and no wind. After parking the car on the Cedar Ct. cul-de-sac, we walked north and entered the wooded preserve consisting of mature deciduous and evergreen trees. The first thing I noticed poking out of the barren forest floor were several patches of
Wild Leeks or Ramps. I stooped down, pulled
one out of the damp earth and smelled the strong onion-like odor. Since there were no formal trails, I wandered around examining the
leaf litter where I spotted evidence of White Cedar, White Oak and American Beech. In addition to these typical trees, I was surprised to find several Eastern Hophornbeam or Ironwood specimens including this
large one with several protruding burls. Also, I spotted several Musclewood or Hornbeam trees including
this one with its sinewy surface standing next to a small Sugar Maple. Zigzagging around several small
vernal ponds, I noticed
Turkey tail and
Chlorociboria fungi growing on decaying logs. The dazzling blue-green stain on the wood colonized by Chlorociboria is due to its production of the pigment, Xylindein. This substance can inhibit plant germination and has been tested as an algaecide. It may make wood less appealing to termites, and has been studied for its cancer-fighting properties. Next, I paused to look and listen to the fast-flowing
Chippewa River as it looped around the northern edge of the preserve. Later, I found out from the USGS data, that the river was flowing at a rapid rate of about 1000 cubic feet/second. Looping back toward the car, I scared up a half dozen deer that ran quickly for cover. Finally, we found the
car and headed home.
Tender buds
On barren limbs
On swollen river
Muskrat swims
Soil softens
Sun warms
Waking forest
Colony swarms
On cattail perches
Redwings sing
Edge of March
Greeting spring
D. DeGraaf
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