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