May 21

Last Friday, I drove 31 miles southwest of Alma to hike on a few of the Kenneth J. Lehman Nature Trails on the campus of Montcalm Community College. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 54 degrees and a steady easterly breeze. Leaving the car parked at a cul-de-sac on the north end of the campus, I followed the grassy, Tree Swallow Loop trail north through a meadow area that was being overrun with invasive Autumn Olive shrubs. Continuing north, I came to the edge of South Twin Lake where I was greeted by a noisy pair of Canada Geese while spotting a clump of Bottlebrush Sedge. Turning west on the Wood Duck Trail, I noticed several patches of Cinnamon Fern fiddleheads. While fiddleheads of some species are edible including Bracken, Lady and Ostrich Ferns, this one is not. Continuing west while being serenaded by a Common Yellowthroat, I came upon some large and colorful Pheasant Back Mushrooms. While edible this time of year, they are not high on the mushroom hunter’s list. Further ahead, I spotted my first May Apple blossom of the season as well as a patch of Woodland Violets. Turning North, I picked up the White Pine Trail where I came upon the fresh carcass of a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Observing its colorful plumage, reminded me why many people mistakenly identify this bird as a Red-Headed Woodpecker. With no evidence of predation, the cause of this bird’s death was not apparent. Turning around, I retraced my steps eastward and picked up the Tree Swallow Loop again where I was able to see a perching, Ebony Jewel-wing damselfly. Nearby, I stooped to observe workers of an ant colony scurrying among the leaf litter. Continuing on the trail as it turned south, I noticed a Shagbark Hickory tree with new leaves emerging while still displaying some female flowers. As the trail looped back to the west, I paused to listen to the melodic song of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a fitting finale to the hike. Finally, I made it back to the car and headed home.

Happened overnight

Seemed that way

Meadow was brown

Forest was gray

Wetlands were stark

Canopy bare

Nature was ready

Her color to share

Spectacle of spring

Welcomed scene

Suddenly the landscape

Exploded green

D. DeGraaf