September 27

Tuesday, Remi and I traveled 26 miles northeast of Alma to hike in Midland County’s 154-acre, Manitou Park. The early morning weather was partly cloudy with a temperature of 48 degrees and a moderate westerly wind. From the car, we took off south on a paved path where I noticed both Blue stem Goldenrod and Panicled Aster blossoms along the edge as well as some browning Bracken Ferns. Next, I came to the crest of a steep, 50-foot bank and paused to observe the Chippewa River below as it flowed west to east and where, after a 17-mile journey from here, will empty into the Tittabawassee River in Midland. Swinging around to the east, I followed the trail along the high bank where I came across clumps of green Pincushion Moss under a large oak tree while other green foliage, responding to seasonal change, were starting to turn red, including: Yarrow, Sassafras and even Poison Ivy. Further ahead, a few blossoms of Thin-leaved Sunflowers caught my eye. Turning around, I began retracing my steps west where I spotted three types of fungi: Turkey Tail covering the end of a cut log and tiny Orange Peel resting on the soil. The third type was the edible Spiny Puffball. So I broke off a piece and savored the fresh mushroom flavor along with a few grains of sand. Continuing west, I came upon some mysterious red, olive-size fruit scattered on the ground that, after looking around, turned out to be haws from a nearby Hawthorne tree. Even though they can be eaten raw, haws are commonly made into jam, syrup or wine. Near the end of the hike, I spotted a few clumps of 5-ft. tall Nodding Bulrush. Finally, we returned to the car and headed for Alma.

Late in September

Summer falls asleep

Lady Autumn awakes

In the forest deep

Quaking Aspen leaves

Litter the shady ground

Most are pale yellow

A few, spotted with brown

Beside a peaceful glade

Ferns give up their green

On the meandering river

Water has lost its sheen

D. DeGraaf

September 22

Thursday, while Remi stayed home, I traveled 22 miles north to hike in Mt. Pleasant’s newest park, an 80-acre woodland on the corner of Summerton and Valley, called Indian Pines. The mid-morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 66 degrees and no wind. From the car, I followed a newly made trail south though a dense woodland into a clearing where patches of Asters were in full bloom. Turning west back into the woodland, I spotted a large Sycamore tree with its characteristic exfoliating bark on the trunk and large maple-like leaves. Soon the trail turned south again and led into a grove of mature White pine trees where I paused to look at their lower trunks, projecting lots of dead branches. Nearby, I noticed the trunk of an Aspen tree had been recently visited by a Pileated Woodpecker while on the ground, the edible but tasteless fruit of Partridgeberry mixed in with some Haircap moss. At 10:21 am, as if on cue, the clouds broke up so I could face the morning sun as it shown through the trees and acknowledge it’s crossing of the celestial equator to begin the fall season. Continuing south, I arrived at the edge of the Chippewa River and paused to observe the scenic riparian landscape. Next, I began to make my way back to the car when I spotted a few more signs of autumn: red leaves of a Maple tree, a Virginia creeper vine, red drupes of Staghorn sumac and dead brown fronds of Bracken fern. On the ground, I came upon an edible Berkeley’s Polypore Mushroom and some non-edible fruit of White Baneberry. Finally, I returned to the car and headed back to Alma.

From heights of summer

When you rule the day

To depths of winter

You’re now halfway

Your annual journey

In the earthly sky

Predictable path

On which we rely

Sun of the heavens

Celestial fireball

Glad you arrived

Welcome to fall

D. DeGraaf

September 12

Monday, Remi and I traveled 13 miles south to hike the Jailhouse Trail, located in Ithaca’s 164-acre, McNabb Park, south of town. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 52 degrees and no wind. We left the car and followed the trail west into a dense woodland of mixed hardwoods and conifers where several dead, leafless ash trees opened up the canopy to reveal a clear, blue sky. Following the perimeter “orange” trail, I came upon a patch of lovely, but highly invasive Japanese Knotweed as well as a patch of Heath Aster. As the trail began to circle around the property, I was greeted by morning sunbeams along with clumps of an unfamiliar plant with huge basal leaves (one was about 18 inches long) and dried up flower heads on tall stems that turned out to be Great Coneflower. A little further ahead, I came upon a Wild Rose bush with an unusual reddish growth called Robin’s Pincushion or Bedeguar Gall. This growth occurs after eggs are laid on a stem by a tiny female Cynipid Wasp. When the eggs hatch into larvae, they feed on the plant tissue that prompts the growth of the gall. These tiny grubs will remain in the gall as pupae through the winter and become adult wasps next spring. Next, I continued to loop back to the beginning where I spotted some colorful berries including: white Dogwood, blue Virginia Creeper, green Chinese Privet and black Buckthorn. Finally, we returned to the car and headed home.

Swan song of summer

Nature has her way

Swallows are swarming

Wish they could stay

Queen Anne’s Lace

Fold up their flowers

Meadow shines golden

In daylight hours

Fungi are frequent

Berries abound

Frogs of the marsh

Surrender their sound

D. DeGraaf

September 6

Tuesday, after a 6-week absence recovering from a broken leg, Remi rejoined my weekly nature hike as we returned to Forest Hill Nature Area, the place where it all began 5 years ago. The early morning weather was mostly sunny, hazy, with a temperature of 68 degrees and a slight breeze out of the south. From the car, I hiked to the top of Energy Hill where I noticed the willow trees on the east side of Mallard Marsh had grown so tall and dense over the years that they now blocked the view of Bobolink Meadow and North Woods. As I descended the hill, a formation of Canada Geese flew above me heading east. Moving past Mallard Marsh into Bobolink Meadow, I paused to observe a Black and Yellow Mud Dauber Wasp resting on a Milkweed pod. Further along near the entrance to North Woods, I caught a brief glimpse of an insect resting on an ash leaf and based only on its silhouette, guessed it was a Conifer Seed Bug. While hiking through North Woods, decorated with morning sunbeams, I spotted the bright red berries of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, the first of variety of red berries I would see that are early indicators of autumn. Exiting the woods and making my way west around Succession Field, I came across the red berries of Autumn Olive. Next, I entered South Woods and wound up on the boardwalk over Swanson Swamp where I saw the red berries of Winterberry. Also, the forest floor was teeming with a variety of fungi including: Fly Agaric, Bolete, Fat-footed Clitocybe, Common Puffball and Ramaria Coral. From the woods, I moved south past Sora Swale and followed the trail east where I spotted an Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonfly perched on a dead flower head of Queen Anne’s Lace. I continued east past Brady Cemetery, turned north through Native Grassland and walked along the edge of Grebe Pond where I spotted my forth plant with red berries, this one being Nightshade. Moving around to the dock, I paused to watch a number of acrobatic Tree and Barn Swallows swooping and dipping for insects. As I passed the Classroom Building heading for the car, I couldn’t help but noticed the tall cherry trees had large numbers of nests of Fall Webworms that are not to be confused with the nests of the Eastern Tent Caterpillars that show up in the spring. Finally, we completed the circuit, found the car and headed for home.

Autumn approaches

Summer subsides

Hike in the forest

Mother Nature guides

Her pulse of life

Is slowing down

Ferns and fungi

Turning brown

Her seasonal cycle

Continues to turn

More of her wisdom

For me to learn

D. DeGraaf

August 30

Tuesday, while visiting Traverse City, my wife, Caroline and I hiked at the 9-acre, Fulton Park, located just north of downtown near the south shore of Grand Traverse Bay’s West Arm. The mid-afternoon weather was partly sunny, muggy with a temperature of 86 degrees and a light breeze from the west. Leaving the parking area, we followed the trail into a dense woodland where I spotted some fungi called Artist’s Bracket or Artist’s Conk growing at the base of a tree. A peculiarity of this fungus lies in its use as a drawing medium for artists. When the fresh white pore surface is rubbed or scratched with a sharp implement, dark brown tissue under the pores is revealed, resulting in visible lines and shading that become permanent once the fungus is dried. Next, I paused to watch a honeybee busy feeding on Goldenrod flowers. Nearby, I found a Goldenrod Soldier Beetle on other Goldenrod flowers. This insect produces droplets of an acid from openings in its abdomen that act as a deterrent to its predators. Continuing on the 1/3-mile trail, we took the short Aspen Loop where I spotted another fall bloomer called Sweet Autumn Clematis. Even though the flowers are lovely and fragrant, some consider this fast-growing vine invasive. Back to the main loop, I paused to look and listen to a male Goldfinch perched high in a dying Ash tree. Just a short distance ahead, I was alerted by an unusual sound that turned out to be a Gray Squirrel that I could barely see through the dense under growth. As the trail looped back, I saw some fresh, edible Pheasant Back fungi growing on a tree trunk. Near the trail’s end, I stopped to observe a butterfly called a Silver-spotted Skipper. Skippers resemble a combination of butterflies and moths. They are a dull, dark color yet fly during the day. They have knobbed antennae, but with a little point at the end. They are fast, intense fliers and look as if they skip from flower to flower. Finally, we got to the car and headed back to the motel.

Memories of summer

Fresh and new

Bergamots bloomed

Fledglings flew

Greenest forest

Longest day

Buzz of the bee

Call of the jay

Hints of autumn

Begin to appear

Farewell August

See you next year

D. DeGraaf