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

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

 

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

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