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