August 23

Tuesday, I drove 25 miles north to hike in Laur Big Salt River Park. This 40-acre Midland County park is located just north of Oil City off Coleman Rd. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 60 degrees and a gentle breeze from the west. Leaving the parking area, I followed a wide path into a dense forest whose canopy was dominated by Oak, Maple, Beech and Hemlock. Near the ground, I spotted a few patches of Maidenhair ferns with their distinctly whorled fronds. Soon, I came to the edge of a bluff and gazed down at the extensive flood plain of the Big Salt River. Next, I followed a stairs down the bluff, paused to take in the peaceful landscape and scan the slow moving river. The Big Salt River originates at the confluence of the North and South Salt River Branches just west of here and runs east about 20 miles where it empties into the Tittabawassee River at the village of Sanford. Looking around the riverbank, I noticed a few Ash-tree Bolete mushrooms. These edible mushrooms appear only under ash trees due to their symbiotic relationship with the Leafcurl Ash Aphid. Near the water’s edge, I spotted a few blossoms of Jewelweed. The leaves and juice from the stem of this plant are used by herbalists as a treatment for poison ivy and other plant induced rashes, as well as many other types of dermatitis. After ascending the stairs, I headed east along the wooded bluff where on my right, I observed the morning sun peaking through the dense canopy and on my left, the river far below. Finally, I turned around, retraced my steps back to the car and headed home.

Water in motion

West to east

Life for the fish

Food for the beast

Bullfrogs moan

Morning sunshine

Mallards quack

Cicadas whine

Rocky ripples

Night and daylong

Raparian Rhapsody

Salt River song

D. DeGraaf