September 16

Dawn is cool and misty as I begin my hike on the nature trail at Lumberjack Park. From the trailhead off Madison Rd., I head north and immediately notice some 3-inch Fly Agaric Mushrooms near the base of a maple tree. Down the steps and onto the boardwalk, I spot patches of Small Flower Asters near my feet and a curious young Whitetail buck staring at me from the dense understory. Following the trail east, I come across blossoms of Sky Blue Aster as well as a cluster of Jack-in-the-Pulpit berries. As a gust of wind passes through the leafy canopy, blossoms of Turtlehead and Snakeroot catch my eye. Snakeroot’s name derives from the erroneous belief among early settlers that the bitter rhizomes were beneficial in the treatment of snakebites. In fact, the foliage and rhizomes are highly toxic, causing fatalities from 'Milk Sickness' because the toxins can pass through the milk of dairy cattle to humans. Proceeding north on the bridge over Mud Creek, I spot a patch of Black-eyed Susan’s along the far bank as well as an Elephant Ear plant with its 12-inch long leaves. Turning west onto the White Pine Trail, I pass by a couple of tiny Puffball fungi and then stop to sample a few ripe berries from an Autumn Olive shrub. Taking a sharp left, I follow the Riverview Trail to a favorite overlook to see the channel of the Pine River, swollen with muddy water after a few days of rain as well as hear the repetitive, bird-like chirp of a distant chipmunk. Further along, I come upon a ¾ inch Banned Tussocks Moth Caterpillar crawling on one of the trail markers. Veering off the trail to the river’s edge, I notice blossom remnants of Joe-Pye-weed and Cardinal flowers along the bank as well as a couple of Water Striders skating near shore. Turning north through mature Pines, I spot some Orange Peel fungi on the trail. Retracing my steps back toward the car, I discover part of a Wild Turkey carcass with exposed skeletal bones indicating its part of the wing. Crossing Mud Creek again, I finally make it back to the car.

Mid of September
Summer bids goodbye
Monarchs leave the scene
Gone are geese that fly
Yellow drapes the meadow
Oaks let acorns fall
Fawns continue to grow
Crows continue to caw
Seasons ever changing
Maples showing red
Autumn comes soon
Nature cycles ahead 

D. DeGraaf