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