June 28

Tuesday, Remi and I traveled 30 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the Hall’s Lake Natural Area, 140 acres of land off Broomfield Rd. owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 57 degrees and gusty winds out of the north. We left the car and hiked north into the Kabana Preserve when suddenly a strong gust of wind blew through the leafy canopy disturbing the peaceful forest landscape. Turning west and following the Lakeshore trail, I paused to watch an American Redstart guarding a nest of hatchlings. Further along, I entered Schaftenaar Preserve and hiked over Sofie’s swamp where, after hearing several calls of Pileated Woodpeckers, I spotted one on the ground ahead of me. Nearby, I also noticed a well-worn snag with several holes made by these large birds. Soon after turning around and beginning to retrace my steps, I looked far off to my right where some pink blossoms of wild Rose caught my eye. Next, I took the Hilltop Loop up to where I could barely see Hall’s Lake through the dense foliage. Also, from there I enjoyed the choral duet of a Northern Cardinal and a Red-eyed Vireo. Back on the Lakeshore Trail, I proceeded into scenic Neely Preserve where I spotted a patch of Fan Club Moss on the ground. Looping back toward the parking area, I noticed some new trail signage authored by local naturalist, Doug Valek. Finally, we got back to the car and headed home.

Dawn of summer

Neath a mackerel sky

Hiking a forest edge

Jewelwings flutter by

Blanket of ferns

In a scenic glade

Breaking silence

Vireos serenade

Shadows cross below

Turkey Vultures glide

Remi right behind

Nature by my side

D. DeGraaf

June 20

Monday, Remi and I returned to Conservation Park, next to the Pine River in Alma for our annual solstice hike. The early evening weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 86 degrees and a stiff breeze out of the west. We left the car and headed west on a paved trail sprinkled with white blossoms that had fallen from an overhanging Catalpa tree. Near the river’s edge, a Hedge Bindweed blossom had closed up for the evening while a Honeybee fed on a Dogwood blossom. As the trail moved inland, I spotted an American Beech tree with a bur-like husk that contains the nut. Turning south, the earthen trail took me through a mature Oak-Maple forest where I paused at exactly 6:34pm to face the sun as it once again crossed the celestial equator to begin summer in the northern hemisphere. Leaving the woods, I stopped to observe a seldom-seen, American Redstart as it perched in a dead Ash tree and sang away. Along the edge of a small field, I spotted a perching Viceroy butterfly followed by several Odonatae including a Common Blue Damselfly, a 12-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly and a well-camouflaged, Green Darner Dragonfly. Also, the bright red fruit of Red Elderberry caught my eye. Turning east and then north, I wandered through a small native prairie where I saw a patch of Butterfly weed, soon to blossom and a Hoverfly feeding within a patch of False Sunflowers. Walking along the edge of a well-hidden, vernal pond, I caught a glimpse of a Green Frog resting near shore. Finally, we completed the loop back to the car for the short trip home.

Sun of the earth

Star of the sky

Glad you’re back

Your place on high

Your light is life

Your heat is too

Celestial neighbor

I welcome you

Today is your day

This time of year

Summer solstice

The season is here

D. DeGraaf

June 16

Thursday, Remi and I traveled 26 miles southeast of Alma to hike the Fox Ridge Trail located off Grant Rd. in a section of the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, east of Ashley. The early morning weather was overcast and hazy with a temperature of 66 degrees and no wind. We left the car and headed north on a two-track through an open field dotted with blossoms of Yarrow, Cow Vetch and Birdsfoot Trefoil. While unsuccessfully searching for Monarch Caterpillars on the many Milkweed plants, I spotted a mating pair of Japanese beetles on one of them. As the trail continued into a mature oak-maple forest, I noticed the understory was dominated by Tag Alders and Bracken ferns as well as a few Sassafras saplings. On one of the ferns, a resting White Wave Moth caught my eye while the condition of a few White Oak leaves indicated they were being eaten by an Oak Skeletonizer caterpillar. Most people recognize this green larva when it hangs down from a tree on a single silken thread. Later it will turn into a tiny moth. Continuing through the forest, I noticed a type of edible fungi called, “Chicken of the woods” growing on a fallen log. Next, I followed the trail as it turned east and paused to scan a large wetland. Nearby, I saw a patch of Cinnamon ferns with their cinnamon-colored, spore-producing fronds from which they get their name as well as ground cover that included Wintergreen, Bog Blueberry and Whorled Yellow Loosestrife. The pond’s edge was teeming with small frogs that quickly hopped in the water before I could identify, let alone photograph them. Finally, we turned around and retraced our steps back to the car for our journey home.

Another week, another hike

What will my journey be like

Will I see a pheasant in flight

Or will it be hidden from sight

Will I find a blossom so fair

Or will there be nothing there

Will I hear a songbird’s call

Or will there be none at all

Nothing to fret, nothing to fear

No matter what, nature is near

D. DeGraaf

June 9

Thursday, Remi and I returned to Forest Hill Nature Area for our weekly hike. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 52 degrees and still air. After gazing west from Energy Hill, I walked down along the edge of Mallard Marsh where the Reed Canary grass was displaying its colorful flowers (panicles). I continued through Bobolink Meadow where no Bobolinks were seen, however I did spot a female Goldfinch perched on top of a young Norway spruce. Shortly after entering North woods, I noticed a single Wild Iris blossom near the footbridge while further down the path the forest floor was covered with a healthy mix of Virginia creeper and Poison Ivy. Continuing west, I glanced skyward to see a nearly full canopy of leaves. Exiting the woods, I followed the trail west around Succession field where I was surprised to see that a Goat’s Beard flower had already gone to seed. Also, bushes of Blackberry and Multi flora Rose where in full bloom. Turning south, I followed the trail through a lush corridor of oak and hickory while being serenaded by a variety of birds. Turning east, I passed through Birch row where I saw several small globs of white froth attached to young plants, including Wild Carrot. This particular one was made by the nymph of a spittlebug call a Meadow froghopper. Following the perimeter trail, I passed Sora Swale and headed east past Frog Fen. Approaching Brady Cemetery, I quietly passed a perching Robin fledgling that was ready to test its wings. Nearby, I paused to pick a wispy flower from a Wild Grape vine and take in its perfume-like fragrance. Passing the cemetery, I continued north through Native Grassland where Spiderwort was beginning to bloom. Nearing the barn, I noticed Grebe Pond was being covered once again with a green layer of the invasive Water meal. Continuing around the barn, I checked out the rocks that have become a great place to see snakes and wasn’t surprised to see a Garter snake. Finally, we got back to the car and headed home.

Place to hike

Often repeat

Earthen trails

Touch my feet

Path of discovery

Meandering kind

Lessons of the wild

Touch my mind

Walking in nature

My only goal

Times with her

Touch my soul

D. DeGraaf

June 2

Thursday, Remi and I traveled 22 miles south of Alma to hike in part of the Maple River State Game Area just west of the village of Maple Rapids. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 61 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car on the dead end of a dirt road that also served as our trail, we headed south along the bank of the Maple River where I paused to take in this peaceful riparian landscape. On both sides of the trail, I spotted spring wildflowers including lots of white Meadow Anemone, a few white Virginia Waterleafs and a few purple-white Daisy Fleabanes. Next, I saw a the blossoms of Tall Meadow Rue. Further along, I looked up into a live Ash tree to see and hear a Song Sparrow. On a nearby Basswood tree, I noticed the new leaves had some holes caused by the feeding of the tiny Leaf-miner beetle. Continuing south, I heard a beautiful bird call and soon found its source perch high in a dead, leafless ash, a colorful male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. This bird’s sweet, robin-like song has inspired many a bird watcher to pay tribute to it. A couple of early twentieth-century naturalists said it is “so entrancingly beautiful that words cannot describe it,” and “it has been compared with the finest efforts of the robin and… the Scarlet Tanager, but it is far superior to either.” Present-day bird watchers have variously suggested it sings like a robin that has had opera training, is drunk, refined, in a hurry, or unusually happy. After turning around and heading back, I noticed a patch of Morning Star Sedge with its seed head that resemble a medieval spiked club. Also, close by, I could see the flower heads of Reed Canary Grass. Approaching the car, I could barely make out a needle-thin female Blue-fronted Dancer Damselfly resting on a Dogwood leaf. Finally, we found the car and head back toward Alma.

Curtain opens on the month of June

Sounds of spring, creatures in tune

On the blossoms, buzz of the bees

Westerly wind rustles the leaves

On the maple, red squirrel chatters

Voices of the wild, all that matters

On the pond, green frog croaks

Cardinal calls, high in the oaks

Robin, the melody, Downy, the beat

Nature in harmony, choirs complete

D. DeGraaf