September 11

Monday, I resumed my quest to hike the entire length of the Meijer Heartland Trail between Edmore and Alma. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 45 degrees and no wind. From the eastern most point reached last time which was the parking lot off 2nd street in Vestaburg, I left my car and continued east on the paved trail through a semi-residential area where I spotted some skeletonized remains of Wild Grape leaves consumed earlier by Japanese Beetles. Nearby, I noticed both a Spiny Oak Gall and a Banded Tussocks Moth Caterpillar on a White Oak leaf. After crossing Crystal Rd., I discovered a mixture of lush vines including Bittersweet Nightshade with its red fruit climbing up a patch of cattails. While these berries are toxic to humans, they are a good food source for birds, especially Cedar Waxwings. Further ahead, Wild Cucumber vines with their green spiny fruit and white blossoms caught my eye. Even though the fruit smells and tastes like cucumber, it is not edible. Also, I came upon a type of grape vine rarely seen called Fox Grape. Growing among the vines, I noticed Pokeweed with its colorful stems, blossoms and fruit. Unlike most plants, this one can have pink blossoms, immature green fruit and ripe black fruit all showing up at once. Similar to Nightshade, the fruit is toxic to human but edible to birds. Continuing east, I followed the sound of one of several chirping Eastern Chipmunks to its source as it perched in the underbrush. Just ahead, I came upon a bristly Milkweed Tussocks Moth Caterpillar devouring a Milkweed leaf. More early foliage color changes included leaves of Wild Raspberry and a patch of Poison Ivy. After hiking nearly a mile, I turned around and headed back where I spotted a Hoverfly resting on a Milkweed leaf and a few blossoms of Butter-and-Eggs. Finally, I returned to the car and headed home.

September days unfold

Way it’s always been

Mother Nature artist

Dips her brush again

On the forest canvas

Dabs of orange and red

Among leaves of maple

Some yellow is spread

In the open meadow

Prairie grasses seen

Late summer palette

Few strokes of green

D. DeGraaf