August 10

Tuesday, while Remi was still at home recovering from a broken leg (he’s healing well and will be rejoining me soon), I returned to Lumberjack Park in western Gratiot County to hike a trail that I’m developing for the park association. The mid morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 64 degrees and no wind. Leaving a small, newly mown parking area off Lumberjack Rd, I followed the trail east into a wooded area where I noticed the leaves of Mayapple, some of the first green vegetation of spring, were losing their chlorophyll, an early sign of seasonal change. Up ahead at a fork, I took the path to the right and followed a high bank of the scenic Pine River. Leaving the path, I descended the steep bank to the water’s edge where I paused to watch a doe lead her two fawns as they walked across the shallow river. Also, while standing there, I spotted both a male and female (white spots on her wing tips) Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly perched on a Basswood leaf. On a nearby leaf, I saw an immature female with her wings yet to darken. On frequent visits to work on the trail this summer, I have seen several of these beautiful insects with their brilliant metallic green bodies and large black wings. Like other damselflies, they live underwater as nymphs before changing into adults. During their 2 weeks of adult life, they flit among the riparian vegetation feeding on gnats, mosquitoes and small flies. Back up the bank, I proceeded east through a wooded area of White Pine and Red Oak before turning north through a stand of mature Red Pine that was planted many years ago. Next, I climbed a moderate incline, turned north and arrived at the edge of a tributary called Mud Creek to enjoy the sights and sounds. Since the footbridge across the creek is yet to be built, I turned around, retraced my steps a short distance before turning west and following the trail below an old powerline through a dense woodland of White Pine. Near the end of the half-mile loop, I spotted a patch of Flowering Spurge. Finally, I got back to the car and headed home.

Hiking the bank

You by my side

Shaping the earth

Glide river, glide

Natural beauty

For me you show

Rapids and ripples

Flow river, flow

Glistening waters

Reflect the sun

Sustainer of life

Run river, run

D. DeGraaf