June 14

For my final encounter with the north branch of the Pine River, I’m standing on the edge of Jefferson Rd., west of Lumberjack Rd., looking north as water flows gently underneath. The early morning weather is sunny and humid with temperatures in the upper 60’s as I look around, noticing blooming Viburnum and Meadow-rue. Reed Canary grass and Brome grass are also in bloom. Along the far bank, barely visible at the water’s edge, are blossoms of Bittersweet Nightshade. Descending the roadbed into a densely-wooded, pathless flood plain, I spot a Common Grackle and a Baltimore Oriole perched close to the top of a dead ash tree. Nearby, I hear a Catbird and Redwing calling from the thick underbrush. At the river’s edge, I spend a few minutes observing a spider web, containing a 1-inch, Long-jawed Orb Weaver spider. Upon a closer look, I can see the long, jaw-like projections. called chelicerae,between its long front legs. This spider subdues its prey by holding it with its legs and injecting poison/digestive juices through fangs located at the tips of the chelicerae. Looking at the web itself, I see it doesn’t have as many radii, or "spokes," as those of true orb weavers like the Garden spider (stock photo). Just ahead, I notice an inch-long Dusky Slug crawling slowly on a Skunk Cabbage leaf as the morning sun reflects off the river surface. Trudging back to the road to explore the ditches, I come upon Wood Anemone mixed with Club Moss as well as Wild Asparagus.  On the other side, I find Curly Dock, Wild Carrot and Milkweed. Also, a ¼ inch Green Bottle fly, basking in the sun, catches my attention. This fly is important in forensic science. Since it’s one of the first dipteran to feed on a human corpse, the developmental stage of its larva is used to estimate the time of death or the minimum portion of the post-mortem interval (PMI). Also, this fly is important in wound treatment when conventional treatments fail to heal. Called maggot therapy, larvae are placed on a wound where they feed on the necrotic (dead) tissue and bacteria. This activity restores healthy tissue not only by larvae eating the dead tissue but also secreting antimicrobial enzymes. Finally, I bid farewell to this watercourse as it flows peacefully southward toward the main branch of the Pine, about a ¼ mile downstream. 

 

Spring bids farewell

Fledglings learn to fly

Posing in the sun

Garter snakes lie

Along the lush banks

More and more green

On floating logs

Turtles can be seen

Trees shade the sun

Above the river deep

Nature hits her stride

Promises to keep

 

D, DeGraaf