July 4

Tuesday, Remi and I traveled 18 miles west to begin a long-term quest of hiking each section of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, starting from Edmore to the west and ending in Alma to the east. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 57 degrees and no wind. Parking in the A&O Forklift parking lot off Neff Rd. in Edmore, we followed the paved trail east toward the rising sun where I came upon a patch of fragrant Milkweed blossoms and paused to watch a honeybee feeding on nectar from one of them. Continuing east, I enjoyed a serenading Song Sparrow perched high overhead and the pleasing aroma from Elderberry blossoms. Also, I was careful not to step on a ¾-inch Gray Field Slug that was crawling slowly on the path laying down its trail of slime. Further ahead, I took in a few more sweet smells of the season including a crushed leaf of Yarrow and a crushed flower head of Bergamot. Next, I passed by a sign marking the east-west drainage divide for Michigan surface water. Soon, the path took us through wetlands where I paused to scan the landscape and listen to the sounds of some Green Frogs, Crows and Redwing Blackbirds. After hiking a mile, I turned around at Deja Rd and headed west where I noticed an Elm Leaf displaying newly formed Cockscomb Galls caused by aphids. Later, these growths will turn red like a cockscomb. Far ahead, I could barely see three young Whitetail bucks walking across the path. Continuing west, I began to see a few blossoms of Queen Anne’s lace. Knowing these plants are also referred to as Wild Carrot, I pulled one up to enjoy the strong “carrot” aroma. Just before reaching the car, I spotted an inch-long Fall Webworm Moth. While, I’ve seen several nests containing webworm caterpillars in autumn, this is the first time I’ve seen the adult stage of their lifecycle. Finally, we came to the car and headed home.

Symphony of sounds

Dawn to dusk

Array of aromas

Mint to musk

Field and forest

Flooded with green

Fruits of the vine

Creatures glean

Fragile fledglings

Take to the sky

Crescendo of summer

Nature in July

D. DeGraaf