July 30

Last Thursday, I returned to Lumberjack Park near Riverdale to hike once again at their recently opened nature trail. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 66 degrees and a gusty breeze from the west. Leaving the car parked at the west trailhead, I followed the White Pine Trail east a short distance, veered right onto the Riverview Trail and followed it along a high bank above the Pine River where I paused at a bench to observe the gently flowing water. Continuing east, I left the trail and walked down to the river’s edge where I spotted a few darting Water Striders on the water surface and blossoms of Cardinal Flower on the bank. Turning north, I followed the trail through a stand of Red and White Pine and then merged with the Mud Creek Trail as it ascended a small hill and turned east. Approaching Mud Creek, I spotted blossoms of Evening Primrose, Swamp Milkweed and Black-eyed Susan. Also, a curious Chipmunk caught my eye. On a nearby blossom of Queen Anne’s Lace, I was excited to observe a tiny female Goldenrod Crab Spider standing next to its recent kills, a bee and fly. This amazing little predator changes color to blend in with the bloom its on, waits for an insect to land before grabbing it with its strong front legs and injecting it with venom. Crossing the bridge over Mud Creek, I paused to listen to the “fee-bee” call of a Black-capped Chickadee. On the far bank, I noticed a patch of Fringed Loosestrife and Heal-All. Turning west and then south across the boardwalk, I spotted some blossoms of Water Hemlock. This Queen Anne’s Lace look-a-like is extremely toxic and even lethal if ingested. After hiking south and circling the Sugar Maple Trail, I then retraced my steps on the Mud Creek Trail and turned west on the White Pine Trail where I was puzzled by the sight of several dead and dying White Pine trees with their brown needles. Most of them were located north of the trail. Continuing west, I came upon blooming plants of White Forget-me-nots. Finally, I made it back to the car and headed home.

On the river bottom

With the leech and scud

Are you an alien creature

Or just a nymph in mud

Time to climb the reed

Into the warming sun

Amazing cycle of nature

Metamorphosis begun

Wings of cellophane

Amazing sight to see

Dragonfly of summer

Fly now and be free

D. DeGraaf