December 28

Last Sunday, Remi and I stayed close to home as we traveled 3 miles to hike in Alma’s Conservation Park. The Christmas morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 34 degrees and a steady breeze from the north. Leaving the parking area, we followed a snow-covered path west along the bank of the Pine River whose channel was totally iced over. Along the way, I noticed a steady wind rustling through a small American Beech tree whose leaves were yet to drop. Yesterday’s 3-inch snowfall provided a good surface for me to spot lots of tracks of both man (boot and snowshoe) and beast (deer and dog). Following the path as it curved back to the east, I stopped at the Eyer bird observation area to see if any birds were coming to the feeders. On the one feeder, I watched a White-breasted Nuthatch land, snatch a seed and take off. On the other, I observed a few Black-Capped Chickadees come and go. As you could see, both of these bird species do not stay on the feeders very long. After landing, they grab a seed and quickly fly to a perch in a nearby tree to either crack open and eat the seed for stash it in a crevice to eat later. Finally, we left the feeders, returned to the car and headed home.

So many memories
So many trails

Fields and forests

Hills and dales

Early morning

Heat of the day

Hiking companions

Along the way

Nature’s wonders

To hear and see

Year of wanderings

Remi and me

D. DeGraaf

December 21

Wednesday, Remi and I traveled 25 miles north to hike again in Deerfield Nature Park, a 591-acre preserve west of Mt. Pleasant. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 21 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car, we followed a few cross-country skiers along the snow-covered Lewis Pontiac trail southwest near the edge of the Chippewa River where I spooked up a Cottontail rabbit and noticed some of its scat. Remi took the lead as we continued south and came upon the drab remnants of a once colorful Goldenrod plant. By contrast, I looked nearby and spotted the colorful fruit of American Bittersweet. This woody vine has orange fruit that splits open in the fall to reveal scarlet fleshy berry-like seeds called arils. All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans but songbirds, ruffed grouse, pheasant and fox squirrel eat the fruit. North American Indians have used the inner bark as an emergency food. Up ahead, I turned east across a bridge where I paused to look at and listen to part of the fast-moving river that was still free of ice. Once on the other side, I proceeded east where I spotted fresh beaver tracks at a newly gnawed stump. Also, hanging from a nearby tree, I noticed the abandoned, sac-like nest of a Baltimore oriole. Turning north, I came to a 60-ft long cable suspension bridge that I was about to use to cross the river when I discovered it was closed. However, I was able to take a close look at its design since it’s a type of bridge I’m thinking about building as part of a nature trail in Gratiot County’s Lumberjack Park. Making my way back toward the car, I paused briefly and turned east to face the morning sun in recognition of its position as a few hours earlier it had reached its solstice to usher in the winter season. Finally, I got to the car, turned on the heat and headed home.

Winter star

Winter light

Snowy shadows

Black on white

Winter star

Winter sky

Lowly place

You occupy

Winter star

Winter sun

Solstice scene

Descension’s done

D. DeGraaf

December 14

Wednesday, Remi cuddled in his warm bed at home while I ventured 23 miles south to hike again in one of my favorite sections of the Maple State Game Area, just west of US127. The entire state game area consists of 9000 acres within the floodplain of the Maple River extending west from Gratiot County through Clinton and Ionia Counties. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 16 degrees and light snow flurries driven by a stiff southwest wind. Approaching my destination in the car, I noticed another sign of the season- flocks of Snow Buntings flying around and landing in the fields along the road. Arriving in late fall and departing in late winter, these migrants breed in either the barren northern tundra, or the northernmost islands of Canada or the mountains of Greenland. Parking at the end of Croswell Rd., I trudged south down a 2-track covered with 8 inches of snow and arrived at the edge of a large wetlands, now sealed in ice. Over a man-made berm, I plodded along a path covered in 12-inch snowdrifts as it curved east where I looked up to see the rising sun peaking through clouds of blowing snow. Looking down, I spotted the spiny round seeds pods of Buttonbush and oval ones of Cocklebur. Continuing east, signs of recent deer activity included their tracks as well as holes they dug to find a few green grass blades to eat. Off in the distance, it was easy to distinguish a grove of leafless Boxelder trees with their trunks that grow every which way but up. Further ahead, I scanned a cattail marsh where I noticed the snow-covered roofs of a few Muskrat lodges. Turning around into the teeth of a heavy snow squall, I hiked quickly back to the car, turned on the heater and headed home.

Deep in the woods   

Noises cease              

Sounds subdued

Nature at peace

Mid of December

End of the year

Mother prepares

Slumber is near

Tucks her children

Turns down light

Covers them up

Blanket of white

D. DeGraaf

December 5

Tuesday, Remi and I again traveled 10 miles west to Lumberjack Park to hike this time on the south section of a nature trail that I’m in the process of constructing for the park. Just east of the Pine River off Madison Rd., I followed a 2-track north for a short distance into a wooded area and parked the car. The early morning weather was party sunny, hazy with a temperature of 28 degrees and no wind. From the car, we followed a path west down a gradual bank to the edge of the Pine River where I noticed some patches of snow on the far side that remained from Sunday’s snowfall. Also, I recalled that this is the starting point for the 30-mile canoe trail to downtown Alma. Back up the slope, I followed the path north where the leaf litter revealed the presence of surrounding pine, oak, maple and aspen trees. Continuing north, I descended a steep bank into the river flats where I’m in the process of constructing stairs and continued on a snow-covered, temporary boardwalk I built over a seasonal wetland. Turning east, I followed the trail along the edge of Mud Creek where Remi’s hair color blended well with the snowy ground. Speaking of color, moss growing at the base of a Cottonwood tree was the only green to be seen in the late autumn landscape. Continuing east, I stopped at the point where we plan to build a footbridge next summer to cross and join up with the west section of the trail. Retracing my steps back up the steep bank, I followed the trail east and then looped south through a woodland of White Pine back toward the parking area where I spotted what remained of an old stone foundation from a building of unknown origin. Finally, we returned to the car and headed home.

Blossoms of pink

Finches of gold

Dormancy and death

Have taken hold

Voice of the Vireo

Pines embrace

Song of silence

Has taken its place

For other seasons

Do not yearn

Nature is ready

It’s winter’s turn

D. DeGraaf