June 27

Tuesday, Remi stayed home while I accompanied longtime friend and colleague, Eric Johnson for a nature hike at Montcalm County’s 25-acre, Krum Memorial Plant Preserve (formerly Krum Park), located 5 miles east of Stanton. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 60 degrees and a gentle breeze from the west. Leaving the car parked off Stanton Rd, we headed north into a mature woods of mostly Sugar Maple and Beech where I spotted a resting Mustard White Butterfly, displaying it pure white color phase of summer. Continuing north, we noticed a clump of Ostrich Ferns among the lush vegetation as well as the wispy seed heads of Yellow Nut Sedge. Further ahead, we came upon a Goldenrod nutgall as well as a Swamp Milkweed that was beginning to display its flower buds. Soon, we came to the edge of 10-acre, Millmine Lake and paused to admire this peaceful limnetic landscape as well as observe a few pond lilies floating near shore. Also, nearby we noticed a young Tamarack tree, renown as a rare deciduous conifer. Turning around and heading back toward the car, we ventured east to further explore the woods where Eric found a piece of bark containing an inch long Dusky Slug. The bark also contained some of the yellow fruiting stage of a slime mold called scrambled egg slime or dog vomit fungi. Nearing the car, we spotted a patch of Tiger Lilies as well as a Goldenrod stem showing the white froth of a Spittlebug. After picking the stem and clearing away some of the froth, I found the tiny spittlebug which is the nymph stage of an insect called a Froghopper. The froth serves a number of purposes. First, it hides the nymph from the view of predators and parasites. Second, it insulates against heat and cold. Third, because of its acrid taste, it deters predators. Finally, after a wonderful hike, we found the car and took off for home.

Your time has come

Babe of the nest

Take to flight

Like all the rest

From grassy cradle

To branch below

Warm your wings

Away you must go

No hovering parent

To keep you alive

Into the wild

A will to survive

D. DeGraaf

June 21

Wednesday, Remi and I traveled 32 miles northwest of Alma to hike again in the 160-acre, Hall’s Lake Natural Area. Located east of Remus, this property includes three preserves owned and operated by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 57 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car at the east entrance, I hiked north down a 2-track into a dense woods dominated by oak, maple and aspen and paused to glance at the sun in recognition of its summer solstice that occurred earlier in the morning. Next, I followed a trail west into an area referred to as the Red Pine Plantation. Planted some 40 years ago, these tall evergreens have created what is called a “Biological Dessert” on the surrounding forest floor. Nearby, I came upon a few deer bones including one from the pelvis region and an old Birch tree trunk with a pattern of holes made by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Continuing west towards Hall’s Lake, I turned north to take in the sights and sounds along the trail. Further ahead, I spotted: some Yellow Wax-cap Mushrooms and Running Cedar Club Moss in the leaf litter, a variety of ferns including: Bracken, Royal and Ostrich as well as an abandoned Tent Caterpillar nest. After turning around to retrace my steps, I came upon a noisy Gray Catbird that appeared to be protecting its nesting territory. Sure enough, nearby, I spotted one of its fledglings perched in a nearby tree, ready to test its wings. While spending their spring and summer here in Michigan, most of these birds migrate to Central America for the fall and winter. Approaching the car, I decided to turn north to quickly check out the deer exclosure. Constructed a few years ago, this fenced-off area is meant to study the impact of deer browsing on forest vegetation. Finally, we turned around and made it back to the car for our trip home.

You had barely left

When maples turned gold

Started to miss you

When November blew cold

Began to wait

When nights were long

Waited some more

When ice was strong

Longed for you

When deer were lean

Hope you’d come soon

To spread your green

You finally arrived

Been almost a year

Welcome back summer

Glad you’re here

D. DeGraaf

June 14

Wednesday, Remi stayed home while I traveled 10 miles west of Alma to the village of Riverdale to hike the 13-acre, Stearns Preserve, operated by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 66 degrees and still air. Parking the car in the Riverdale access parking lot of the Meijer Heartland Trail, I proceeded north across the paved trail into a 2-acre, open field where I noticed several large patches of Wood Anemone blossoms. Turning east, I hiked to the edge of the Pine River where I paused to take in this scenic riparian landscape. Walking south along the bank, I spotted one of many Ebony Jewel-wing damselflies perched on a Wood Anemone blossom and a Fiery Skipper Butterfly perched on a Red Clover blossom. Next, I returned to the paved Heartland Trail and followed it east through a corridor of leaning Box Elder trees where I notice a few small yellow blossoms of the poisonous Greater Celandine plant as well as purple blossoms of Nightshade. As the trail crossed the river, I paused on the bridge and gazed up in a tall leafless tree to enjoy the sights and sounds of an Indigo Bunting. Still on the bridge, I turned south and watched the river as it flowed through a very dense wooded area that formed the southwestern boundary of the preserve. Continuing east, I turned north off the trail and climbed down a steep bank into a muddy floodplain where I noticed some blossoms of Wild Iris. Back up on the bike trail, I continued east where I spotted blossoms of Mayweed and Northern Bush Honeysuckle. Also, I stopped to observe a colorful Little Wood Satyr Butterfly. Further east, I came to the boundary of the preserve that was subtly marked with a small yellow label attached to a tree trunk. Finally, I turned around, retraced my steps back to the car and headed home.

Running fast, running slow

Carries leaves, broken twigs

Around a bend, on you flow

Water striders, Whirligigs

Swollen channel, banks erode

Cattail seeds, floating logs

Water treasure, precious load

Mallard ducks, leopard frogs

Summer rapids, winter ice

Earth’s resource, life giver

Much too nice to sacrifice

Nature’s wonder, Pine River

D. DeGraaf

June 6

Last Saturday, Remi stayed back in Alma while me and my wife, Caroline along with friends, Jeff & Maria Reynolds hiked on the Desert Ecology Trail in the 90,000 acre, Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 84 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the south. We left the car and headed north on a paved path through a flat, arid landscape dominated by cacti and mesquite trees. Continuing north, I began to notice colorful blossoms including those from an Acacia tree, a Prickly Pear cactus and a Saguaro cactus. Scanning my surroundings, it was hard not to notice the iconic Saguaro cacti. While these plants became symbols of the American West, they are only found here in the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona. Because of their slow growth rate, the taller ones are at least 100 years old. Also, under their waxy, thorny skin, is sponge-like tissue that stores water during periods of drought. Further ahead, I paused to watch a Cactus Wren fly from its nest to a nearby Saguaro cactus to gather flower nectar. Continuing my hike, I stopped to observe a 4-inch Western Zebra-tailed lizard pausing on the paved path. While standing there, I listened to the natural sounds, dominated by the flicking wings of Desert Cicadas. Fortunately, I was able to find one nearby resting on a twig. As the trail began to loop back to the south, I noticed a resting Desert Cottontail rabbit and a lovely Gulf fritillary butterfly. Nearing the end of the loop, I saw a Teddy bear Cholla cactus and a Creosote bush, seeding out. Finally, we made it back to the car, turned on the “ac” and headed back to the lodge.

El Sol bakes

Parched ground

Shielding clouds

Hardly found

Living water

Sight so rare

Source of life

All must share

Cacti bloom

Cicadas sing

Nature reveals

Desert of spring

D. DeGraaf