Monday, December 27, 2021

December 27

Under mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the upper 20’s, Riley and I begin an early morning hike on a snow-covered trail in the Forest Hill Nature Area, where I notice fresh deer and deer mouse tracks. Up ahead, I glance at the pinkish sunlit clouds above Mallard Marsh and overhead surrounding a gibbous moon. Passing through North Woods, I’m not surprised to see a leafless canopy and, given a recent windstorm, a large Ash tree that fell on the trail. Continuing through Succession Field, I spot more aged Goldenrod Bunch Galls than I’ve ever seen in all my years hiking here. Last summer, there must have been a lot more midge flies than usual to infect Goldenrod stems, forming the galls. Along the edge of South Woods, I glance at a row of White birch trees before scaring up an Eastern Cottontail rabbit that sprints out of sight. Following its tracks, I discover where it jumped about 6 ft. over the snow. These rabbits have been known to leap as far as 15 feet and run up to 18 mph. Approaching Willow Wallow, I can barely make out a female Goldfinch perched high on a leafless tree branch. Climbing to the top of Reflection Hill, I’m surrounded by patches of Little Bluestem grass that turn a lovely reddish color in the winter. Glancing eastward, I first spot a Crab apple tree where the only fruit remaining are above the reach of previously feeding deer and then ice-covered Grebe Pond. Following the trail south toward Brady Cemetery, I observe some fruit still hanging on including, Rose Hips and Wild Grape. Turning north into the Native Prairie, I immediately notice the familiar gait pattern of a coyote, called an overstep trot that leaves a line of straight and narrow tracks. This pattern means that the hind foot lands in the same spot as the front foot, creating an illusion that it was made by a two-legged creature which is a behavior practiced by coyotes to save energy and aid in survival. Domestic dogs don’t have to worry where their next meal comes from and don’t need to save energy, so they often walk sloppily with all four feet showing. Continuing north toward the car, I pause on the edge of Grebe Pond to watch recently installed flags flap in the breeze. Apparently these flags deter Geese from gathering to mess up the dock and shoreline with their scat.

 

No colored lights

On pines of green

No shiny tinsel

On spruce are seen

No carol music

Disturbs the peace

Only the wind

Call of the geese

No angels on high

No child is born

Nature awakes

Christmas morn

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, December 20, 2021

December 20

The mid-morning weather is sunny with temperatures in the upper 30’s and a gusty east wind as Riley and I hike north through a broadleaf woodland in Montcalm County’s Camp Cutler, looking for two unexplored lakes. Soon, I pause and face eastward to recognize the rising sun as it nears its winter solstice and the astronomical start of the winter season here in the northern hemisphere. Moving ahead, the ground reveals a cluster of aged puff ball mushrooms with their dark central pores and dried leaf litter consisting mostly of oak, maple and aspen. Evidence of recent wildlife activity include a tree trunk shredded by a Pileated Woodpecker and another rubbed by the antlers of a whitetail buck. Approaching the first lake, I'm disappointed that thick underbrush and thin ice prevents me from accessing the shoreline for a good view. Unfortunately, the same is true of the second lake. Turning around and heading back, I spot the hairy, rope-like vine of Poison Ivy clinging to a tree truck as well as a deer skull.  Nearby, I notice a small depression on the forest floor next to a 5-ft mound of dirt. This landform is the result of a large tree falling over while uplifting its huge root ball. Identified as pit and mound topography by many, loggers refer to them as “cradle knolls”. The story is that they would use these natural depressions, or cradles, to curl up in and take a nap out of the eyesight of their bosses. Instead of heading back to the car, we turn east and make our way to the scout campground where I pause on a bridge to watch water from the North Branch of the Pine River flow southeast toward its confluence with the main branch, some 1.5 miles downstream. Observing a flagpole nearby gets me thinking again about the winter solstice with the sun being at its lowest altitude (about 11 degrees) and the casting shadows being the longest. It also gets me thinking about a math lesson on how to calculate the length of a shadow. First, I estimate the flagpole to be 20 ft high. Then, I imagine a right-triangle with the flagpole as the perpendicular side, the sun beam as another side (hypotenuse) that strike the ground at an angle of 11 degrees and the base side as the length of its shadow. (stock photo). So, dividing 20 ft by the tangent of 11 degrees (.194) gives a shadow length of about 103 ft. Since, I don’t have a tape measure, I pace along the shadow from the flagpole to confirm the results. Heading back to the car, Riley and I follow our lengthy shadows.

 

Earth slumbers

Noon draws nigh

Sun of the season

Low in the sky

Deep in December

First winter days

Sun of the season

Cooler your rays

Wildlife in waiting

Nature’s content

Sun of the season

Begin your ascent

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, December 13, 2021

December 13

The noontime weather is mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 20’s and a gentle west wind as Riley and I begin our hike at the 14-acre, Stearns Preserve in the village of Riverdale. With an inch of overnight snow covering the landscape, we head east on the Meijer bike trail that transects the preserve. Officially called the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail (stock photo), this 42-mile paved pathway stretches between Alma and Greenville passing through farmlands, forests and a half-dozen rural towns. From the bridge, I gaze south as the sun glistens off the flowing Pine River. Within the last few years, after the state declared this section of the river highly polluted with human-based E coli, a dedicated group of Riverdale citizens successfully updated septic tanks and drain fields to clean up the water. Continuing along the snowy trail, I spot tracks of the small American Red Squirrel (stock photo). Unlike other squirrels that store their winter food caches in multiple locations, this one creates a central stash called a midden (stock photo) which it defends with its life. Over the course of the fall, it ascends conifers and cuts green cones from treetops. After dropping them to the ground, they are collected and carried them off to the midden. With Riley leading the way, I notice his tracks and reflect on how they differ from a coyote that often hunts in this area. While dog prints are often staggered and wander all over, coyotes typically run or walk in a straight line, with each paw print almost directly in front of the next (stock photo). Regarding individual footprints, dog toe pads are bigger with less space between them while the coyote have a lot of space between the individual toes, and between the toes and the pad (stock photo). Turning around, we pass through a corridor of leaning Box Elder trees where I spot a feeding Hairy Woodpecker. Approaching the trailhead, I pause by a dense colony of horsetail. These tough evergreen stems were used to scour pots, pans, and floors during pioneer days, hence the common name, Scouring Rush. These plants are closely related to ferns and both were common during the Carboniferous period (280-345 million years ago), when tree-sized horsetails and ferns occurred. Present day coal deposits were formed in large part from the ancestral plants of today's horsetails and ferns.

 

On the edge of autumn

Snow clouds of gray

Who will survive?

Predator or prey

Hungry raptor

Scans the field below

Perhaps a bird or mouse

Waiting for one to show

Sudden swoop 

From a leafless tree

Missed the mark

One goes free

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, December 6, 2021

December 6

Riley and I are hiking in Lumberjack Park where 4 inches of overnight snow transformed the stark landscape into a winter wonderland. Under mostly cloudy skies and mid-morning temperatures in the low 30’s, I plod north on a boardwalk over a frozen wetland.  Pausing on the bridge over Mud Creek, I look downstream as the slow-moving water makes its way to the Pine River. Along the shore, a patch of green catches my eyes. From here, it looks like some invasive water lettuce. Across the bridge, we follow the snow-covered trail where I spot some dead leaves still attached to trees including, American Beech and Red Oak. Not surprisingly, some Red Oak leaves are easily seen scattered on the ground. Arriving at the edge of the Pine River, I can barely see the river flowing right to left. This upper third of the river is wooded and fed by drainage from springs, lakes, and wetlands. While the bottom is sandy, the water is clear (well-filtered) and cool.  This section supports a small population of brown trout—an indicator of a good water quality. Working our way along the steep bank. we follow fresh deer tracks and pause at a favorite overlook. Nearby, I notice some green leaves including, Autumn Olive, American Bittersweet and an unknown fern. After crossing the Lumberjack Rd, bridge, I head east and pause to listen as the river passes over some rocks. Following the Campground Trail, I locate fresh squirrel tracks as well a disturbance of the ground where a squirrel was digging up of its cache of seeds and nuts. Squirrels are "scatter hoarders," which means pretty much what it sounds like — they hoard their food and scatter it in locations where they can easily access it. It was long believed that squirrels simply relied on their sense of smell to find their food. But while smell comes into it, research suggests that memory plays a much more crucial role. Squirrels' spatial memory helps them map out the territory around them to find their food. Under certain conditions — like when their nuts are buried under snow — a sense of smell won’t always be effective in finding them. So, it makes sense that squirrels could be relying on other cues. Occasionally, they pretend to bury nuts when other squirrels are watching — and then scurry off to a secret location to hide them. Squirrels selectively move more valuable seeds/nuts to sites in the open where predation risks are higher but pilferage risks [from other squirrels] are lower.

Early December

Mostly leafless trees

Nature at attention

Mother Earth at ease

Beside a frozen pond

No frogs with spotted skin

Atop the snowy grass

No spider webs to spin

Squirrels of woodlands

Prepare for winter’s blast

Storing their food

Autumn breathes her last

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, November 29, 2021

November 29

The early morning is sunny with frigid temperatures in the low 20’s, as I begin hiking along the banks of the Pine River in Alma’s Conservation Park on my annual quest to find what vegetation still retains the green pigment of chlorophyll. Heading west on a paved path, I spot a small willow tree and a Honeysuckle shrub with some green leaves. Turning into a dense woodland of broadleaf trees, I notice all the chlorophyll is absent from the leaf litter. Present in all green plants, chlorophyll’s job is to convert sunlight into nutrients and oxygen in a process called photosynthesis. Because food webs in every type of ecosystem, from terrestrial to marine, begin with green plants, chlorophyll is considered a foundation for all life on Earth. Continuing west, I pass through a patch of evergreen Horsetail before pausing at the edge of the Pine River to see some floating duckweed that is still green. Away from the river, I follow a road lined with large evergreen trees including Norway Spruce and White Pine. Up ahead, I look more closely at some green needles of White Pine. These evergreens have very strong leaves that are rolled up as long, thin needles. This special needle shape, along with a waxy coating, allows evergreen trees to conserve water during summer and winter, which is needed to continue the photosynthesis process. So because they can conserve more water than their deciduous counterparts, their leaves stay green and remain attached longer. However, I do notice dead White pine needles fell and scattered on the road. Nearby, I come upon a grass-like sedge plant that still has green leaves. Just ahead, I first enter the Eyer bird hut to check out the feeders and then proceed to the Eyer Learning Circle. Continuing east, I follow an earthen trail into a dense woodland where I spot some recently fallen green Mulberry leaves along with lots of green moss, including some growing at the base of trees. The idea that moss only grows on the north side of a tree is a little misleading. Moss grows anywhere where the ground is moist and shady. Along the ground, I see frost-covered Motherwort and Plantain leaves that remain green. Other green vegetation that catches my eye include ferns and wild ginger. Heading back toward the car, I pause to see other vegetation with chlorophyll including: wild carrot, some fescue, blue and rye grasses, thistle as well as wild raspberry.

 

Peaceful forest

Whitetail of fall

Graceful creature

Stealth, above all

Blind is warm

Coffee’s hot

Pile of bait

Covers the plot

Powerful scope

Powerful gun

Ready to shoot

Run, deer, run!

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, November 22, 2021

November 22

Under mostly sunny skies and mid-autumn, noontime temperatures in the upper 30’s, Riley, Caroline and I begin our hike in Mt. Pleasant’s 90-acre Millpond Park. Heading south, we walk beside a large pond where I spot a mating pair of Mallards swimming near shore and a gaggle of Canada Geese swimming out in the middle. Nearby, I notice some floating leaves of water lilies have changed color. Turning east, we make our way through a dense grove of Boxelder trees with their divided trunks and crooked limbs spreading in all directions. Along the path, I spots some green leaves of Motherwort, an herb in the mint family that was used medicinally by the early Greeks, who gave it to pregnant women suffering from anxiety, which is how the herb reportedly got its name. Native to central Eurasia, this plant has now spread to North America as an invasive weed. In herbal medicine, its leaves and flowers (stock photo) contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds as well as leonurine, a compound for treating heart palpitations. Soon, I’m face-to-face with a large, decaying trunk of an Ash tree displaying serpentine grooves made by larvae of the infamous Emerald Ash Borer, the killer of millions of these trees across North America. Arriving at the Chippewa River, I turn north and follow the slow flowing water downstream while passing a few lingering patches of snow from an earlier accumulation. Following the river, as it meanders through the park, I pause and watch it surge through a partial dam and over large rocks. Crossing a bridge, we turn around and head back on a paved path where I spot a patch of Periwinkle in the leaf litter. This evergreen groundcover is a common invader throughout most of the United States. Native to Europe, it was commonly known in folklore as the “flower of death” because its vines were woven into headbands worn by dead children or criminals on their way to execution. Up ahead, colorful berries of American Bittersweet catch my eye. This fruit is toxic to us mammals but highly sought after by birds. Despite their toxicity, humans nonetheless covet these fruits. Entire vines are cut down and used in fall flower arrangements. Continuing back to the car, I notice dried, dead leaves still hanging on branches of a Blue Beech tree as well as colorful Sugar Maple leaves displaying a fungus called Tar Spot. 

Season to hunt

Season to kill

Seeking quarry

Seeking a thrill

Lethal weapon

Bullets release

Finding their mark

Ending the peace

Preserving life

Is not the plan

Trophy buck

Pleasure of man

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, November 15, 2021

November 15

Under mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 40’s, Caroline, Riley and I are hiking in Isabella County’s 590-acre, Deerfield Park. Right away, I spot lots of wispy seeds of a Clematis vine, referred to as “Old Man’s Beard.” A few months ago, this plant displayed fragrant white blossoms (stock photo). Also called Virgin's Bower, it is believed Clematis blossoms grew in abundance within the castle occupied by the virgin queen of England, Elizabeth I during the 1500’s. Just ahead in a clearing, I come upon a rosette of Common Mullein with felt-like leaves as well as a dying stalk of another Common Mullein that was topped with a cluster of yellow flowers only a few months ago (stock photo). The rosette represents the first-year growth of this plant while the flower stalk is produced in the second year. Nearby, I spot a dried-up rosette gall on a willow sapling. The process begins when a tiny female midge (stock photo) lays an egg on a shoot tip. Elongation of the shoot is suppressed but leaves continue to develop and become crowded together, forming the rosette. A midge larva develops inside the rosette, feeding on the leaves. Presently, inside this dried-up gall, the larva has pupated and will overwinter there. Next spring an adult fly will emerge in time to lay eggs and start the process anew. Continuing to the Lewis Pontiac Bridge, I look and listen as over-flow water from a small, man-made lake to the north surges into the main branch of the Chippewa river. This brings back memories of a similar scene last winter. While crossing the bridge, I look westward as the river flows under me. On the far side, I pause to take in the lovely autumn patterns on American Beech leaves. Proceeding along the south bank, I glance skyward to see that oak leaves still linger in the broadleaf canopy while at my feet, the fading leaf litter contains mostly Cottonwood and Aspen with a smattering of Oak. Following the Wildwood Pathway, I recross the river on the suspension bridge which reminds me of a similar crossing last summer. Heading east, we explored the edge of a bayou where Riley takes a dip.  Approaching the car, I pause one last time to examine the trunk of a huge Maple tree where I notice a mixture of Whitewash Lichens and moss. 

 

Not too far from the hunter’s gun

Run, river run

Your journey’s not over, only half done

Run, river run

By light of the moon, light of the sun

Run, river run

Ice floes have not yet begun

Run, river run

Keeping you clean is priority one

Run, Chippewa run

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, November 8, 2021

November 8

It’s a clear, cold morning as Caroline and I, along with our dog Riley, begin our fall color-tour hike at Mt Pleasant’s 145-acre, Meridian Park. First, we pause on a bank to watch the water of the Chippewa River flow quickly (370 cu. ft./sec) downstream toward the city of Mt. Pleasant, some 4 miles to the northeast. Along the shore, I notice some red fruit including, Multiflora Rose hips and Bittersweet Nightshade. Although not as poisonous as Deadly Nightshade berries, livestock, pets and children can get sick eating the Bittersweet ones. Nearby, my attention is drawn to a large boulder that makes me think about its likely complex geological history. Formed deep within the earth’s crust, this rock first hardened, then cracked due to great subterranean pressure. Next, under extremely high temperatures, molten silica seeped into the cracks and hardened, forming quartz veins. Once on the surface, exposed to water and wind, it began to weather and erode. Since quartz is more resistant than other minerals to such processes, these veins are easily seen protruding from the rock face. Back on the trail, I focus on the leaf litter where I spot Chincapin Oak, Burr Oak and Red Maple, fringed with frost. Next to the trail are trees of Sugar Maple and American Beech with their colorful leaves still attached. Overhead, against an azure blue sky, leaves of Aspen and Cottonwood sway with a gentle north wind. Suddenly, I see a Red-bellied Woodpecker fly up and perch in a leafless tree. This bird is often mistakenly called a Red-headed Woodpecker, a somewhat rarer species that's mostly black on the back with big white wing patches (stock photo). To add to the confusion, the red on its belly is not often visible in the field. Not truly migratory, these birds both breed and winter throughout their range (stock photo). Moving northeast along a high bank, I look down at a still body of water that was once part of the river channel. Years ago, as the meandering river repeatedly flooded, it cut off an arch-shaped section that formed what is referred to as an Oxbow Lake (stock photo). Further ahead, I notice another body of water that soon will form another Oxbow Lake (stock photo). Turning around and heading back, we take in a beautiful array of colorful trees illuminated by the morning sun. 

 

Leaves of red and rust

Glazed with frost of dawn

Litter the earthen trail

Leaves of gold and yellow

Quake in the gentle breeze

Against a sky of azure blue

Leaves of orange and brown

Reflecting morning beams

Float softly into view 

In this gallery of autumn 

The artist shows her stuff

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, November 1, 2021

November 1

While Caroline has business to take care of in the nearby town of Chelsea, Riley and I are hiking a trail in the Waterloo State Recreation Area. This 20,000-acre preserve is the largest state park in the Lower Peninsula, home to 11 inland lakes and miles of marked trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. For visitors with mobility challenges, off-road, electronic chairs are available (stock photo). Under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50’s, we make are way on an earthen path through a dense woodland while listening to the call of a Blue Jay. Soon, I start to notice several Sassafras trees with leaves beginning to change colors. This tree is native to North America and was used by the Native Americans for various medicinal cures and cooking spices. Also, the roots and barks were commonly used for making root beer and tea until it was discovered they contain high concentrations of a carcinogenic chemical call, Safrole. Now days, the FDA prohibits the use of sassafras in food additives. Current brands of root beer use synthetic flavoring in place of sassafras. In addition, a form of Safrole referred to as Chinese sassafras oil was declared illegal because of its use in the manufacture of the illicit drug, MDMA, also known as ecstasy. Further down the trail, I spot some fungi including: Honey Mushrooms and Red Jelly spot. Colorful fruit that catch my eye include, red Japanese Barberry and blue Maple leaf Viburnum. The Viburnum fruit was bright red only a few weeks ago before ripening. Each berry-like fruit, called a drupe contains a single seed enclosed by a stony casing or pit, like a peach.  For many birds and other animals, these drupes are a welcome food source. Viburnum shrubs like many others have evolved to produce such fruits to enlist animals as partners in dispersing their seeds. The animal consumes the fruit, passing the seed through its digestive system and depositing the seed accompanied by other nutrients.  White-throated Sparrows, Cardinals as well as chipmunks and squirrels are among those who consume the fruit and disperse the seeds. Pausing near the lakeshore, I listen to the raucous call of Sandhill Cranes taking off. With a wingspan of six feet, this species is not only the largest bird in Michigan, but it still holds the title for the oldest living bird species. This pair is likely heading south for the winter, although some do overwinter if they can find adequate food and small areas of open water for roosting at night.

 

Hiking neath naked trees

Just a few clinging leaves

Some fall without a sound

Most blanket barren ground

A quilt of many colors

Yellow, red and others

Bare branches make debut

Morning sun in autumn view

Onset of November 

A day to remember

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, October 25, 2021

October 25

The early morning is sunny and brisk as Riley and I hike southeast through Midland County’s Jasper Township Cemetery and arrive on the bank of the Pine River where color changes in the fall foliage are starting to show. Nearby, I notice Sugar Maple leaves turning color. Continuing downstream, I pause to look and listen to a steady stream of inflow draining into the river from cropland above the steep bank. My first thought is about the quality of this water. Is it merely clean runoff or is it tainted with chemical pollutants applied earlier this summer by the farmer? Moving away from the water, I listen to the familiar call of a male Redwing Blackbird, a sound more commonly heard in early spring in cattail marshes as these birds arrive from their wintering grounds to establish nesting territories. Since the adults and fledglings that nested locally have long since headed south, I suspect this one nested far to the north and is making its way south as well. Continuing to explore the flood plain, I spot some fresh Racoon scat containing lots of undigested fruit as well as old, bleached-out Broad-banded Forest Snail shell. From an aerial map, one can see that the landscape we are exploring is the inside loop of a highly meandering section of the Pine River (stock photo) that could likely develop into an oxbow lake in the future (stock photo). Returning to the riverbank, I pause again to listen to a singing Robin while watching the water flow around the bend. From here it continues northeast for 15 miles toward Midland where it converges with the Chippewa River at the Chippewa Nature Center. On our way back to the car, we plod through a meadow displaying lots of dried Milkweed pods bursting open to expose seeds with their silky white fibers, called floss. During World War II, after losing access to kapok, a seed fiber from the Philippines that was used for life jackets, the United States found the water repellent properties of milkweed floss were an effective substitute. To process the fiber, the Milkweed Floss Corporation of America was established in Petoskey, Michigan, in 1942 (stock photo). The need for milkweed was great, and because it was not a farmed crop, ordinary citizens and schoolchildren answered the call for picking ripe pods by scouring country roadsides and railroad tracks for the plant. Although the Milkweed Corporation closed after the war, enough seed floss was collected and processed to fill about 1.2 million life preservers.

 

An autumn story, riverflow

Your waters speak, fast or slow

Much you’ve gathered, riverflow

Much you carry, much you show

Leaves of color floating by

Mirrored surface reflecting sky

Muskrats swim beside the shore

Collecting greens for winter store

Beyond the bend, away you go

Force of nature, riverflow

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, October 18, 2021

October 18

Riley and I are hiking along the edge of the Little Salt River (Salt Creek) in Isabella County’s village of Shepherd. Under overcast skies, the morning air is calm with mild temperatures as I look around to notice several, tall Northern Catalpa trees with their very large, heart-shaped leaves, marked with many small holes. Most likely these holes are made by larvae of the Sphinx Moth (stock photo) feeding on them, which is their only food source. This tree is sometimes called the Indian bean tree for its production of a distinctive fruit that resembles a long, thin bean pod that can grow up to two feet in length. Climbing down to explore the flood plain, I spot a variety of broadleaves changing color including: Virginia Creeper, Poison Ivy, Raspberry and American Elm. In addition, a variety of fruit catch my attention, including: Wild Grape, Viburnum and Multiflora Rose. At the river’s edge, I pause to observe the rapidly flowing water head northeasterly on its 15-mile journey where it will converge with the Chippewa River in Midland County. Given the unusually warm and rainy weather recently, I’m not surprised to observe fresh mushrooms, including: non-edible, White Cheese Polypore and non-edible, Cinnabar Polypore. Plodding our way through a pathless landscape, I come upon two types of Goldenrod galls, a nut gall and a bunch gall. Overhead, I notice a perching White-throated Sparrow. Most of this species migrate from here to spend the winter in the eastern United States, ranging from New England to way down in Florida. Nearby, I spot a perching Yellow-rump Warbler, another bird that will soon be heading south for the winter. On our way back to the car, I locate a patch of Wild Carrot plants with their seed heads tightly folded up. Sometimes these tiny “nests” provide food and shelter for larva such as the Carrot Seed Moth caterpillar (stock photo). Lastly, I bend down to open a walnut husk, lying on the ground, to see larvae of the Walnut Husk Fly feeding on the fleshy layer. These maggots will soon crawl into the soil and overwinter as pupae. Adult flies (stock photo) will start to emerge early next summer and continue through October. Finally, female flies will lay eggs under the skin of walnuts that will hatch into larvae as the cycle repeats.

 

Maples take their places

Nature sets the stage

Forest curtain opens

Autumn comes of age

Colorful leaves illuminated

By early morning sun

Blanket a barren ground

End of scene one

Canopy has thinned

Revealing sky of blue

Geese in V formation

End of scene two


D. DeGraaf

 

Monday, October 11, 2021

October 11

On a mostly cloudy morning with temperatures in the low 60’s, Riley and I are following a dirt road north through a very rural, flat, wooded section of Isabella County where broadleaf trees are starting to lose their chlorophyll. Referred to by locals as the “End of the World” trail, this narrow lane appears to be a place for high schoolers to party and off-roaders to explore.  My first sighting is a “black” squirrel scampering up a tree trunk. Despite its appearance, this is an Eastern Gray squirrel in disguise. The color variation is the result of a genetic mutation that causes excessive pigmentation. This phenomenon is called "melanistic," which refers to melanin, a chemical of pigmentation. Further along, I look overhead to see leaves of Red Oak turning colors and look down where newly-fallen Aspen and Maple leaves add a colorful layer to the drab leaf litter. Continuing north, I come upon a patch of fresh, very edible Oyster mushrooms and a female Winterberry shrub displaying bright red berries. Since this species is dioecious, to get berries on a female plant, a separate male plant must be near for pollination. The berries remain for several weeks through fall and winter, as birds tend not to be interested in them until they ripen. Though an important food source for wildlife, the berries are poisonous to pets and people. Nearby, the dainty blossoms of a Witch Hazel tree catch my attention. These late-blooming flowers are fragrant and add color to the increasing stark woodland.  After walking about a half mile on this wet dirt road through prime deer habitat, I’m both surprised and puzzled not to see a single track. Turning around, we hike south on a parallel earthen trail covered with Wintergreen plants bearing fruit. These berries are a favorite breath mint and trailside snack. One of the few fruits that is at its sweetest and freshest on a cold winter or early spring day, frozen Wintergreen berries offer the texture of sorbet and a classic wintergreen flavor. Just before reaching the car, I spot a 4-inch Amanita mushroom. Also known as "fly agaric", it can attract and kill flies. Also, it appears to be attractive and lethal to dogs and cats, as well. To humans, this mushroom is not poisonous per se, but rather hallucinogenic.  When eaten, one can become intoxicated or get sick and vomit.

 

An aura of autumn

Before snows come

From sunny glades

Colors and shades

Of scarlet and gold

Trees, young and old

Where frost of fall 

Envelops it all

In crystalline white

During longer night

Mother Nature’s show

Her October glow

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, October 4, 2021

October 4

Riley and I are in a section of the Edmore State Games Area, off S. County Line Rd., 5 miles north of Vestaburg. The early morning weather is sunny and chilly as we make our way to the edge of the Pine River where I pause to watch the gentile current as a reflection from the rising sun appears mid-stream as a flickering flame. Looking around, I notice raccoon tracks on the muddy shore and a signpost indicating an underwater natural gas pipeline across the river channel that raises the question of how a methane leak would impact the surrounding wildlife. Exploring the flood plain, I spot a variety of fresh, fall fungi, starting with Turkey Tail mushrooms. This easy-to-identify mushroom is edible but rather chewy, which is why it's mostly served as a tea or powder in capsule form. Nearby, I come upon Crown-Tipped Coral mushrooms. These can be eaten raw but are most often cooked as they can cause an upset stomach. Further ahead, I see some Orange Peel mushrooms. Contrary to what some “experts” tell us, these are not poisonous and are, in fact, edible, although they really have no taste. On a decaying stump close by, I observe tiny Maramaius mushrooms. Classified as edible, but not desirable, these mushrooms are too small and have little taste. Next, I notice some Red Jelly-spot fungi growing in the crevice of a decomposing log. Even though this “jelly” can be eaten raw, the texture is unpalatable and the taste is like soil. Then, my attention is drawn to some small, pea-size blobs growing on another rotting log. Not classified as fungi, this is a slime mold nicknamed “pink toothpaste slime” because when the blobs are punctured, a pink slime resembling toothpaste squirts out. If accidentally eaten, the slime is non-toxic. Turning around, we start working our way back to the car where I spot red berries of False Solomon Seals. This fruit is quite edible by wildlife, as are the leaves, but not so much for humans. The berries taste bitter. However, they do make good jam or jelly, but need to be cooked well with plenty of sugar added. On the other hand, true Solomon’s Seals berries (stock photo) are poisonous.  Further along the trail, I come upon a Beech Drop plant. These plants are root parasites that lack chlorophyll and possess only small, flat scales in place of leaves so they have no way to photosynthesize. It’s dependence on Beech trees is the only way this little plant can survive. It’s equipped with small root-like structures that insert into the Beech root, thus drawing out just enough nutrition to sustain itself and not harm the tree.

 

Early October

Summer falls asleep

Lady Autumn awakens

In the forest deep

Quaking Aspen leaves

Litter the shady ground

Most are pale yellow

A few, spotted brown

Beside a peaceful glade

Ferns give up their green

Nature’s handiwork

So much for me to glean

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, September 27, 2021

September 27


With temperatures in the low 70’s, a steady south wind and overcast skies, Riley and I begin an early morning hike in Hamilton Township Cemetery, along the bank of the Bad River near the eastern edge of Gratiot County, where I first notice blossoms of Butter-and-Eggs (Toadflax)and Bluestem Goldenrod. Nearby, the bright red berries of Lily-of-the-valley catch my eye. All parts of this plant are poisonous, including the berries. If ingested, they can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and irregular heartbeats. As the wind picks up, I look down and spot a patch of Sky-blue Aster blossoms and then look up and spot a few husks of a Pignut Hickory tree. Descending the bank to the water’s edge, I’m greeted by a swarm of mosquitoes while watching the river flow ever so slow, carrying newly-fallen leaves. The Bad River starts 10 miles west of here near Ithaca, flowing northeasterly past this point. It then turns easterly for another 34 miles past the village of St Charles in Saginaw County, before emptying into the Shiawassee River within the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, southwest of Saginaw. Making my way downstream, I explore a flood plain where I notice the mottled bark on the trunk of a large Sycamore Maple tree as well as what appears to be a Green-Spored Parasol mushroom. These fungi are the cause of most mushroom poisonings in the United States. They look good, smell good and even taste good. However, only a little bit can make an adult violently ill. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and severe stomach pain that can last for more than 24 hours. Further downstream, I’m not surprised to see ubiquitous Japanese Beetles feeding on Smartweed flowers as well as Stinging Nettle leaves. Also, I come upon Poison Ivy displaying berries. Despite human’s phobia to poison ivy, its berries are a great food source for a host of wildlife. Mammals that dine on them include white-tailed deer, black bears and muskrats. Birds are especially fond of them. The waxy, white fruit is loaded with vitamins and other nutrients.  Working our way back to the car, I pause, face east and glance at an overcast sky about 20 degrees above the horizon where the sun should be at this time on today’s date which is the autumnal equinox. I pause to honor the astronomical change of seasons as the sun is positioned on the celestial equator, halfway between the summer and winter solstices (stock photo). Also, if shadows were evident today, their length would be halfway between the shortest at the summer solstice and the longest at the upcoming winter solstice (stock photo)

 

Sun of the seasons, sun of the sky

Today, we honor your place on high

Your light and heat in summer hours

Brought bountiful fruit and flowers

This is the month, this is the date

Your equinox we celebrate

Autumn is here, the time is right

Equate the length of day and night

Remind us of stability to find

Healthy balance of body and mind

 

D. DeGraaf

 

Monday, September 20, 2021

September 20


It’s early morning as my dog, Riley and I hike on a 2-track in the Maple River State Game Area, taking in the sights while listening to the sounds of crickets and Kildeers. With temperatures in the upper 60’s and a steady southwesterly breeze, we are in a section of the state game area off Croswell Rd., 10 miles south of Ithaca. At 10,000 acres, this preserve is mid-Michigan’s largest contiguous wetland complex consisting of floodplains, lowlands, and marshes along the Maple River through Clinton, Gratiot and Ionia Counties. As expected, this place is ideal fishing grounds for a variety of birds, especially raptors. Despite poor lighting, I am able to get a faint photograph of a perching Bald Eagle and Osprey. Like Bald Eagles, Ospreys were seriously endangered by effects of pesticides in mid-20th century. Since DDT and related pesticides were banned in 1972, they have made a good comeback in many parts of North America include here in mid-Michigan. Another species that is seen in abundance, fishing these waters, are Great Blue Herons, including one wading and one flying in and landing nearby. Further ahead, I spot colorful blossoms of Pennsylvania Smartweed mixed with not-as-colorful blossoms of Pale Smartweed. Other blossoms that catch my eye include, Nodding Bur Marigold and Wild Cucumber. Out on the water, I notice a Muskrat lodge as well as one of several acrobatic swallows catching insects. Along the water’s edge, I observe a clump of Arrow weed and a Button Bush with its spiny, round seed pods. Overhead, I catch a glimpse of a perching Palm Warbler. This migratory bird is likely traveling from its summer breeding grounds in the boreal forests of the far north to its wintering grounds in the southeastern US, especially Florida. Many birds were misnamed by early ornithologists and this is one. Except for the fact that it winters in warm climates, the palm warbler really has nothing at all to do with palm trees. Turning around to retrace our steps, it’s obvious that the water in this section of the marsh is covered with a dense layer of Duckweed. As the name implies, Duckweed is eaten by ducks as well as other aquatic organisms. It behaves much like a weed, multiplying rapidly, especially on water rich with nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate. It is used as shelter by pond-water species such as frogs and fish. It also provides shade to reduce the light-generated growth of certain undesirable algae. Since duckweed has more protein than soybeans, it is harvested as traditional food source by people living in parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Laos.

 

Swan song of summer

Nature has her way

Swallows are swarming

Wish they could stay

Queen Anne’s Lace

Fold up their flowers

Meadow shines golden

Through daylight hours

Fungi are frequent

Berries abound

Frogs of the marsh

Surrender their sound


D. DeGraaf 

Monday, September 13, 2021

September 13

The mid-morning weather is nice as our dog Riley along with Caroline and our daughter, Allison join me for a hike in Mt. Pleasant’s Chip-A-Waters Park. After pausing to watch the morning sun illuminate the gently flowing Chippewa River, I notice the ripe fruit of Wild Grape, a fruitless Elderberry Bush and the wispy seed heads of Clematis. The riverbank of late summer shows off lots of yellow blossoms including: Coneflower, Goldenrod and Wild Mustard. Continuing west on a paved path, other late summer displays include: red hips of Multiflora Rose and sticky seed heads of Burdock. Pausing again at the river’s edge, I observe a large clump of Elodea sway with the current. Also called waterweed, this is one of the few aquatic plants that remains green all winter long providing excellent cover for aquatic insects and fish. It’s often used in home aquariums where its fast growth and high oxygen production contribute to a healthy freshwater habitat. Up ahead, I am not surprised that blossoms of Queen Anne’s lace have folded into their cup-like shape. However, looking groundward, I am surprised that a few tiny Wild Strawberries are growing this late in the season.  Following the path northward, I come to the edge of a large pond that is a remnant of a large oxbow lake. This lake started out as a curve, or meander in the Chippewa River that formed as the river found a different, shorter, course (stock photo). Next, I stop on the bridge to Veit’s Woods to watch the river flow slowly and quietly under me. According to the USGS measuring station nearby, the water depth is only 3.3 ft. and the flow rate is only 180 cubic feet/second. On my way back to the car, I explore a sandy flood plain where tracks of Racoon and Blue Heron are sighted as well as 2 Cabbage White butterflies perching on Cocklebur leaves. Blossoms that catch my eye include: Purple Loosestrife, Smartweed and Morning Glory. Hopping and flying along the sandy beach are dozens of ½-inch Big Sand Tiger Beetles. These beetles are predators in both the adult and larval stages. Adults are active during the day hunting small arthropods. Larvae (stock photo) reside in a vertical tunnel with a small pit-like opening at its mouth. They are active during the day and night and ambush ants and other small arthropods that fall into their tunnel. While the Big Sand tiger beetle is a fierce predator, it is far from being at the top of the food chain. Robber flies, amphibians and birds all prey on them.

 

Waning days of summer

Nature’s colors revealed

Purple aster flowers

Adorn the golden field

Oaks of the forest edge

Beeches in between

Still hold their leaves

Still show their green

Rose hips of red

Berries of blue and white

Maples, hint of orange

New season in sight

 

D. DeGraaf

Monday, September 6, 2021

September 6


This morning, Caroline, Riley and I are on the northwestern part of Beaver Island, hiking a trail over hilly terrain of secondary dunes between Lake Michigan and Font Lake, one of seven inland lakes on the island. The weather is sunny with temperatures in the low 70’s and a refreshing westerly breeze as we make our way through a dense forest of mostly American Beech, Sugar Maple and Red Oak. Occasionally, I spot leaves of Striped Maple, a tree not seen down state where we live. Just ahead, a few leaves of Red Maple have turned red and fallen on the trail, providing a early clue to the major color changes in deciduous foliage yet to come. Further ahead, I notice 2 types of club mosses growing next to each other, Prickly Tree and Bristly while nearby a third one appears, Running Pine. Continuing toward the lake as the morning sun rises, I come upon some mushrooms including: 3-inch Funnel Cap, 1-inch Scurfy Twiglet and ¼-inch Mycenae. Sighting leaves of Wintergreen, I pick a few, crush them between my fingers and enjoy their sweet aroma.  Soon we pass through a patch of Bracken Ferns and under White Pine trees that have colored the trail with their fallen dead needles. Finally, we come to the edge of 382-acre, Font Lake. Like the other lakes on the island, this is breeding preserve for the Common Loon. Exploring the shoreline, I come upon blossoms of Beggar-ticks, patches of Common Rush and piles of empty Mussel shells. After one last look at Font Lake, I begin to head back where I spot an old Beaver stump. After 20 years of summer vacations on Beaver Island, I’ve observed many beaver stumps, many beaver lodges and many beaver dams, but never a live beaver. Continuing to retrace my steps, I notice patches of Reindeer Moss and Pincushion Moss. Near the trailhead, I spot a 1-inch Robber Fly and a 2-inch, recently emerged Hemlock Looper Moth. This moth is a native North American geometrid whose larvae can defoliate hemlock, balsam fir and white spruce trees. After being laid on bark or associated moss and lichens, the eggs overwinter. In late spring, larvae (inchworms, stock photo) emerge and feed initially on new foliage but soon switch over to old foliage. Damaged needles dry out, turn reddish-brown, and later die. High populations of the larvae can remove nearly all the needles and kill the tree (stock photo). By late July, in areas with heavy infestations, the trees will be covered with silken strands that the larvae spin and use as ropes when they drop from the branches.

 

I welcome these island days

When whitetails stop to graze

I welcome rods of gold

As summer loses its hold

I welcome surf and sand

Where lake meets the land

I welcome calls of loons

That echo across the dunes

I welcome the setting sun

After a lazy dusk is done

 

D. DeGraaf