October 1

Last Friday, while in Chicago for a family reunion, my wife, Caroline and I hiked in the 13-acre, Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, 7 miles north of the Loop. The midday weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 62 degrees and a gentle lake breeze from the northwest. After being dropped off by a taxi, we followed a woodchip-covered footpath east into a wooded area where I spotted several patches of White Snakeroot. The common name of this species derives from the erroneous belief among early settlers that the bitter rhizomes were beneficial in the treatment of snakebites. In fact, the foliage and rhizomes are highly toxic, causing fatalities from 'Milk Sickness' because the toxins can pass through the milk of dairy cattle to humans. Veering south, with the city skyline in view, we entered a meadow punctuated with the purple hue of New England Asters along with a few seldom seen Harrington Pink Asters as well as some wispy floss of Milkweed seeds busting from the pods. Upon further exploration of the meadow, I spotted: a Monarch butterfly, a small Fiery Skipper Butterfly and a large Field Grasshopper. In addition, a bush, smothered with invasive Sweet Autumn Clematis vines caught my eye. Turning east, we walked along the sandy Lake Michigan shoreline where I paused to observe some moderate wave action. Next to the pier, I caught a brief glimpse of a female Hooded Merganser while on a far fence post, I saw a Palm Warbler in non-breeding plumage. Upon further investigation, I noticed some lovely Evening Primrose as well as some dainty Nodding lady’s tresses orchids. Also, I walked by a few blossoms of Silverweed as well as a patch of Nut Sedge. Winding around back into the woods, I was surprised to come face to face with a perching immature Cooper’s hawk. Just before completing the circular trail, I paused to watch a Bubble Bee feeding on Calico Aster flowers. Finally, we reached the trailhead and called a taxi to return to our rental.

Onset of autumn

Behold! Some signs

Debut of the reds

Virginia creeper vines

Shriveling brown fronds 

Drape the Bracken Fern

Blossoms of Aster

Everywhere you turn

Late September air

Chills the early day

Cold bloods retreat

Nature shows the way

D. DeGraaf