August 19

My adventures down the Chippewa River continue as I arrive at Midland County’s 150-acre, Manitou Park, located 10 miles west of Midland. After an overnight rain, the midday weather is cool and clear as I make my way south from the parking lot through a corridor of lush vegetation. Along the way, I spot a patch of Water Hemlock with a few colorful Cardinal flowers mixed in. Straight ahead, I reach the top of a 50 ft. wooded bluff overlooking the river. Descending the steep slope to the water’s edge, I look and listen as the subtle sound of the current breaks the quietude of this scenic landscape. Walking upstream along the bank, I spot a few flowers of the invasive, Purple Loosestrife as well as a towering dead Ash tree on the far shore. Turning my attention to the bank, I notice Jerusalem artichoke, Agrimony and Queen Anne’s lace. Climbing back up the slope, I continue west on the bluff where my attention is drawn to the blue sky beyond the dense canopy in addition to a few “Chicken of the Woods” shelf fungi growing on a decaying log. Back down the slope again to the river’s edge, I’m in awe how noontime sunlight bounces off the babbling water. Exploring the flood plain, I get a close up look at the colorful abdomen of an Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonfly as well as colorful blossoms of Virginia Knotweed. Early signs of the next season that come to my attention include: Red Maple leaves on the ground and Asters in bloom. While returning to the car, I come across some Witch Hazel leaves with cone shape galls. These growths are produced by aphids that emerged from eggs laid last fall. As new leaves grew this spring, the aphids sucked the sap from them resulting in the growth of these galls, referred to as “witches hats”. Nearing the car, the bright red stems and unripe green berries of Gray Dogwood shrubs catch my eye. Finally, homeward bound, I’m pleased again to have reconnected to such a valuable natural resource.

Water in motion

West to east

Splash of the fish

Heron’s feast

Bullfrogs moan

Just because

Mallards quack

Cicadas buzz

Rocky rapids

All daylong

Riparian rhapsody

Chippewa’s song

D. DeGraaf