June 25

Last Thursday, I drove 20 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the 5-acre, Hiawatha Hills Preserve, owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 59 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car parked at the end of the Cedar Ct. cul-de-sac and before starting my hike, I immediately spotted some Yarrow blossoms, some Goat’s Beard seeds and a Gray Garden Slug feeding on a Milkweed leaf. Following a narrow earthen trail north through a woods of mature Beech and Maple, I came to the edge of the Chippewa River where I paused to look and listen to the gentle current as well as the song of an Eastern Phoebe. Nearby, I caught a glimpse of an American Rubyspot Damselfly perched on the inflorescenceof Reed Canary Grass. When it wants to fend off a rival, this damselfly flicks its wings open to flash the ruby spot. Wandering along the shore, I spotted: a few blossoms of Forget-me-nots, a clump of Bottlebrush Sedge, some common Arrowhead leaves, some raccoon tracks and a clam shell in the mud. Turning eastward, I faced the rising sun to commemorate the solstice and welcome in the summer season. Following the trail east, I passed through large patches of Lady Ferns and Cinnamon Ferns. Looking up at the lush canopy, I noticed small holes in some Basswood leaves caused by feeding of the Leaf Miner Beetle. Also, I was amazed by the dark green venation pattern in the light green leaves of a mature maple. Unfortunately, this is a symptom of a disease call Iron Chlorosis. Somehow the tree is deficient in iron that is needed for photosynthesis to take place and chlorophyll to form. Following the trail as it turned south, I was serenaded by a Northern Cardinal. Turning west, I came upon a centimeter-long Longhorn Caddisfly with antennae more than twice its length, perched on a fern leaf. These insects are an important food source for fish and a popular bait simulator for fly fishermen. Finally, I completed the loop back to the car and took off for home.

You had barely left
When maples turned gold
Started to miss you
When November blew cold
Began to wait
When nights were long
Waited some more
When ice was strong
Longed for you
When deer were lean
Hoped you’d come soon
To spread your green
You finally arrived
Been almost a year
Welcome back summer
Glad you’re here

D. DeGraaf