April 27

Wednesday, Remi and I traveled 15 miles west of Alma to hike on a 100-acre private preserve just west of Marl Lake. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 41 degrees and calm winds. From the car, we followed an earthen trail south into a woodland of Aspen and Pine under sunny blue skies. Soon, I noticed the moist ground was carpeted with Skunk Cabbage along with a few patches of Pennsylvania Sedge with its bristly inflorescences. High above, a tall, flowering Weeping Willow caught my eye. Continuing south, the path turned grassy as it passed close to one of many small creeks where the yellow Marsh Marigold blossoms stood out among the fresh green foliage. Following the trail as it turned east, I paused to enjoy the scenery and listen to a drumming Woodpecker. Further ahead, I noticed the trunks of some trees had dark green spots on them which was caused by the growth of a leafy Liverwort. As the trail crossed over another creek, I stopped to look and listen. Leaving the trail, I walked about a hundred yards east to the edge of Marl Lake where I spotted a mother goose and her four goslings swimming off shore. Also, I was impressed by the clarity of the water along the shore. While turning around and heading back to the trail, I was greeted by a pair of noisy geese walking ahead of me. Retracing my steps back to the car, I was amazed to see the rusty red color of a decaying oak stump. After some research, I found out that near the end of the decomposition process, the tree cells break open exposing the reddish resin. Continuing west, I noticed the skull of a deer among the leaf litter as well as a patch of tiny blue blossoms of Woodland Phlox. Finally, we got back to the car and headed home.

April nears finish line

New season grabs hold

From the marsh’s edge

Blossoms of Marigold

Chipmunks scamper

On the forest floor

Looking for a carcass

Turkey Vultures soar

From a vernal pond

Leopard frogs sing

Nature comes alive

Glad tidings of spring

D. DeGraaf

April 22

Friday, Remi and I traveled 10 miles south of Alma to hike in the 40-acre, Ithaca Schools' Living Laboratory. The early morning weather was overcast with a temperature of 54 degrees and a slight easterly wind. To celebrate Earth Day, we were pleased to be joined by fellow naturalist and mentor, John Clark to explore this tiny piece of our planet and observe wildlife that is preserved and protected. We headed south into a-mostly leafless woodland where I noticed the beginning stage of a silk nest of the Eastern Tent Caterpillar attached to a branch of a young cherry tree. It won’t be long before the young caterpillars emerge to feed on the foliage of the host tree. Further along, I spotted something seen a lot lately on my weekly hikes; large ash trees that had been previously killed by the Emerald Ash Borer and blown over by strong winter winds. Looking more closely at the fallen trunk, I saw some fresh Raccoon Scat. Next, I scanned my surroundings while listening to a few distant crows. Continuing on the path covered with leaf litter, I noticed several small vernal ponds including this one where new tuffs of Woodland Sedge were evident. All around me, the forest floor was greening with foliage that were ready to display colorful spring blossoms. Those included: Marsh Marigold, Trillium and Spring Beauty. One wildflower that was already in full bloom was dainty Purple Cress. Arriving at Clark Pond where the high water covered part of the dock, I stirred up a pair of Wood Ducks that flew off as they let out their familiar squeak call. Looping around back toward the car, I stopped to examine an old snag that had a pattern of holes made long ago by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Also, I was surprised to see a freshly stripped tree trunk made by a Porcupine. Finally, we made it back to the car and headed home.

Planet earth, child of the sun

You’re a very special one

Water to drink, air to breathe

Life abounds on land and sea

Some worlds, far too cold

Living things can’t take hold

Some worlds, way too hot

Does life exist? I think not

Sphere of blue, sphere of white

Your place in space, just right

Mother Earth, this much is true

Our survival depends on you

D. DeGraaf

April 13

Wednesday, Remi stayed home while I was invited by a community member to hike on his 100-acre, wooded tract along the Pine River, a few miles south of Alma. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 36 degrees and no wind. Accompanied by his friendly dog Zeke, we hiked north through a stand of conifers where the trail was carpeted with decomposing pine needles. Entering a clearing, I spotted some Reindeer Moss as well as colorful orange bracket fungi. Next, we continued into a mature forest of broadleaf trees where I was shown the trunks of Yellow Birch, Shagbark Hickory as well as a dying Ash snag being attacked by a Pileated Woodpecker. Approaching the river, I was amazed to see an old beaver cut on a large Cherry trunk, approximately 2 ½ feet in diameter. It appeared the poor beaver gave up trying to topple such a huge tree. Nearby, I noticed a hole in the riverbank likely made by a river otter. Continuing north and walking across one of many shallow vernal ponds, I noticed a Marsh Marigold plant was ready to blossom. At the edge of the flooded Pine River, I paused to observe the gentle current flowing south to north. Turning around, I headed south past a few Jack Pines as well as a stand of Red and White Pines that showed evidence of recent storm damage. Also, on the ground, I spotted a patch of British Soldier lichens peeking through some dead Red Pine needles. Finally, I returned to the house, thanked my host for the tour of one of the counties finest riparian natural areas and headed home.

Perching squirrels

Chitter, Chatter

Chipmunks run

Pitter, patter

Wood duck pair

Fly and squeak

River rapids

Babbling creek

Frogs and toads

Start to sing

Nature’s choir

Hymns of spring

D. DeGraaf

April 5

Tuesday, Remi and I traveled 10 miles west of Alma to hike once again at Lumberjack Park. This park was established in 1927, when one of the last stands of White Pine in Gratiot County was going to be cut and a group of local lumberjacks and rivermen bought the threatened forty-acre tract for $3000. Since we planned to hike in a natural area north of the Pine River, I parked the car just off Lumberjack Rd. and walked east along a little-used two track where the leaf litter displayed a mix of mostly Red Oak, White Oak and some Sugar Maple. Curving south toward a high bank of the river, I paused as a dozen Wild Turkeys flew noisily, one by one, over a 100 ft. span of the river. After they quickly ran into the woods, I was able to enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful riparian landscape. Continuing east along the high bank, I came upon a feather of one of the turkeys that had earlier flown across the river. Also, I spotted a Wood Duck box just before a nesting pair flew away over the river making their familiar squeaking noise. Approaching a mature stand of Red and White Pine, I saw that one of the trunks had sap leaking out from the holes made by a Pileated Woodpecker. I continued east to the Mud Creek flats and was not surprised to see that it was flooded and partially iced over. I turned around and hiked west through the tall pines where the leaf litter also revealed Scarlet Oak and Aspen. Finally, we found the car, turned on the heater and took off for home.

Dawn of April

Wonder to see

River of spring

Speaking to me

Nourishing earth

Clean you must be

River of spring

No guarantee

Over smooth rocks

Under arching tree

River of spring

Running fast & free

D. DeGraaf