December 30

I’m hiking next to the Pine River millpond in Alma’s Conservation Park early on a foggy, snowless Christmas morning. A short distance ahead, I am pleased to come face to face with a well- camouflaged Eastern Screech Owl. These small nocturnal birds-of-prey are often heard but rarely seen. Their diet includes small birds and mammals, reptiles, insects, crayfish, and earthworms. Like other owls, they regurgitate pellets that contain indigestible fur and bones; finding these pellets (stock photo) beneath a tree may be one clue to an owl's presence. While typically found in wooded parks like this, they tend to avoid dense forests frequently inhabited by much larger Great Horned Owls (stock photo), which readily prey upon them. Continuing west along the steep bank, I pause at one of the overlooks to observe a large gaggle of geese congregating on the semi frozen millpond. Turning south, I pass a small frozen marsh and the Girl Scout cabin before stopping to notice some Xmas-colored British Soldier lichens. Nearby, I spot large patches of dead Bergamot stalks, pick one of the dried seed heads and crush it to inhale the fragrance. Near the south end of the park, I follow the path eastward as the rising sun shines through the stark landscape. Continuing east across a swath of tall prairie grass, I enter a section of the park dominated by aging conifers where I look up to see a few berries on a vine of American Bittersweet. On the ground nearby, I spot a few Oyster fungi occupying a fallen log. Continuing on the meandering path that is also used by mountain bikers, I stop to watch a family of deer retreating into the far woods. Looping back to the west, I pass some leaf litter containing rarely seen Chinkapin Oak leaves and pause at the Eyer Bird Hut. While not seeing any birds at the feeders, I do spot a perching Red Squirrel waiting for me to leave so it can feast on seeds and grains. Making my way back to the car, I see some leafless vegetation with lingering fruit of Buckthorn and Viburnum. Back in the car, I reflect on another year of wonderful nature hikes and look forward to 2020 as I discover new adventures in the wild.

Christmas sanctuary

No windows or walls

No carol music playing

Only a Chickadee calls

Christmas sanctuary

Choir of gathering geese

Gratitude for solitude

Planet Earth at peace

Christmas sanctuary

No ringing silver bells

Early morning hike

Mother Nature dwells

D. DeGraaf

December 23

The early morning sky is overcast, air is still and the temperature is in the mid 20’s as I make my way along the edge of Hamilton Township Cemetery, 8 miles east of the village of Ithaca in Gratiot County. This location is one of only a few public access places in the county to the Upper Bad River. This minor watercourse begins its meandering journey east from Newark Township south of Ithaca. From the cemetery it flows northeasterly into Saginaw County, through the village of St. Charles where it joins the south branch and empties into the Shiawassee River, south of Saginaw. From a high bank, I move down into the flats where I notice several ice and snow covered puddles, some with raccoon and squirrel tracks. Pausing at the river’s edge, I can see that, while most of the water is ice covered, some is exposed and flowing. Continuing east through the flats, I come across a clam shell and some Raccoon scat in various stages of decomposition. Since these creatures are likely to frequent the same place to urinate and defecate, it is referred to as a Raccoon latrine. After turning around and shuffling through a thick layer of leaf litter, my attention turns to some deer scat and decaying Sycamore leaves. Focusing on the surrounding tree trunks, I spot Shagbark hickory, Hop hornbeam and a Wild Cherry complete with a pair of dark eyes looking at me. Next, I see a snag with many Pileated woodpecker holes as well as a family of Beech trees, including parents and offspring. After climbing back up the bank, I scan south over acres of agricultural land and think about how for years this river had been heavily polluted by sedimentation from uncontrolled erosion off fields like this. High bed loads and turbidity in this water created an overheated and nearly lifeless river environment. Recently, farmers in the watershed are receiving state grant money to mitigate the problem by growing cover crops, filter strips, grassed waterways and reducing tillage practices. Approaching the car, I’m pleased to see the rising sun breaking through the clouds. Since tomorrow is the beginning of astronomical winter in the northern hemisphere, I realize its elevation above the horizon is the least it will be the entire year (slightly higher than 20 degrees at noon)

Glowing orb

Cooler rays

Winter sun 

Star of days

Descent ends

Solstice phase

Winter sun

Star of days

Light of life

You I praise

Winter sun

Star of days

D. DeGraaf

December 16

In the early light of Sunday morning, I’m hiking along the east bank of the Pine River as it flows through Centennial Park in the village of Sumner. Overcast skies, temperature in the mid 30’s and a noticeable west wind surround me as I pause on the river’s edge to observe the over flowing water while comparing it to a scene from the spring of 2015 when I stood here. Heading north on a leaf-covered trail, I spot some dried Chinese lantern pods and watch wispy seeds of Clematis sway in the breeze. Nearby, while seeing no evidence of humans using a trailside bench, I see a squirrel found its way there. Next, my attention is captured by the sight and sound of babbling water. Up ahead on the ground, I notice the polka dot snow cover as well as the geometric shaped ice. Near the river’s edge, I look up to see floral buds on leafless branches of a Red Maple and look down to see a few red hips on a rose bush. Continuing north on the trail, I pause to scan the flooded mud flats while comparing this landscape to that which I observed in the spring of 2015. Following the trail as it looped back to the south, I thought of how it appeared again back in the spring of 2015. After passing a scraggly Red Cedar tree, the only conifer in the entire woods, I discover a few green plants on the ground including sedge and wild strawberry. The leaf litter shows evidence of hickory, maple and aspen. Making my way back to the car, I take one last look at this important natural resource and think about how we humans are contaminating its water. The main culprit seems to be animal waste from several factory farms that now occupy the county. Manure by the tons containing toxic E Coli bacteria is spread onto cropland that then drains into ditches and streams that feed the river. Another source of E. Coli are houses along the river with dysfunctional septic tanks and drain fields that seep into the watershed. Thank goodness, Alma College representatives as well as community activists along with state government officials are working hard to mitigate the pollution and restore the river.

Sunday silence

I hear your song

River called Pine

Take me along

Your sanctuary

Without a pew

Fields and forests

Carry me through

Bathe the boulders

Cleanse my mind

Nature’s blessings

I seek, I find

D. DeGraaf

December 9

Caroline and I are hiking in a snow-covered landscape of the 72-acre Averill Nature Preserve along the north bank of the Titabawassee River, just west of Midland. With snow falling and a temperature near freezing, we make our way west along a paved trail amid ice and snow covered vegetation. These unique conditions offer me a rare glimpse of a Crabapple tree, American Bittersweet berries and dried up Viburnum fruit. The snowy path reveals only “humans hiking” and “human walking dog” tracks. Making our way around ice-laden trees and shrubs, we come to a clearing where I spot several dead Mullein stalks as well as a never-before seen “insect hotel”. This structure is meant to mimic the forest floor and create habitat for cavity dwelling insects. Bamboo shoots and punctured wood house solitary bees. Hay, sticks and pinecones support lacewings, hover flies and ladybugs. Further ahead, we come upon a small duckweed-covered pond that spills into a narrow creek. Following the creek a short distance, we get our first look at the Titabawassee River. From its source at Secord Lake, northeast of the village of Gladwin, the river flows for 73 miles southeasterly through Gladwin, Midland and Saginaw counties before emptying into the Saginaw River in the city of Saginaw. Once called the Tiffin River, it was later change to the Indian name, “Ta-tu-ba-war-say”, which means: the river running around the shore--as it does around the Saginaw bay and Lake Huron. Turning around to retrace our steps, the snowy conditions give me a different look at Cattail seed heads and Sumac drupes. Nearing the end or our hike, we pause on a high bank, take a final look at the river and imagine what it was like here back in the 1860’s when it was a busy lumber settlement with 7 hotels, a saloon called “Red Keg” and the site of the world’s largest timber banking grounds. Massive White Pine trees were harvested in the winter and brought here by train. In the spring, when the water was high, the huge logs (stock photo) were rolled down the bank and floated down stream to the sawmills in Saginaw.

Off in the distance

A leafless perch

Stately bird of prey

Continues to search

Scanning the field

Carpeted in white

A rodent scampers

In the raptor’s sight

Swoops, kills quick

Mother Nature’s way

Hawk of the meadow

Survives another day

D. DeGraaf

December 2

From the new Madison Rd. trailhead, I begin my early morning hike on the Campground Trail at Lumberjack Park. A chilly north wind, overcast skies and a temperature of 34 degrees surround me as I make my way north along the bank of the Pine River where the wooded landscape is blanketed with a thick layer of leaf litter. Immediately, my attention is drawn to evidence of recent Beaver activity including gnawed stumps and downed trees. The only part of the tree they eat for nutrition is the inner layer of the bark, called the cambium layer. Beavers are the lumberjacks of the rodent world. They use their tree-chopping skills (stock photo)to gather wood for constructing lodges and dams, and in the process, eat or gather some for food or storage (stock photo). They prefer softwoods including aspen, cottonwood, willow and dogwood, but will also gnaw on hardwoods to sharpen their continuously growing teeth. A beaver is specially equipped to rapidly chop down trees and branches. His dark orange incisors (stock photo) are softer and wear down more quickly on the back than the front, resulting in beveled teeth that are ideal for slicing through wood and stripping away bark. Continuing on the Campground Trail, I notice a scattering of Christmas Ferns poking through the leaf litter as well as a recently toppled tree due to Pileated Woodpecker activity. Next, I pause at the edge of the swollen river to take in the riparian sights and sounds. Continuing west, I reach Lumberjack Rd., cross the bridge and turn east onto the Riverview Trail where I stop to notice leaves of a Beech tree swaying with the wind. Continuing along the high riverbank, I pause again to observe the water flowing west to east. Just ahead, I’m surprised to see more beaver activity. Turning northeast through a corridor of tall pines I spot a buck rub and a decayed log covered with fresh Oyster fungi. Moving along, I join up with the Mud Creek Trail, veer to the southeast and come to the bridge over Mud Creek. Crossing the bridge, I make my way along the creek, cross the boardwalk and finally circle the Sugar Maple Trail back to the car just in time to see a few patches of blue sky through the open canopy.

Season to hunt

Season to kill

Seeking quarry

Seeking a thrill

Lethal weapon

Bullets release

Finding their mark

Ending the peace

Preserving life

Is not the plan

Trophy buck

Pleasure of man

D. DeGraaf

November 25

The mid morning sky is mostly cloudy and cold with a temperature in the mid 30’s as I make my way around the 5-acre Hiawatha Hills Preserve, west of Mt. Pleasant. Hiking into a leafless wooded landscape, nestled in a residential area on the south bank of the Chippewa River, I’m surrounded by mature maples, oaks and beech mixed in with some patches of snow and ice. A closer view of some of the snow reveals tracks of squirrel and deer. Approaching the river, I spot a Muscle-wood tree still holding its dead leaves along with a cedar snag with an interesting vertical pattern of holes made by Pileated Woodpeckers. At the river’s edge, I pause to watch the water gently flowing through a scenic autumn corridor. Moving along the bank, some bright red fruit catches my eye including a cluster of Jack-in-the-Pulpit berries and a few Barberry berries. Just ahead on the muddy ground, I find some deer scat as well as some Sycamore and Basswood leaves. Nearby, I see a few examples of vegetation still showing chlorophyll including: Woodland Sedges, Periwinkle as well a scattering of Mulberry leaves. Unlike most deciduous tree leaves, these leaves, while still green, often drop in unison, triggered by the first hard frost. Fortunately, recent snowmelt is providing me with some intriguing observations of tiny life forms. First, I spot an array of decomposers living in the crevasses of a decaying log including: moss, lichens and rarely seen but colorful fungi called Purple Jelly Drops. Next, I come across some BB-size decomposers living on a decaying log- the fruiting bodies of Wolf’s Milk slime mold (Toothpaste Slime). Immature forms are pink and excrete a pink toothpaste-like substance when squeezed. When not fruiting, this mold consists of microscopic, amoeba-like organisms engulfing bacteria, spores, protozoa and non-living organic matter. Thirdly, my attention is drawn to some half-inch, delicate Mottlegill Mushrooms. Commonly called the mower's mushroom, this fungus is widely distributed and often found on lawns. Working my way back to the car, I pause to take one last look at the property at the same time being grateful it’s been set-aside as a protected nature area where humans and wildlife can coexist.

Not too far from the hunter’s gun

Run, river run

By light of the moon, light of the sun

Run, river run

Your journey’s not over, only half done

Run, river run

Ice floes have not yet begun

Run, river run

Protecting your water is priority one

Run, Chippewa, run

D. DeGraaf

November 18

Even though there is 5 weeks left before winter begins, already the air is frigid and the ground covered with 5 inches of snow as I begin hiking south into the 200-acre, Alma College Ecological Station, east of Vestaburg. The landscape looks quite different from when I hiked here in the summer of 2015. Turning east, I take in both the scene and solitude of the forest where towering Red Oak trees have surrendered some of their leaves to the path below while others continue to fill the canopy above. Along the way, a rare sighting of Chlorophyll is noted in the leaves of a thorny Greenbrier vine. Further ahead, fresh evidence of a Pileated Woodpecker shredding tree bark in search of insects catches my eye. Turning south, I descend a moderate slope onto a boardwalk, the same one I was on back in 2015. This walkway accesses a unique wetland called a peat bog. The soft, spongy ground under my feet is composed largely of Sphagnum moss. When decayed and compacted this plant is known as peat and is often used for fuel or a soil additive. At the end of the boardwalk, I pause to scan a 20-acre lake from the same vantage point I used back in 2015. This open water feature is also part of the bog ecosystem as it continues to shrink as the moss mat grows out over the edges. Gazing off to the west, I observe a stand of yellow Tamarack trees often seen in peat bogs. Unlike most conifers, the needles of these trees change from green to yellow and soon will fall to earth. On the nearby shore, I see a red colored fruit often associated with bogs, cranberries. This wild fruit has been growing in Great Lakes bogs for thousands of years. During much of that time, Indigenous peoples harvested them for food and medicine. Also, their antioxidant and vitamin C content were helpful in the winter months. Wild cranberries were one of the foods offered to early American colonists by the Wampanoag Tribe, making it part of the Thanksgiving holiday menu as we know it today. Turning around, I begin to retrace my steps while stopping to look and listen to a small creek draining from the bog. Finally, I get back to the car and skid my way back home.

November winds rise

Air temperatures fall

Leafless shrubs short

Naked Aspens tall

Lacey flowers close

Canopy opens wide

Chickadees are seen

Frogs and toads hide

Maple leaves descend

Oak’s cling and hang

Earth ever in balance

Nature’s Yin and Yang

D. DeGraaf

November 11

Under partly cloudy skies and a temperature in the mid 20’s, Larry Keeler, a Lumberjack Park associate, is taking me on a nature hike through part of his 120-acre hunting property, located in eastern Montcalm County. Following a leaf-littered trail through a dense hardwood forest, we pause to notice a recent deer scrape next to a small White Oak tree. After rubbing and licking the overhanging branches, a buck will scrape the ground below and urinate there to mark his scent and claim his territory. Just ahead we watch a sure sign of the season as leaves drop from colorful Beech trees in the understory. Exploring the leaf litter, I find some Club moss, a 1-inch diameter Milk cap Mushroom and a 1-inch diameter brown ball. This sphere, caused by an egg laid by a Cynips wasp, is called an Oak Cherry Gall and contains the grub of the wasp. In late winter the grub will change into a tiny adult wasp (stock photo) and fly off. Continuing our peaceful saunter through his woods, I notice the canopy overhead is wide open in places where maple and aspen have already dropped their leaves compared to the canopy where oaks still hold on to theirs. Veering onto a another trail, we come upon the fresh carcass of a doe. Not seeing any signs of disease or flesh wounds, we cannot determine a cause of death. Just ahead, we pause on the bank of the North Branch of the Pine River as the gentle current transports fallen leaves. Starting about 4 miles northwest of here in Isabella County, this branch of the Pine flows another mile to the southeast where it empties into the main branch, just west of Lumberjack Rd in Gratiot County. After Larry leads me through a Red Pine plantation that he planted many years ago, we stop by one of several flooded vernal ponds where I notice a thin layer of ice covering the surface. Nearby, we pause as snowflakes begin to fall. While circling back toward the truck, I point out to Larry the dainty yellow blossoms emerging from the bare branches of a Witch Hazel tree. After passing his deer blind, we find our way back to his pickup truck and head out.

Predator of night

Dark becomes day

The hunt was hard

Your hunger obey

Picked up a scent

Options to weigh

The kill was quick

Devoured your prey

Found your den

Moon on high

Coyote of the wild

Your time to lie

D. DeGraaf

November 4

Amid mostly cloudy skies and a temperature just above freezing, I’m hiking a wide, groomed trail into Forest Hill Nature Area. Having walked this 90- acre property thousands of times during my 23 years of developing and managing it, I’m glad to see it remains protected land where humans and wildlife interact. Right away, I notice the blossoms of Goldenrod that only a short time ago colored this meadow yellow, have seeded out to a fluffy beige. Not surprisingly, the soft, muddy trail displays several deer tracks as well as a few patches of snow left over from a recent dusting. Turning north, I pass Raspberry leaves that have turned a burgundy red before rounding the corner and pausing to look and listen as a formation of noisy geese fly high overhead. Entering South Woods, I make my way to a favorite spot- the edge of Swanson Swamp where I spent many hours observing wildlife and enjoying the natural quietude. From here, I continue north through the woods where I discover some wrinkled crust orange fungi growing on a decaying birch tree trunk as well as ogee tunnels of ash borer larvae under a decaying ash tree. Leaving the woods, I’m puzzled by a lone Maple tree whose leaves have yet to change color and drop. Making my way west through a corridor of white birch, I then turn north past oaks still holding their leaves before entering North Woods where the once dense canopy is almost leafless. Following the meandering trail eastward past the swollen vernal pond, I notice that many of the small Beech trees retain their leaves, many still green. Out of the woods, I head south to Willow Wallow where a few noisy Mallards take to flight. High and afar, I can barely make out the silhouette of a solitary Starling perched on a leafless branch. Turning east, I circle the top of Reflection Hill and pause to take notice of a tree of ripe crab apples as well as to gaze down on Grebe Pond and the Raske Barn beyond. Continuing east, I come to the edge of the pond where a newly built muskrat lodge catches my eye. Following the trail around the edge of the pond to the north, I spot a few toxic Nightshade berries. Heading south through the native grassland, I am pleased to see a new shelter constructed at the geology station. Ending the hike at my car, I pause to glance south at historic Brady Cemetery and reminisce about the many times I gave tours to school groups.

The stripped and shapely
Maple grieves
The ghosts of her
Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,
As hard as stone.
The year is old,
The birds are flown.

And yet the world,
In its distress,
Displays a certain
Loveliness

John Updike

October 28

The morning temperature is in the mid 40’s, sun is shining and the wind is blustery as I make my way into the Maple River State Game Area, two miles northeast of the village of Maple Rapids. Almost 10,000 acres, this state land surrounds the Maple River as it flows through Gratiot, Clinton and Ionia Counties, including the expansive wetlands wildlife refuge transected by US 127. I’m hiking due south on a 50-ft wide easement covering a pipeline that’s pumping oil from Alma south under the Maple River to Lansing and beyond (red line on map). Out of sight and out of mind to most of the public, the pipeline under my feet brings back memories of the oil spill that occurred in 2010 when a pipeline like this burst and flowed into Talmadge Creek, a tributary of the Kalamazoo River resulting in one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history (stock photo), upending the lives of those living near the river and devastating the ecosystem. Glancing skyward, I pause to watch the wind rustle the leaves of thinning birch trees. Along the edge of the easement, I spot the bright red hips of Multiflora Rose and a Mullein rosette. Mullein is known for the softness of its leaves, which are known locally as "bunny ears" or "flannel leaf." The leaves' softness is created by a dense pattern of short hairs that cover both the upper and lower surfaces. Approaching the main channel of the Maple River, I come up short, as the flats are flooded due to above average fall rainfall. This river is a 75 mile-long tributary of the Grand River (stock photo) that originates from the Maple Swamp drain southeast of Owosso. Unlike the Chippewa and Pine Rivers that flow eastward, this river flows west. After passing the village of Ovid it flows northwest past Elsie and then turns southwest into the State Game Area, past Maple Rapids before emptying into the Grand River at the village of Muir, 12 miles north of Portland. Exploring the edge of one section of the flats, I notice the leaf litter consists mostly of Silver maple and hickory while another section, a variety of oaks and yet another section, beech and maple with a few tiny lavender flowers of Heal-All sprinkled in. Turning west, I follow a groomed muddy trail used by lots of deer. Turning around, I retrace my steps back toward the car where I see a couple of dipterans warming themselves on a log, including a Green Bottle fly and a Housefly. Finally, I’m back in the car for my 22-mile trip back to Alma.

Leaves of fall or flowers of spring

Bird’s feather or butterfly’s wing

Skin of a snake or hide of a deer

Snow that’s fresh or sky that’s clear

Grass in a field or soil on the ground

Seeds that fly or fruit that’s round

Lichens on trunks or needles of pine

Dark clouds or bright sunshine

Mother Nature’s shades and hues

Favorite colors, hard to choose

D. DeGraaf

October 21

I’m following the White Pine trail into a remote section of the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, 15 miles southeast of Ithaca. The mid-morning weather is mostly cloudy, misty and breezy as I make my way south through a dense forest of broadleaves with a few conifers mixed in. The leaf litter reveals the presence of maple, oak, aspen and pine. Nearby, I pick a 1-inch Spiny Puffball mushroom, take a bite and enjoy the mild “mushroomy” flavor. Just ahead, I pick a waxy green leaf of Wintergreen, crush it between my fingers and inhale the pleasant aroma. Stepping briefly off the trail, I pause at a vernal pond to admire Mother Nature’s beautiful autumn artwork. Back on the trail. I spot some sulfur shelf fungi as well as a patch of fresh Haircap moss. Entering a clearing as the trail forks, I veer easterly where, on the leaf litter, a mixed patch of Club and Pincushion moss catch my eye. Soon, I come upon a small creek where I take time to look and listen to this scenic fall landscape. Nearby fungi include Birch Polypore and Oyster mushrooms. Continuing southeast, I come to the edge of a 20-acre lake lined with colorful deciduous trees and almost totally covered with green vegetation. Closer examination indicates its Floating Pondweed. While exploring the shoreline, I come upon a cattail flower seeding out and lots of spiny seedpods of Buttonbush. Turning around, I retrace my steps past the creek where I notice maple leaves falling onto the colorful path. Along the trail’s edge, I see leaves of Sassafras and Witch Hazel changing color. Approaching the car, I come upon a partially eaten mushroom. Not knowing what was feeding on it, my guess it either was a deer, squirrel or rabbit. While these creatures know better than to eat toxic mushrooms, not so for Box turtles. They’ve been known to safely eat deadly species of Amanita (stock photo), which has killed people eating the turtles. Finally, I find the car and head for home.

Autumn onward
Forest rids her green
Reds and yellows show
Wafting leaves are seen
Barren is the meadow
Frost ices the ground
Swallows head south
Wooly bears around
Plants cease to grow
Mother Nature’s way
Comes the colder night
Comes the shorter day 

D. DeGraaf

October 14

The midmorning is sunny and cool as I hike west on the Meijer bike trail into the heart of the Vestaburg State Game Area, 3000 acres of some of the most undisturbed natural landscapes in mid Michigan. Right away, I spot an abandoned paper wasp nest overhead in a pine tree. Signs of the season are everywhere. Cessation of chlorophyll production in leaves of some maples, oaks and birch is evident as red, orange and yellow pigments begin to appear. Fronds of Royal fern are turning brown. Next, I pause to observe a few leaves wafting from a towering Cottonwood tree to the path near my feet. Continuing west, I notice most of the blossoms of Queen Anne’s Lace have seeded out and folded up into “nests”. I open one of them to discover a tiny Pickleworm maggot. Mostly found in the southern US, these crop-destroying larvae will turn into a colorful moth (stock photo). Just ahead, I get a close-up view of a ½ inch Spotted Cucumber Beetle resting on a Sow Thistle blossom. Like the Pickleworm, these insects are considered agricultural pests. As often happens, the Milkweeds I come across are sources of biological activity. Some plants display pods bursting open to expose their silky white seed floss. Others display Milkweed Bugs in various stages of development. Still others, display Yellow Bear caterpillars (a relative of Wooly Bears). Still heading west, I recognize a couple of invasive species; a patch of Phragmites stalks swaying in the breeze and a few blossoms of Spotted Knapweed. After walking about a mile, I turn around to retrace my steps when my attention is drawn to a chipmunk calling from the dense forest. Just ahead, I see a 1-inch Spring Peeper sunning itself on a Tag Alder leaf. Seldom seen but often heard, the “peeping sound of these amphibians is a welcome sign of spring. Finally, just before reaching the car, I discover some Japanese Beetles  devouring a leaf. Back in the car, I begin my re-entry into the comforts and distractions of human civilization.

Autumn in stride

Heron still wades

Colder winds blow

Goldenrod fades

Whining Cicadas

Brown Wooly Bear

Turtles go deep

Logs are now bare

Swallows gather

South they’ll go

Cattails explode

October show

D. DeGraaf

October 7

The midday weather is cool and misty with a light breeze as I begin my hike in Alma’s Conservation Park. Heading west along the shore of the Pine River impoundment, I can barely see a few Mallard ducks far out in the slow moving current. Continuing west, I spot a few blossoms of Blue-stemmed Goldenrod, a 5-inch diameter Amanita mushroom and some Coral fungi. The leaf litter displays signs of the season including some spiny caps of Bur Oak acorns from which the tree gets its name. After taking one last look at the river, I turn south and then east on pavement through a lush green corridor of mature hardwoods and conifers. Pausing near the Eyer Bird Hut, I notice a bristly Tussock Moth caterpillar crawling on a milkweed leaf. Nearby, I spot the blue berries of Virginia creeper which are not edible and those of Wild Grape which look alike and are edible. Turning south, I proceed into a native grassland landscape where a few Purple Coneflowers remain while Bergamot blossoms are gone and only seed heads remain. Along the way, I find Pokeweed whose berries are edible to birds but not humans. Before leaving this prairie plot, I pause to watch the breeze sway the tall warm season grasses. After passing one of the many ponds on the southern border of the park, I turn north and pause near the girl scout cabin where I observe a Bubble Bee nestled in one of the few remaining blossoms of Queen Anne’s Lace as well as a ½ inch Black Ichneumon Wasp resting on a seed head of grass. These tiny insects are endoparasitic. Adult females use their sharp ovipositors to insert eggs into a living host –usually a grub or caterpillar. Their eggs hatch and larvae devour the host from the inside, eventually killing it before emerging. Many of these wasps prey upon hosts that also happen to be crop pests, and likely provide an invaluable service to agriculture. Making my way back toward the car, I pause to watch Bubble Bees feeding on New England aster flowers while a Hoverfly feeds on White aster flowers. Finally, while getting in the car, my attention is drawn to one more sign of the season; the bright red fruit of Viburnum.

Aura of autumn

Before snows come

From sunny glades

Colors and shades

Of scarlet and gold

Trees, young and old

Where frost of fall 

Glazes it all

In crystalline white

During longer night

Nature’s aglow

October show

D. DeGraaf

September 30

Now that the rain has stopped and the sun is peeking through, I exit my car next to the Lake Steven Preserve. This 1-acre property is the smallest of 22 preserves owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy and is land I monitor annually for the Conservancy. Lake Steven is a small eutrophic lake nestled in the backwoods of Montcalm County, 4 miles northeast of Crystal. Walking along Birch Dr. on the preserve’s western boundary, I notice some Joe Pye Weed still blossoming as well as lots of Autumn Olive bushes, including some displaying fruit. Turning east, I enter a dense woodlot containing mostly white birch and healthy ash, not yet attacked by the ash borer. A single hickory tree whose leaves have turned red also catches my eye. Continuing to explore the preserve, I come across some fresh opossum scat as well as a decaying log showing a large number of Stump Brittlestem mushrooms and a dead tree trunk showing a Birch Bracket mushroom. This polypore fungus boasts antiseptic properties when used as a bandage. Users report that not only does the mushroom heal the wound, but that it also leaves no scar even when the wound is deep. Next, I pause to get a close look at a perching Crane Fly. These insects, that resemble oversize mosquitoes, only live 10-15 days as adults. Reaching the shoreline, I scan the landscape and am reminded that this property abuts to an outlet channel of the lake, not the lake itself. Also, I see the surface is densely covered with duckweed and lily pads. Turning back toward the road, I spot an Eastern Phoebe perched on a branch. These birds will soon migrate, finding wintering habitat in the southern United States and Mexico. Nearby, I notice a decaying beaver stump indicating their presence here many years ago. Continuing west toward the car, I come upon a couple of lone conifers bearing their cones namely White Cedar and Tamarack. Finally, I reach the car as a gust of wind rustles the leaves of birch and aspen, waving farewell until next time.

I welcome these days

New season in view

Leaves glow red

Berries shine blue

I welcome the sun

On its slow descent

Geese are gathering

The meadow is spent

I welcome the morning

Cool and clear

Greetings autumn

Glad you’re here

D. DeGraaf

September 23

Just a ½ mile left on my 90-mile journey to follow the main channel of the Chippewa River from its beginning in Barryton, back on April 29, to its end in Midland. The early morning weather is cool and sunny as I hike east on a narrow earthen path along a steep, 20-ft. bank of the river. The surrounding vegetation includes Prickly Ash, Dogwood and Buckthorn with its clusters of black berries. Pausing to enjoy the peaceful landscape, I look out on the slow moving river and see its water is murky with sediment from recent rains. Continuing east toward the rising sun, I notice wildflowers still in bloom include: Dame’s Rocket, Jerusalem artichoke and Aster while those going to seed include: Motherwort, Snakeroot and Burdock. Also, I pass by a patch of Poison Ivy with leaves beginning to change color and one with a Japanese beetle resting on it. Up ahead, I come across a few walnut husks on the trail. Picking one of them up, I break it open to reveal several tiny maggots feeding on the pulp. These larvae of the Walnut Husk Fly will feed on the husk for 3-5 weeks. Mature maggots will then burrow several inches into the soil to pupate. Most will emerge as adult flies (stock photo) next summer. With just a short distance to reach the river’s mouth, I spot clusters of Wild grapes as well as a Wild Cucumber vine with some of its spiny pod-like fruit. Suddenly, I see a Green Heron fly over the river and perch high on the far side. Since these birds migrate, they will soon head to the southern US or Central America for the winter. Continuing east, I glance up at the dense canopy and down at the leaf litter consisting mostly of willow leaves. Down by the water’s edge, a clump of Purple Loosestrife catches my eye. Nearing the river terminus, I gaze ahead at a footbridge called the “tridge”. Making my way onto this structure, I face west to watch the Chippewa River end its journey as it empties into the Tittabawassee River. Next, I face north to watch the Tittabawassee flow toward me, merge with the Chippewa River and then continue to flow southeast where it will spill into the Saginaw River which then flows into Saginaw Bay. With fond memories and my quest completed, I head to the car for my drive back to Alma.

Waters of life

Nourishes earth

Flows in her veins

River of worth

Wonder of nature

Beauty to inspire

Clean and clear

River to admire

More than a stream

More than a creek

Cherish the Chippewa

River unique

D. DeGraaf

September 16

Dawn is cool and misty as I begin my hike on the nature trail at Lumberjack Park. From the trailhead off Madison Rd., I head north and immediately notice some 3-inch Fly Agaric Mushrooms near the base of a maple tree. Down the steps and onto the boardwalk, I spot patches of Small Flower Asters near my feet and a curious young Whitetail buck staring at me from the dense understory. Following the trail east, I come across blossoms of Sky Blue Aster as well as a cluster of Jack-in-the-Pulpit berries. As a gust of wind passes through the leafy canopy, blossoms of Turtlehead and Snakeroot catch my eye. Snakeroot’s name 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. Proceeding north on the bridge over Mud Creek, I spot a patch of Black-eyed Susan’s along the far bank as well as an Elephant Ear plant with its 12-inch long leaves. Turning west onto the White Pine Trail, I pass by a couple of tiny Puffball fungi and then stop to sample a few ripe berries from an Autumn Olive shrub. Taking a sharp left, I follow the Riverview Trail to a favorite overlook to see the channel of the Pine River, swollen with muddy water after a few days of rain as well as hear the repetitive, bird-like chirp of a distant chipmunk. Further along, I come upon a ¾ inch Banned Tussocks Moth Caterpillar crawling on one of the trail markers. Veering off the trail to the river’s edge, I notice blossom remnants of Joe-Pye-weed and Cardinal flowers along the bank as well as a couple of Water Striders skating near shore. Turning north through mature Pines, I spot some Orange Peel fungi on the trail. Retracing my steps back toward the car, I discover part of a Wild Turkey carcass with exposed skeletal bones indicating its part of the wing. Crossing Mud Creek again, I finally make it back to the car.

Mid of September
Summer bids goodbye
Monarchs leave the scene
Gone are geese that fly
Yellow drapes the meadow
Oaks let acorns fall
Fawns continue to grow
Crows continue to caw
Seasons ever changing
Maples showing red
Autumn comes soon
Nature cycles ahead 

D. DeGraaf

September 9

Back on home soil, I’m reuniting with the Chippewa River while marking my 12thencounter, following it from beginning to end. The weather is sunny and cool at the Chippewa Nature Center, west of Midland, as I take the River Trail north along its bank and pause to observe the confluence of the Pine River (left) with the Chippewa (right), resulting in a major increase in water volume and channel width. Exploring the riparian landscape, I spot large patches of Snakeroot mixed with Canadian Goldenrod. On the near shore, I notice a Clematis vine going to seed while on the far shore; a wading Blue Heron catches my eye. From the dense canopy, my ears tune in to the song of a Tufted Titmouse. As the trail passes Six-Island Pond, I glance over the water where several Painted Turtles rest on a log to bask in the sun. Curving east, my attention draws to Purple Loosestrife and Yellow Cress growing on the riverbank while the flowing water sparkles in the morning sun. On the paved path a scattering of grape-size haws appear. Fallen from overhanging Hawthorn trees, this fruit can be eaten raw but may cause mild stomach upset. It is most commonly used to make jellies, wines and ketchups. Other wildflowers seen include Panicle Aster and Jewelweed. As the trail turns south away from the river, I veer onto the Wood duck Trail where an Orthopteran chorus is loud and clear. Also, on one side of the trail, I notice a Monarch Butterfly feeding on a Green-headed Coneflower while on the other side, a stand of Joe Pye Weed. Gazing up at a large tree truck, I spot a cluster of raw Poison Ivy berries. In a few weeks they will ripen to a white color and be a food source for birds such as: flickers, phoebes, waxwings and woodpeckers. White-tailed deer and raccoons browse on them as well. Making my way toward the car, I discover a few signs of the season to come: red berries of Viburnum, red leaves of Virginia creeper and white blossoms of Turtlehead. Back in the car, I head home to Alma.

River scene

Banks of green

Water’s clean

Treasures glean

River flow

Current slow

Nature’s show

Not far to go

River sound

Beauty profound

Gaining ground

Homeward bound

D. DeGraaf

September 2

On a warm and sunny afternoon, I’m hiking in Lusthusportens Park along the shore of Djurgårdsbrunnsviken, a bay on the north side of Djurgården Island, one of 14 islands that make up the metropolis of Stockholm, Sweden. This landmass is a tranquil oasis of parks and nature trails very close to hustle and bustel of the city. Following a paved path, I spot some familiar blossoms of St. John’s wort as well as a Coot and a female Horned Grebe swimming far off shore in the brackish water. Further ahead, I notice some Tansy blossoms along with a stand of Phragmites. Where as this reed is highly invasive in Michigan, the one here is not. Be that as it may, there are proposals to harvest the stalks, compress them into pellets and burn them in combustion units as a source of heat. Also, investigations are under way to establish reed plantations in exploited wetlands. Nearby, I come across the only cluster of Purple Loosestrife seen on my hike. However, this plant, another Michigan invasive, does not appear to be spreading along this shore. As the trail meanders, I spot the white, grape-size fruit on a Snow Berry shrub as well as the reddish, olive-size hips of Wild Rose. In the fall, the ripe, red hips are picked, dried and mixed with water, flour and sugar to form a soup called Nyponsoppa. Swedes serve it as a beverage or a dessert with vanilla ice cream along with small almond biscuits. Moving along, I pause to watch a bird in the underbrush; similar in size to a Chickadee, called a Great Tit, a common resident throughout Scandinavia. Also, not too far away in the shallows, a Great Blue Heron hunts for food. Next, the trail veers away from the water into a dense forest of oak and maple where I see blossoms of Alpine Blue Sow Thistle as well as Rose Pink Drift. Turning around, I retrace my steps back to the trailhead which is an open area where I look up to see the spiny husks hanging from a Horse Chestnut tree while under the tree, a few Barnacle Geese are foraging. Finally, I hail a cab for a short trip back to the hotel.

I searched the city

Noisy traffic sound

Searched everywhere

Looked all around

I drove to the east

Walked to the west

I could not find it

Could not rest

Found it in a park

Mother Nature fair

Away from urban din

Finally found it there

D. DeGraaf

August 26

Here I am, 3700 miles from Alma, hiking near Flam, a small village in southwestern Norway, surrounded by steep mountains, waterfalls and narrow valleys. The weather is foggy and misty with a temperature of 48 degrees. My goal is to walk about 1½ miles to the edge of Brekkefossen Falls, one of the larger falls in the area. From the hotel, I start out hiking north on a paved road along the fast flowing Flamselvi River as it empties into the nearby Aurlands Fjord, a steep, water-filled canyon carved out by glaciers. Along the riverbank, I spot a patch of Yellow Hawkweed as well as clusters of bright red berries from a Mountain Ash tree. Continuing down the road, I notice the familiar blossoms of Moth Mullein in addition to the unfamiliar blossoms of Melancholy Thistle. Blossoms of Bellflower and Buttercup also catch my eye. Up ahead on the road, I see a Robin-size, bird called a White Wagtail while nearby I notice some colorful Fireweed blossoms. Turning east onto a narrow earthen trail, I begin my climb up the mountain toward Brekkefossen Falls. These falls drop about 1,790 feet, but because of the narrow, twisting shape of the gully it descends, only a very small veiling plunge of 377 feet can be seen near the bottom of the rock formation. Continuing my ascent, the trail takes me along a fast moving stream where I notice some Wavy Cap Mushrooms as well as the mottled tree trunks of Downy Birch. As the path becomes too steep and slippery for me, I pause, take one last look at the falls before turning around. Back on the paved road, I begin retracing my steps where I spot a gathering of Hooded Crows. Beside the road, I spot blossoms of Alfalfa and Aster. On a fence post ahead, I catch a glimpse of a perching Willow Warbler. As I return to the riverbank and make my way back to the hotel, I’m amazed once again by what nature has to offer here in Scandinavia.

Why do I walk distant lands

Doing hikes in rain or shine

Why do I get up early and go

Start before the stroke of nine

What brings me to these places

With meadow, river and hill

What draws me to the wild

There’re needs I must fulfill

My spirit connects to nature

Feelings for her are strong

Another place on earth

A place I truly belong

D. DeGraaf