July 29

The song of a Vireo catches my attention as I begin hiking on the Buffalo Camp Trail in Beaver Island’s 12,000-acre, Mackinaw State Forest with my wife, Caroline and our good friends, Buzz & Linda Wynbeek. The weather is sunny and cool as we enter a mature forest of mostly Beech and Sugar Maple punctuated with Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Striped Maple. Nearby, one of only a few Monarch caterpillars is spotted, as their reproductive cycle seems to be lagging behind last year’s. With the warming sun activating the Lepidopterons, I get good looks at resting American Lady and Wood Satyr butterflies as well as a Golden dragonfly. Following the trail northwest, yellow-colored blossoms seem to, once again, outnumber others including: Buttercup, Cinquefoil, Woodland Agrimony and the stunning, Shrubby St John’s wort. Wildflowers of other colors that catch my eye include: Bunchberry, Heal-All and European Swamp Thistle. Next, I pause to watch a beautiful, Chestnut-sided Warbler fluttering through the dense understory. However, its sudden movements make it impossible to take a photo (stock photo). With a refreshing breeze keeping me comfortable and the sun penetrating the canopy, I proceed ahead, turning my focus back to the forest floor. First, I notice nature’s decomposers at work including: Orange Mycena and Oyster Mushrooms breaking down logs and feathery Fruticose Lichens breaking up downed branches. Also, I spot parasitic Indian Pipe sprouting from the ground. Continuing down the trail, I come across patches of Club Moss including: Stag’s horn and Ground Pine. After about two miles, we turn around to retrace our steps where I see evidence of Raccoon activity including tracks and scat as well as peeling bark on the trunk of an aging Yellow Birch tree. Finally, we reach the car to hydrate and share observations as we head back to our island abode.

First light of day

Finale of July

Above the meadow floor

Neath the azure sky

Flight of a Swallowtail

Scent of fragrant flowers

Red-eyed Vireo sings

In the morning hours

Thistle seeds burst white

Finch pads its nest

Celebration of life

Nature at her best

D. DeGraaf

July 22

For the last 18 summers, I’ve had the privilege of spending a week or two on Beaver Island. This sparsely populated landmass in northern Lake Michigan has been a great place for our family to “get away from it all” and encounter wildlife in a rich variety of natural habitats including: sandy beaches, lush wetlands, inland lakes and dense forests. On this sunny, warm afternoon, I’m strolling along a remote beach near our summer rental on the western shore of the island. While enjoying a gentle breeze, I gaze afar at the glistening water and nearby at the gentle waves washing ashore. After passing Canada goose tracks as well as a mixture of tiny shells and pebbles, I pause to watch a 3-ft. Northern Water snake slithering ahead of me. Also, I notice the record high lake level floods sections of the beach, killing and drowning trees. The water has risen a staggering 5 feet in the last 6 years. Nearby, I get a close-up view of a Maine Snaketail dragonfly and a patch of Huron Tansy blossoms before spooking a flock of gulls. Turning around, I move a short distance inland to the foredune area, where yellow wildflowers are in abundance including: St. Johns wort, Silverweed, Stonecrop and Hoary Paccoon, being visited by a Yellow Swallowtail butterfly. Just ahead, Wild Rose and Oxeye Daisy flowers show their colors while a Monarch butterfly rests on a pile of woody debris. Approaching a large patch of Bearberry, I spot some ripening fruit that is edible. Tucked in the shade at the tree line, I discover tiny Fairy Thimble Bellflowers growing on a bed of Sphagnum Moss as well as a few patches of Reindeer Moss. Returning to the water’s edge, I approach our lake house where a few blossoms of Beach Pea catch my eye. While climbing up the steps, I’m grateful once again for my annual reunion with this unique lacustrine landscape.

Wandering tracks

Goose and gull

Shells of a clam

Bones of a skull

Sizes and shapes

Beach of stones

Iron and quartz

Colors and tones

Painting the shore

The artist’s hand

Image of summer

Canvas of sand

D. DeGraaf

July 15

Another Chippewa River rendezvous awaits as I follow a narrow trail south through Indian Pines Park, an 80-acre, secluded forest off Valley Rd., northeast of Mt. Pleasant. The ½ mile hike through a dense woods from the trailhead to the river, allows me to hear the song of the Yellowthroat (stock photo), taste some wild Raspberries and spot a ¼ inch land snail crawling slowly over a Poison Ivy leaf. Also, I notice the tiny blossoms of White Avens vine and the artistic design on the wings of a resting Wood Satyr butterfly. After passing through a stand of aging White Pine trees, I arrive at the river’s edge and pause to observe the water flow gently to the east. Along the bank, a variety of wildflowers are in bloom including: St. John’s wort, Black-eyed Susan and Milkweed. While following the trail downstream, I also see a mixed patch of Deptford Pink and Oxeye Daisy. Also catching my eye is a ¾ inch Soldier Beetle on daisy petals and a ¾ inch Two-striped grasshopper on a Motherwort stalk. Continuing along the bank, I discover blossoms of a Sweet Pea vine as well as a Basswood tree. Barely able to see its transparent wings, I locate a colorful 1½ inch Common Green Darner dragonfly resting on a twig. Like Monarch butterflies, multiple generations of these insects migrate annually. The first generation emerges in the southern United States and Mexico and flies north. Here, they lay eggs and die, giving rise to a second generation that migrates south. A third generation, hatched in the south, overwinters there before laying eggs that start the process over again. On a nearby Catalpa tree, I estimate the size of one of its leaves to be about 12 inches from petiole to tip. After taking one last look at the river, I turn around and make my way back toward the car passing a Goat’s Beard flower that has gone to seed. Retracing my steps through the woods back to the car, I reflect on my ninth encounter with the river and look forward to those yet to come.

Its journey begins

Far to the west

A precious load

No time to rest

Thru farms and fields

Woods and lakes

Parks and towns

Its way it makes

Living waters

For man and beast

Greening the ground

Flowing east

D. DeGraaf

July 9

On a warm, humid morning, a swarm of mosquitos accompany me for a hike through a 40-acre forest owned by the Ithaca Public Schools. While the rising sun penetrates the dense canopy, I spot a 4-ft tall Bull Thistle plant ready to bloom as well as a ¾-in White Wave Moth nestled in the undergrowth. Continuing south, I come upon a 1-acre pond, still swollen from above average rainfall. Near the water’s edge, I can barely see a well-camouflaged Green Frog with a tympanic membrane much larger than its eye, indicating it’s a male. Moving ahead, the ground vegetation displays a mix of Royal and Sensitive Ferns in addition to some Gray’s Sedge with their spikelet seed heads. While gazing skyward, I hear the drone of an airplane followed by the squawk of a Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Facing another direction, I pick up the distant call of a Wood Thrush. Still exploring the damp forest floor, I come upon some white Slime Mold as well as tiny Orange Mycena Mushrooms. Turning back toward the car, I notice deer scat on the leaf litter. The texture and shape of these droppings indicate a moist, leafy diet in contrast to those of winter (stock photo). Looking around, I catch a glimpse of a perching Chipmunk. Reaching the clearing where the car is parked, I spot blossoms of Moth Mullein, Crown Vetch as well as Motherwort being fed upon by a Bubble Bee. Before heading home, I pause to remember how only a few years ago, this property, only 4 miles west of town, was well marked and maintained as a field trip destination for the district’s elementary students. Now, missing and broken signs indicate a lack of usage and missed opportunities for school kids to break away from sedentary desk work, get outside and hike these trails to connect with nature.

Nature in rhythm

July days ahead

Summer sky blue

Raspberries red

Creatures are born

Consume and grow

Vultures fly high

Frogs lie low

Pond floods full

Up to the brim

Neath the surface

Tadpoles swim

D. DeGraaf

July 1

On a sunny, warm afternoon, I’m in Nelson Park, strolling along the banks of the Chippewa River as it makes its way through the heart of the city of Mt. Pleasant. Near the water’s edge, I spot some Red Clover and a pair of Mallards while a human floater passes by. As I pause to take in the sights and sounds of the gently flowing river, I can also hear nearby traffic and lawn mower noise. The flow rate at the Mt. Pleasant station today is 431 cubic feet per second compared to 600 cfs that was recorded back on June 3 when I canoed the river in Deerfield Park. Further ahead, I come upon the ripening fruit of a Mulberry tree as well as a blossoming Bushy Cinquefoil shrub. While a group of kids wade in the water, I explore a nearby tributary that is teeming with minnows. Continuing north on a paved path, I cross the railroad tracks into Island Park where the river forks as part of the main channel is diverted to circumvent the park to create the “island”. Following the paved path north, I spot a Cabbage White Butterfly perched on a Dame’s Rocket flower as well as a blossom of Hedge Bindweed. Noticing a Wild Carrot plant among the lush vegetation, I pull it up to take in the fresh “carrot” aroma of its root. It won’t be long before these plants decorate the summer landscape with their lovely “Queen Anne’s Lace” blossoms (stock photo). Also, my eyes are drawn to a Silky Dogwood shrub with clusters of unripen berries that will turn a deep purple when ripe. Down at the river’s edge, I pause to look and listen as the water surges through a narrow channel. Turning around and retracing my steps back into Nelson Park, I observe a large stand of Staghorn Sumac displaying both dead panicles from last year as well as newly formed male flowers. Just before reaching the car, I spot a patch of White Clover and Creeping Jenny on the riverbank. Thus ends another encounter with the river as I reach the approximate halfway point on my journey to its mouth.

Singing birds, traffic span

River of nature, river of man

Soothing sounds, noisy clan

River of nature, river of man

Pristine banks, cola can

River of nature, river of man

Clean water, fishing ban

River of nature, river of man

Flowing free, levee plan

River of nature, river of man

D. DeGraaf