December 7

Tuesday, I drove 3 miles west to Pingree Rd. where I accessed the Meijer Heartland Trail and resumed my hike toward Alma. The noontime weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 39 degrees and a strong wind out of the southwest. Heading east, I immediately spotted a stand of Box Elder trees with their gnarly trunks. The female trees were especially noticeable because of the many clusters of samaras that still clung to their branches or fell on the path. Since many of these seeds remain throughout the winter, they are an important food source for squirrels and chipmunks. Continuing east, I noticed a patch of Reed Canary Grass being buffeted by the wind as well as some orange husks of American Bittersweet that had finally opened to reveal their bright red berries. While being mildly toxic to humans, these berries are a food source for wildlife. Further ahead, the path was heavily littered with Red Oak leaves. Next, I paused on a bridge over a county drainage ditch and observed the water flow rapidly to the south. Still walking eastward, the colorful vegetation lining the trail seemed to fit with the holiday season with the red branches of Red-Osier Dogwood on the one side and the green stalks of Horsetail on the other. Turning around at Rich Rd. and facing a stiff west wind, I paused to watch some Black-Capped Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos fluttering through the dense underbrush. Just ahead, a perching male Cardinal with a seed in his beak caught my eye. Since cardinals are primarily seed eaters -- although their do also eat fruits and insects -- their short, thick and conical beaks allow them to easily crack seeds, getting through the husk and allowing them access to the meat inside. Finally, I got back to the car, ducked in to escape the wind and headed home.

Early December days

Neath leafless trees

Nature at attention

Mother Earth at ease

Beside a shrinking pond

No frogs with leopard skin

Atop the meadow grass

No spider webs to spin

Squirrels of woodlands

Prepare for winter’s blast

Hoarding their food

Autumn breathes her last

D. DeGraaf