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