October 7

The midday weather is cool and misty with a light breeze as I begin my hike in Alma’s Conservation Park. Heading west along the shore of the Pine River impoundment, I can barely see a few Mallard ducks far out in the slow moving current. Continuing west, I spot a few blossoms of Blue-stemmed Goldenrod, a 5-inch diameter Amanita mushroom and some Coral fungi. The leaf litter displays signs of the season including some spiny caps of Bur Oak acorns from which the tree gets its name. After taking one last look at the river, I turn south and then east on pavement through a lush green corridor of mature hardwoods and conifers. Pausing near the Eyer Bird Hut, I notice a bristly Tussock Moth caterpillar crawling on a milkweed leaf. Nearby, I spot the blue berries of Virginia creeper which are not edible and those of Wild Grape which look alike and are edible. Turning south, I proceed into a native grassland landscape where a few Purple Coneflowers remain while Bergamot blossoms are gone and only seed heads remain. Along the way, I find Pokeweed whose berries are edible to birds but not humans. Before leaving this prairie plot, I pause to watch the breeze sway the tall warm season grasses. After passing one of the many ponds on the southern border of the park, I turn north and pause near the girl scout cabin where I observe a Bubble Bee nestled in one of the few remaining blossoms of Queen Anne’s Lace as well as a ½ inch Black Ichneumon Wasp resting on a seed head of grass. These tiny insects are endoparasitic. Adult females use their sharp ovipositors to insert eggs into a living host –usually a grub or caterpillar. Their eggs hatch and larvae devour the host from the inside, eventually killing it before emerging. Many of these wasps prey upon hosts that also happen to be crop pests, and likely provide an invaluable service to agriculture. Making my way back toward the car, I pause to watch Bubble Bees feeding on New England aster flowers while a Hoverfly feeds on White aster flowers. Finally, while getting in the car, my attention is drawn to one more sign of the season; the bright red fruit of Viburnum.

Aura of autumn

Before snows come

From sunny glades

Colors and shades

Of scarlet and gold

Trees, young and old

Where frost of fall 

Glazes it all

In crystalline white

During longer night

Nature’s aglow

October show

D. DeGraaf