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