May 27

After an early morning thundershower, the temperature is mild and sky is clear as I hike an earthen trail in Audubon Woods Preserve. I’m on my way to another encounter with the Chippewa River as part of my goal to explore this riparian corridor from its source in Barryton to its mouth in Midland. Descending a gradual slope through a lush broadleaf forest of Beech and Maple, I come across a 4-inch, wax-cap mushroom being fed on by some tiny flies as well as a 2-inch, Orange Peel fungus. Along the way, I spot some Trillium and Yellow Violets among the leaf litter. Nearby, the cut end of a decaying tree trunk totally covered with Turkey Tail fungi is a fascinating sight to behold. Reaching a high bank, I take a moment to greet the river, once again. Since my last encounter at Sylvan Solace, it has flowed due south about 3 miles to this point. Climbing down to the flood plain, I notice Marsh Marigold flowers and a rarely seen, tiny Wild Ginger blossom, hidden under the leaf. Exploring the mud flats, a variety of ferns catch my eye including: Maiden Hair, Sensitive, Lady and Cinnamon. On a fallen log in a small vernal pond, I spot a 3-inch Green Frog. In the nearly closed canopy above, I listen to an Eastern Phoebe (stock photo). Before heading back, I pause once more to watch the river, as it turns northeasterly toward the city of Mt. Pleasant. Ascending the slope back toward the car, I pass a decaying conifer log displaying a reddish color due to resin and tannin contained in the heartwood. Also, I see a few Wood Anemone blossoms. Continuing back through the quiet forest, I enjoy the song of an Ovenbird (stock photo). Completing the hike and heading home, I reflect on another memorable river rendezvous.

I welcome your waters

Your journey is long

River, my muse

Take me along

Burgeoning banks

Your current is strong

River of life

Take me along

Learning your secrets

I hear your song

River of nature

Take me along

D. DeGraaf

May 20

The early morning weather is clear and cold as I hike through a section of Lumberjack Park that is to become an extension of the current nature trail. From the south trailhead, I hike west on Madison Rd. over the Pine River, turn right and make my way through a dense wooded area where I’m amazed to see the ground bursting with hundreds of white Trillium flowers. In all my nature walks around here, I’ve never seen so many of them in one area. What’s even more amazing is the many deer that live in these woods haven’t eaten them. While beautiful to look at, they are extremely fragile and picking them effectively kills them, ensuring none will grow in their place. Pink blossoms of Spring Beauty, although not completely open, also blanket the forest floor. Smaller patches of Phlox, Yellow Bellwort, Violet and Wild Geranium are evident as well. All of these wildflowers, called spring ephemerals, occupy a short, yet glorious interval in the park, blooming and setting seed during a small window of sunlight between snowmelt and when the trees leaf-out. While heading northwest through the campground, I pause to look and listen to a Baltimore Oriole perched high in a tall tree. Next, I veer off the trail to the river’s edge where I observe the gently flowing water reflecting the surrounding landscape. On the muddy shoreline, I notice opossum and duck tracks as well as weasel and deer. Just ahead, I spot a May apple plant displaying a tiny green flower bud and a few fern fiddleheads that are tender and tasty this time of year. On a nearby log, I spot some “hairy” Coyote scat as well. Leaving the woods, I pause once again as the babbling river flows over some rocks. Continuing past some pavilions to Lumberjack Rd, I cross the bridge to the north trailhead of the current nature trail. After doing some grooming and adding a few signs to this area of the park, we hope to have the “Campground Trail” open to the public by next summer.

Floor is barren brown

Nature’s ways to keep

Green shoot reveals

Midst of forest deep

Stalk soon appears

From muddy ground

Three leaves sprout

Single bud so round

Three pedals white

Unveiling you bring

Dainty Trillium flower

Speaks to me of spring

D. DeGraaf

May 13

On a cool, cloudy, early morning, I’m hiking an earthen trail in Sylvan Solace Preserve, anticipating another encounter with the Chippewa River. From the last time I saw the river, it flowed from the spillway on the east side of Lake Isabella and meandered southeast about 4 miles to this access location. From the parking lot, I walk north on the Meadow Lane trail where I spot a couple of Chipping Sparrows on the path ahead. Turning west on the River Loop trail, I proceed into a forest of hardwoods where the leaf litter reveals another sign of the season, the green foliage of a patch of May apple. Reaching the river, I descend the steep bank and pause to take in the scenic riparian landscape as the swollen watercourse flows rapidly southward. On the shore nearby, I observe nature’s version of a green salad, skunk cabbage along with some baby horsetails and ferns. Back up the slope, I follow the trail south along a bluff where I spot a few blossoms from a Service Berry tree as well as a silk nest in the crotch of a young cherry tree containing some 1 cm.-long Tent Caterpillars. Far ahead on the trail, a sudden movement draws my attention to a well-camouflaged Whitetail doe. Continuing on the River Loop trail, I head northeast where, above me the forest canopy is beginning to close up and at my feet Pennsylvania Sedge and Wild Strawberry are beginning to flower. Heading back toward the car on the Meadow Lane trail, I notice a white substance on a pine tree trunk where the watery sap has condensed to reveal the sugars and other minerals contain in it. Also, no hike at this preserve would be complete without stopping to watch the comings and goings of one of many mound ant colonies. Finally, what seemed like an appropriate conclusion to my hike was a serenading Chipping Sparrow.

Welcomed scene

Glad to know

Sustaining life

Flow, river flow

Fish and fowl

Fawn and doe

Living water

Flow, river flow

Farwell for now

Onward you go

Until next time

Flow, river flow

D. DeGraaf

May 6

Since leaving its source in Barryton, the Chippewa River meanders southeast about 14 miles before emptying into Lake Isabella. On a cold, misty morning, I’m hiking in Gilmore Park on the northwestern shore of the lake. This 700-acre impoundment was created 50 years ago when a dam was built on the river by a private real estate developer. The park trail I follow is partially flooded from recent rains as I take in the sights and sounds of a wooded area of mature broad leaf trees. After spotting fresh Whitetail tracks in the mud, I spook one of them as it hightails it away. From the fishing platform, I scan the lake through thick fog and spot a lone Common Loon swimming and diving. While not classified as ducks, these waterfowl spend the winter either along the Atlantic coast or the Gulf of Mexico. Migrating here in the spring to breed, they require adequate fish to feed on, undisturbed shorelines for nesting and quiet bays for chick rearing. Back on the trail, I notice some lichens as well as colorful Red Tree Brain Fungi thriving on a decayed log. While only growing on poplar or aspen trees, the fruiting bodies of these fungi are dull and crust-like much of the year, but swell into crimson, jelly-like blobs in the spring. Looping back toward the car, I pause to first hear the alarm call of a Redwing Blackbird followed by a chirping Robin. Nearby, silhouettes of sumac panicles catch my eye. Moving on, I come upon fresh evidence of a wood-chipping Pileated Woodpecker. Back in the car, I drive around to the east side of the lake onto the Pines Golf Course to observe the dam and spillway where the water rushes down into the river channel and continues its journey southeastward through the fields and farmlands of mid Michigan.

Life in the wild

From the oak above

In the morning mist

A cooing dove

From a leafless maple

A catbird sings

On the earth below

First blossom clings

Nature surrounds

She wakes once more

Dresses for spring

She sets the decor

D. DeGraaf