August 27

Last Thursday, while in Muskegon for my wife’s 50th high school reunion, we hiked nearby in the 1200-acre, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. The mid morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 67 degrees and a westerly breeze off Lake Michigan. From the parking lot of the Gillette Visitor Center, we first stopped at their butterfly garden where I spotted a pair of adult Monarchs feeding on Jerusalem Artichoke blossoms as well as a caterpillar crawling on a Milkweed leaf. On another Milkweed plant, I noticed a cluster of Milkweed Bugs including nymphs and adults feeding on the seedpods. These bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis. The nymphs look like adults but do not have full wings and their color pattern is different. They have five instars before they reach adulthood. By feeding on milkweed they obtain nasty tasting chemicals and, in turn become distasteful to a wide range of predators. Following the trail west we entered a mature, back dune forest of American Beech, Sugar Maple and Black Oak as well as Canadian Hemlock. Arriving at a fork, we turned south and followed the Dune Climb Overlook trail to a set of 193 stairs that took us to the top for a panoramic view of Lake Michigan and a portion of the worlds most extensive set of freshwater dunes. These sand hills are among the youngest geological formations in Michigan, formed only 3,000 years ago and constantly changing in appearance, size and their effect on the environment. Retracing our steps back to the fork, we took the Lake Michigan Beach trail as it gradually descended west toward the lake. After noticing a few young Sassafras trees, we moved out of the forest toward the shoreline where I paused to observe a Beach Wormwood plant. Wandering around the fore dune, I spotted two kinds of beach grass including: Marram Grass and Sand Reed Grass. Finally reaching the beach, I paused to look and listen to the breaking waves rolling on shore. Also, I spotted a few Ring Billed Gulls far ahead. Retracing our steps back toward the car, we were serenaded by whining Cicadas. Reaching the car, we headed back to our rental in Muskegon.

Breaking waves

Wash the land

Dunes of summer

Grains of sand

Scenic shoreline

Seagull shrills

Dunes of summer

Shifting hills

Opportunity

We had to take

Dunes of summer

Beside the lake

D. DeGraaf

August 20

Last Wednesday, I drove 18 miles southeast of Alma to hike on the nature trail in Gratiot County’s 100-acre Reed Park. The mid afternoon weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 86 degrees and no wind. From the parking lot, I walked north to the trail and followed it into dense forest of mature deciduous trees where I spotted some colorful fruit of Highbush Cranberry. Following the Beech-Maple Trail east, I scanned the landscape and noticed several trees with trunks of various colors and textures. Those that were easy to distinguish included: American Beech, Yellow Birch, Black Cherry, Musclewood and Hop Hornbeam. As the trail turned to the north, I noticed trunks whose differences were more subtle without seeing their leaves including: Sugar Maple, Red Oak and Basswood. Speaking of leaves, I gazed up at the forest canopy that was nearly enclosed. Continuing north, I spotted a recently fallen chlorotic maple leaf on the leaf litter as well as some acorns and an Acorn Plum Gall. This gall grows on Red Oak acorns in response to eggs laid by a female Cynipid wasp. Cutting the fleshy gall in half revealed tiny larvae that will soon pupate and turn into adult wasps. Following the trail as it turned west then south, I was serenaded by sounds of Cicadas. On my left, I came upon a patch of Elderberry bushes with their compound leaves consisting of seven leaflets. On my right, I spotted the fruit of False Solomon’s Seal. Near the trailhead, I came upon a large decaying stump where I spotted the silken-lined burrow of a Wolf Spider. Also, I observed a Harvestman (Daddy long-legs) whose body was about 1/8 inch in diameter and legs about an inch long. Watch how this amazing creature uses its legs to probe the surroundings (while a Housefly ignores it). These legs, especially the second pair, serve as ears, nose, tongue, and even as supplementary "eyes." They are loaded with nerves and literally thousands of tiny sense organs that lie inside microscopic slits. Finally, I completed the circuit and made it back to the car for my trip home.

Forest of summer

Trail through trees 

Time of the year

To show off leaves

Towering Maples

Stand all around

Spreading their green

Shading the ground

High in the canopy

Beyond my reach

Seeking the sun

Oak and Beech

D. DeGraaf

August 13

Last Thursday, I drove 34 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the 100-acre, Bundy Hill Preserve, Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s latest acquisition. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 68 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the west. Leaving the parking area off W. River Rd., I headed south on a 2-track where I noticed a patch of Smartweed near my feet. Soon, I came to a 2-3 acre meadow covered with the pink blossoms of the invasive Spotted Knapweed. Wandering around the perimeter, I spotted: a Tussocks Moth caterpillar on a Milkweed leaf, a Field Grasshopper barely visible in the grass (can you find it?) and a Lesser Cream Wave Moth resting on a Raspberry leaf. Next, I began ascending the hill on the McNeel Trail where I paused to look at a Cairn. The word “cairn” comes from a Gaelic term meaning “heap of stones.” One of its purposes is to guide hikers by marking a turn in the trail. More recently, cairn construction involves the art and science of rock balancing. Nearby, I noticed a decaying stump of a Red Oak exposing the reddish heartwood. After passing the huge “Bundy Boulder”, I arrived at the summit where the view to the south was limited by leaf cover and morning haze. Following the newly created Summit trail, I began my descent where I observed three kinds of edible fungi: Chicken of the Woods, Spiny Puffballs and tiny Scarlet Wax caps. Following the meandering trail through a grove of immature Big Tooth Aspens, I came upon a patch of Sweet Fern and a few blossoms of Pink Beardtongue. Further down the hill, I paused to hear two Eastern Towhees exchanging calls. Continuing my descent, I stirred up a flock of several dozen Grackles (with a few Redwing Blackbirds mixed in) as they flew rapidly through the dense canopy. It's normal for these birds to flock together after the nesting season to forage for food and roost in a patch of woods. Finally, I reached the base of the hill as the trail led me back to the parking lot where I hopped in the car and headed home.

Birds begin their tunes

As I walk in early day

A wildlife sanctuary

Nature shows the way

Trail for me to follow

Path that leads me on

From the forest glade

To the hill beyond

Climbing past the oaks

Still higher and higher

Finally reached the top

A vista to admire

D. DeGraaf

August 6

Last Wednesday, I drove 23 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the two-acre, Hagen Preserve owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 66 degrees and a gentle southerly breeze. Leaving the car parked alongside Winn Rd, I hiked east into an open field along the southern boundary of the preserve where I spotted lots of Spotted Knapweed and Sweet William as well as an early sign of autumn- reddening leaves of Virginia creeper. Without any groomed trails to follow, I trudged northeast into wooded wetlands where the pink blossoms of Joe Pye Weed dominated the scene. This plant is named after a Native American medicine man from Salem, Massachusetts who earned his fame using it to cure colonial settlers of typhus in the late 1800’s. Also, I noticed a few blossoms of Canadian Goldenrod, another early sign of autumn. While plodding through the dense growth of reeds, grasses and sedges, one of my arms came in contact with some Stinging Nettle that resulted in a brief rash and inch. Nearby, I spotted a Black Swallowtail Butterfly hidden in the lush vegetation and a Pearl Crescent Butterfly resting on a leaf. Arriving at the edge of the gently flowing Chippewa River, I paused to look and listen. After turning around to begin retracing my steps, I came upon a patch of Motherwort and Bed Straw mixed in the tall grasses while seeing Virgin’s Bower vine winding up the side of a large tree trunk. In the fall, this plant produces white, wavy seed floss referred to as “Old Man’s Beard.” Continuing back toward the car, I once again stopped at the river’s edge where I observed a large aggregation of fast moving Whirligigs. This tiny, 1/8-inch long beetle is well adapted for life on the water. It has a split compound eye allowing it to observe objects both under water and on the surface. When disturbed, it exudes a disagreeable-smelling milky liquid, which protects it from predators. As a carnivore, it uses its antennae to locate food sources such as a fallen insect by sensing the waves it generates. Also, it can fly to escape predation and seek new habitats. Finally, I made it back to the car and headed home.

Once again

A welcome retreat

Away from town

With nature I meet

No noisy cars

Or smoggy air

No concrete jungle

Or lights that glare

A forest trail

Points the way

Nothing disturbs

But a call of the jay

D. DeGraaf