March 26

Last Thursday, I drove 18 miles northwest of Alma to hike in another section of Montcalm County’s Edmore State Game Area. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 21 degrees and still air. Leaving the car parked near the corner of Little Field Rd. and South County Line Rd, I proceeded south a few hundred feet and paused on the edge of the meandering Pine River as it gently flowed southeast toward Alma. Turning west with the morning sun at my back, I followed a trail marked by shadows of tree trunks and a covering of oak leaves. Just in front of me, I noticed an oak tree with a large burl attached. These “tumors” yield an unusual grain pattern, prized for its beauty and sought after by furniture makers, artists, and wood sculptors. Because the ground was still frozen, I had a rare opportunity to venture off the trail and explore the extensive river flats surrounding the main river channel. Among my findings were emerging sprouts of skunk cabbage, a sure sign of spring. Another sign was the small red flower buds of Silver Maples, both on the barren ground and in the leafless treetop. Scattered around the dark-colored mud, I noticed deposits of lighter colored sand. Upon closer investigation, I spotted several tiny shells of River Fingernail clams, most of them less than a centimeter in diameter. Continuing to explore this surprisingly tranquil landscape, I came face to face with a Canadian mother goose sitting still on her nest in a discreet posture with her head near the ground. After backing off, I noticed her mate nearby ready to defend. Returning to higher ground, I retraced my steps past my car and continued east along a steeper riverbank where I could see lots of evidence of beaver activity including some old stumps and tree trunks as large as 18 inches in diameter that had been recently gnawed. It was easy to see why these mammals are called the lumberjacks of the rodent world. After turning around, I took one last look at this scenic riparian landscape and headed back to the car.

Field and forest

Meandering flow

Carving the earth

Onward you go

Current speaks

Clear and concise

Scouring rocks

Sculpting ice

In snowy banks

Waters confine

Nature’s creation

River called Pine

D. DeGraaf