April 22

In the hush of a cold, murky morning, I’m exploring the Stearns Preserve near the small village of Riverdale. My first stop is the edge of the rushing Pine River where I tune in to a singing robin. Wandering around the clearing, I spot a dime-size Banded Snail in the leaf litter. In the winter, this gastropod burrows under leaves and hibernates. Its heart hardly beats at all while its blood contains chemicals that prevent it from freezing. As I begin to hike east on the paved Heartland bike trail, I’m aware of the green patches of Equisetum (Horsetail) along the edge. A closer look reveals that some stalks have spore-bearing terminal cones and some do not. Next, I pause on the bridge and gaze south as the river flows rapidly downstream. On the far side of the bridge, I turn south and follow an earthen path along the river’s edge where I’m fascinated by a decaying tree trunk displaying an assortment of fungi and mosses. Further along, my attention is drawn upward to a tree branch whose bark has been recently girdled by some critter. My guess is was a porcupine. At my feet, I notice the sandy soil is littered with tiny red flowers of Red Maple. Turning around and retracing my steps, I look across the river and notice a clump of leafless Red Osier Dogwood shrubs. Back on the paved trail, I continue east where the deciduous canopy is showing signs of growth. Along the edge, Honeysuckle leaves are beginning to sprout. Down on my hands and knees, I look closely at the sporophytes that are emerging from a bed of moss. Just ahead, I come to one of my favorite sections of the preserve, a cedar swamp. However, because of flooding and lack of proper footwear, I’m unable to venture off the trail down into this unique habitat. At the eastern boundary line, I turn around and retrace my steps under an arching Box Elder tree before reaching the car and heading home.

Remembering Earth Day

Mother Earth, child of the sun

You are a very special one

Water to drink, air to breathe

Life abounds on land and sea

Some worlds are far too cold

Living things cannot take hold

Some worlds are way too hot

Uninhabitable at every spot

Mother Earth, dwelling place

Rightful region in outer space

Sphere of white, sphere of blue

We dedicate this day to you

D. DeGraaf