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