October 31

Last Saturday, I returned to Lumberjack Park to check out a nature trail that I’ve had the privilege of helping to create over the past year or so. Although still not complete, the trail should be open to the public by next summer. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 37 degrees and a steady wind from the southwest. Leaving the car in a grassy parking area off the east side of Lumberjack Rd. just north of the Pine River, I proceeded east on an old 2-track into a wooded area of mixed hardwoods and conifers. Just ahead as the trail forked, I took the right prong and made my way along the high bank of the Pine River where I paused to notice the rapid current and swollen channel due to last week’s heavy rain. I continued to follow the trail east and then around to the north through a corridor of mature Red Pine Trees, up an incline before it turned south again where I noticed the pile of old tires that we plan to remove during our cleanup next spring. Continuing south, I reached Mud Creek where I crossed the new footbridge, constructed through the efforts of many dedicated volunteers. Turning west, the trail moved along side the creek past a large pink granite boulder before turning south over the newly constructed 100-foot boardwalk and steps. Next, I turned east and followed the trail as it looped south through dense woods dominated by Sugar Maples to the south trailhead and parking area off Madison Rd. From there, I headed due north on a 2-track along the Pine River back to the boardwalk and retraced my steps over the bridge where I paused to observe Mud Creek as it flowed west to the river. Continuing through the Red Pine plantation, I turned south down the slope and instead of continuing to the river, I turned due west and followed an alternate trail through a large White Pine forest back to the north trailhead. Finally, I got to the car and headed home.

Autumn breathes a sigh

October breathes its last

Green goes in hiding

Others fading fast

Redwings left the marsh

Most muskrats stayed

Gone the flowered fields

Gone the forest shade

Nature dials down

Calls of creatures wild

No more longer days

No more breezes mild

D. DeGraaf

October 24

Last Sunday, I continued my eastward journey, hiking another section of the Meijer Heartland Trail. The early morning weather was partly cloudy with a temperature of 55 degrees and a slight but gusty wind out of the south. Exiting the car, I glanced to the north and noticed the sign for the Stearns Preserve, 14 acres of Chippewa Watershed Conservancy property adjacent to the trail. Heading east, I spotted a dense patch of Rough Horsetail stems. Also called Scouring Rush, theses evergreen stems were used to scour pots, pans, and floors during pioneer days. Horsetails are closely related to ferns and both were common during the Carboniferous period (280-345 million years ago), when tree-sized horsetails and ferns occurred. Much of our present-day coal deposits originated in large part from these plants. Further ahead, I came to the bridge over the Pine River where I paused to watch the water flow gently to the south under a large Basswood Tree that had recently fallen over the channel. Continuing east, I noticed that, while the once-colorful Goldenrod blossoms were seeding out, the now colorful Witch Hazel blossoms were on display. Next, I passed through a corridor of red Sumac before reaching my turn-around point at Osborn Rd. Proceeding west, I followed my shadow before pausing to observe the light breeze gently move through some Milkweed seeds. As the wind picked up, the quaking leaves of nearby Aspen trees caught my attention. While a variety of leaf colors were evident among the deciduous trees, I especially noticed the crimson red of the Red Maple and the pale gold of the Sugar Maple. However, nearing the end of the hike, I approached a maple tree whose leaves showed no sign of color change. Upon closer inspection, I determined that it was a rarely seen Big leaf Maple that is known for not turning colors in the fall. Finally, I got back to the car and headed home.

Milkweed pods

Bursting white

Flossy seeds

Take to flight

Goldenrod

Dying brown

Fading grass

Bowing down

Mother Nature

Shows her hand

Autumn spreads

In meadow land

D. DeGraaf

October 17

Last Sunday, I resumed my quest to hike the entire length of the Meijer Heartland Trail between Edmore and Alma. The late morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 59 degrees and a strong wind from the northwest. Parking the car next to County Line Rd., west of Riverdale, I immediately spotted a few immature Milk-cap mushrooms that emerged during recent heavy rains. Hiking east on a wet, paved path, I noticed at my feet, leaves of Aspen, Cottonwood, Maple and Cherry in various stages of color and decay. Along side the trail, I saw white Dogwood berries and blue Virginia creeper berries. Gazing up into a Rock Elm tree, I could see many of its leaves were speckled with small holes caused by a tiny insect called the Elm Leaf Beetle. Continuing east, I noticed some tall Aspen trees still had most of their green leaves that rattled as the strong wind blew through them. After about a ½ mile hike, I reached Lumberjack Rd., turned around and headed west past a 1-room schoolhouse that had been restored by a group of Riverdale residents and converted into a museum. Next, I came upon a Banded Wood Snail feeding on a milkweed seedpod. This mollusk is classified as an invasive species in Gratiot and surrounding counties. A native of Europe, it has been established in the Eastern United States for many years. Outside of upstate New York and Southern Ontario, there have been no other reported cases of these snails acting as agricultural pests. Also, they are among the favorite prey of the Song Thrush. After grabbing one with its beak, the bird uses a special stone to crack the shell and eat the flesh. Moving on as the rain clouds began to breakup revealing some blue sky, I spotted a patch of Old Man’s Beard which are the seeds of the Clematis vine. Near the end of my hike, I stopped to observe a Tag Alder tree that had some unusual leafy growths that appeared to be some kind of cone gall. Finally, I made it back to the car and headed home.

Found wisdom in the wind

That blows in the trees

Beauty on a hike

Through fallen leaves

Found peace and quiet

In the forest deep

Truth in nature

That I long to keep

Found pleasure in the sight

Of a willow thicket

Joy in the sound

Of a chirping cricket

Found happiness here

That comforts the heart

Knowledge of the wild

I’m glad to impart

D. DeGraaf

October 11

Last Sunday, my wife, Caroline and I drove 30 miles northwest of Alma to hike with former colleague and fellow nature-enthusiast, Karen Green in the 100-acre, Bundy Hill Preserve, a recent acquisition of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The late afternoon weather was sunny with a temperature of 76 degrees and a steady southerly breeze. Leaving the parking area, we headed south down a 2-track through a dense wooded area into a 5-acre, sun-drenched meadow where I spotted an Artist Conk fungus, a colony of Ghost Ants and a large Mullein rosette. The name mullein comes from the Latin word mollis, meaning soft, referring to the plant’s woolly leaves. Historically, since Quaker women were not allowed to use cosmetics, they would redden their cheeks with a mullein leaf, earning its name, “Quaker rouge.” Continuing south, we began our ascent of the hill where the trail revealed a leaf litter of Beech, Maple and Oak as well as the remains of a Blue Jay carcass. Overhead, I noticed the breeze stirring up the colorful canopy. Continuing up the steep terrain past a Cairin, I noticed a patch of British Soldier lichens on a decaying stump as well as a scattering of red Maple leaves that had fallen from a nearby Red Maple tree from which it gets its name. Still climbing the steep hill, I could see that Witch Hazel trees were blossoming. Also, I could barely make out a camouflaged Green Stink bug on a Witch Hazel Leaf. These insects have become major pests to local soybean farmers by puncturing pods and sucking fluid from developing beans. Finally, we reached the 1270 ft. top of the hill, the highest point in Isabella County. This hill and the surrounding rolling terrain are remnants of a terminal moraine deposited by glaciers some 12,000 years ago. Turning around, we began our descent and paused at the largest of several glacial erratic boulders, this granite specimen being some 40 feet in circumference and weighing 20 tons. Completing our descent, we reached the car and headed home.

Sentinels of the forest

Season has come

Release your leaves

Begin with some

Paint them all

Take your time

Few more days

To reach their prime

Cast your colors

On earth below

Beech and maple
Your autumn show

D. DeGraaf

October 2

Monday, I stayed close to home and hiked once again at Alma’s Conservation Park. The mid afternoon weather was sunny with a temperature of 79 degrees and a steady southerly breeze. From the parking lot, I followed a trail west along the Pine River where I noticed a couple of female mallards swimming among the dense surface weeds. Passing the deck, I continued west where I noticed the trail leaf litter was dominated by Red Oak leaves. Turning south, I followed a path through a dense woods where a few remaining red berries caught my eye including those from Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Japanese Barberry and Maple leaf Viburnum. Passing the Girl Scout Cabin, I turned east and followed the path along the southern boundary of the park lined with Black Walnut trees where the ground was strewn with husks. Next, I arrived at the power line easement where a native prairie was established several years ago and paused as a wind gust blew through the tall, warm-season grasses that had turned color with the season. Hiking north through the prairie, I spotted a Clouded Yellow Butterfly feeding on a Knapweed blossom and several bees feeding on New England Aster blossoms. Arriving at the Eyer Learning Circle, I stopped to checkout the feeders at the bird observation hut. While there were no birds in sight, I did watch an Eastern Chipmunk gathering seeds on the ground below. Continuing north, I spotted some Raccoon scat containing lots of undigested seeds and a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug resting on a wild grape leaf. This ½ inch insect uses its piercing mouthparts to suck plant juices from fruits, seedpods and nuts on a variety of wild and cultivated plants. First detected in Michigan in 2010, it is now well established in this area and considered a major pest for growers of susceptible crops. Finally, I made it back to the car for a short trip back to the house.

Dawn of October

Autumn ascends

Sun cools down

Nature amends

Leaves of summer

Wave goodbye

Show their colors

Descend and die

Butterflies flutter

Their final flight

Last of blossoms

In their sight

D. DeGraaf