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

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

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

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

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