September 24

Last Saturday, I drove 22 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the 1-acre, Meridian Road Preserve, another property of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The late morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 52 degrees and a steady cool breeze out of the north. From the parking area at the south end of Isabella County’s Meridian Park, I proceeded south on a narrow, discreet earthen trail along the western edge of the Chippewa River where I paused to face the rising sun penetrating the dense canopy as later this evening it will descend across the celestial equator to mark the beginning of autumn. Continuing south, I noticed some leaves changing colors including: Hickory, Poison Ivy and Virginia creeper. Along the way, the bright red berries of Viburnum and the fluffy white seeds of Old Man’s Beard (Clematis) caught my eye. As the trail meandered near the riverbank, I paused to observe the glistening current flow to the north past blossoms of the Joe Pye Weed that had seeded out. After reaching the Meridian Rd. Bridge, I turned around and began retracing my steps when I caught a brief glimpse of a Chickadee foraging in a spruce tree as well as a Chipmunk scurrying through the under brush. Just before reaching the car, I was surprised to see an immature, 30-inch Northern Water Snake swimming near shore with a 6-inch fish in its mouth. Finally, I returned to the car and drove less than a mile west along Hiawatha Dr. to hike in the 2-acre, Neyer Preserve, another one of the Conservancy’s property. Parking along the edge of the road, I proceed south down a steep wooded, embankment that appeared to be a remnant of a former oxbow of the Chippewa River. Exploring the river flats, I came upon several clusters of Milk-cap mushrooms as well as some Coral fungi. In addition, I stopped by a 12’ x 12’ deer exclosure that was placed there by researchers from the Conservancy. Continuing south, I stopped to glance up river and down before retracing my steps back toward the car where I paused to scan that mature woodlot. Finally, I climbed up the embankment to the car for my trip home.

Orb of the sky

Light of the day

Predictable path

Found your way

Summer’s high

To winter’s low

Reached the mid

Then down you go

Seasonal sign

Of nature’s law

Sun of the heavens

Welcome to fall

D. DeGraaf