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