April 26

Tuesday, Remi and I traveled 13 miles southwest of Alma to the village of Sumner to once again hike the nature trail on the north side of Centennial Park. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 59 degrees and a steady breeze from the east. Leaving the car behind a locked gate, we walked due west a few hundred feet to the edge of the Pine River where I paused to watch the water flow smoothly from north to south. A little further downstream, the river makes a gradual curve to the northeast and continues its highly meandering flow 8 miles to the dam in downtown Alma. Turning north, I walked along the riverbank, where I noticed the ground was littered with catkin flowers of nearby Aspen trees. Continuing north, I followed a walking trail into a wooded area where I paused to listen to another sign of spring, a singing Male Redwing Blackbird. Just ahead, the trail led to the edge of the river flats where I observed lots of sprouting Skunk Cabbage as well as a blossoming Marsh Marigold plant. As the trail looped away from the river, I glanced skyward to see that the forest canopy had a long way to go before leafing over. On the ground, a few blossoms caught my eye including Blue and Yellow Violets as well as Wild Strawberry. Winding my way back to the riverbank, I stopped to watch half dozen Water Striders scurrying about in the quiet water near shore. While this insect doesn’t bite people, it is a highly efficient predator. It can rapidly grab a smaller insect with its front legs, use its mouthparts to pierce the prey’s body and suck out its juices. This time of the year, the water is teeming with primary prey, mosquito larva. Since it breathes through a snorkel that pokes through the surface of the water, it is easy for water striders to grab and eat them. Finally, I took one more look at the river before heading back to the car and home.

Wildlife come forth

As April ebbs away

New green growth

Begins to overlay

Catkins hang like jewels

From twigs of oak

On the muddy soil

Rests a Morning Cloak

Marigolds of yellow

Common violets of blue

Mother Earth is ready

To give spring her due

D. DeGraaf

April 19

Tuesday, Remi and I traveled 13 miles west of Alma to hike again at Camp Cutler, a 160-acre Boy Scout camp off Douglas Rd near Riverdale. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 59 degrees and a gentle breeze from the west. Parking outside the gate, we left the car and followed a 2-track east along the edge of a small stream where I noticed a small Goat Willow tree with its fuzzy male flowers. Continuing east, the trail took me into a wooded area along a muddy floodplain that was covered with green sprouts of Skunk Cabbage. Further ahead, the trail entered a large open field where I paused to observe a sign of spring as 2-3 Chipping Sparrows were perched high in nearby trees declaring their respective breeding territories. Upon further investigation of the field, I spotted some Reindeer moss on the ground as well as a blossoming Serviceberry tree. Next, I turned around and followed another trail south where I recognized the tiny yellow flowers of Oak sedge growing along the bank of the North Branch of the Pine River. From here the river flows southeast about a mile where it joins the South branch to form the main river channel. Also, along the trail, I saw some newly opened umbrella-like leaves of May apple as well as a decayed pine stump with its reddish resin-stained wood. Turning around again, I started back toward the car where I unknowingly disturbed a nesting pair of Sand hill Cranes who suddenly took off and let me know I was not welcomed there. Finally, we got back to the car and headed home.

Mid of April

Into the wild

Life and death

Are reconciled

Flesh and bone

Creature gives

Food to survive

Predator lives

Down the path

Barren field

Carcass aside

Sprouts revealed

D. DeGraaf

April 11

Tuesday, while visiting friends in Peoria, Illinois, my wife, Caroline and I hiked nearby at the 540-acre, Forest Park Nature Center. The early morning weather was overcast with a temperature of 50 degrees and a steady breeze out of the west. Leaving the parking lot, I noticed a deer watching us as we approached the trailhead. We followed the Wilderness trail through a mature oak forest where the ground was blanketed with Spring Beauty blossoms that were beginning to open as the morning sun penetrated the leafless canopy. As the trail turned north and ascended the hilly terrain, I noticed: Woodland Violets, Pincushion Moss and flowerless Prairie Trillium. Reaching the hilltop, I stopped to listen as a Red bellied and Downy woodpecker confronted each other on a tree trunk. Next, I gazed though the trees where I could barely see the Illinois River far to the east. Beginning our descent, I hiked past a large weathered rock of Ruby Pink Granite in the middle of the trail and paused by one of many small creeks to look and listen. Nearby, I spotted a log covered with Golden Curtain Crust Fungi. Back on level ground, the trail turned east where I noticed a Redbud tree beginning to blossom. Also, I observed some Horse Chestnut trees beginning to leaf out. We followed the trail as it curved south toward the parking lot and were pleased to spot a few patches of Virginia Bluebell. Finally, we found the car and headed back to the hotel.

Seasonal signs

Sparse and subtle

Killdeer’s call

Iceless puddle

Wood frog quacks

In vernal pond

Sandhill cranes

Above and beyond

Skunk cabbage

A sprout or two

Oozing sap

Spring’s debut

D. DeGraaf

April 5

Wednesday, Remi stayed home while I traveled 15 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the Edmore State Game Area. The early morning weather was overcast with a temperature of 36 degrees and no wind. Parking the car off NE County Line Rd west of Douglas Rd., I followed a narrow path into a forest of mixed hardwoods where I spotted old remains of a Wild Turkey. Further ahead, I paused to enjoy an avian duet sung by a Robin and Tree Sparrow. I turned west and noticed patches of Club Moss among the leaf litter including Running Ground Pine and Shining. Continuing to focus on the ground, I was amazed to find a 20 ft. fallen log that had been completely shredded by a Pileated Woodpecker. Nearby, also on the ground, I discovered a nice, 1 ft. diameter sample of Chert. This extremely hard sedimentary rock, consisting mostly of silica, can form when siliceous skeletons of marine plankton are dissolved, followed by chemical precipitation of solid silica. Continuing west, I first heard, and then saw a female Wood Duck fly up and perch on a tree branch nearby. Next, I came to the edge of the North Branch of the Pine River where I paused to look and listen. This tributary originates about 3 miles northwest of here in Montcalm County and continues another 3 miles southeast before emptying into the main branch of the Pine River just north of Lumberjack Park. Also, floating in a pool of water close by, I spotted the remains of a deer. Turning around to head back to the car, I noticed an immature White Birch branch on the ground. While most of us realize a mature tree has white bark, we sometimes forget it starts out as a young sapling with rusty red bark that it later sheds to reveal white. Finally, I found the car and headed home.

From womb of winter

To the world of wild

Life is born anew

Mother Nature’s child

Emerging from earth

Finds the vernal sun

Instincts kick in

Survival, priority one

Predators to escape

Nourishment to seek

Death comes quickly
For the slow and weak

D. DeGraaf