Weekly Wanderings: August 22

Monday, August 22, 2022

August 22

Under sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50’s, I begin my morning hike at the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s Millpond Nature Area. Recently established, this 17-acre preserve is located along the Chippewa River in the city of Mt. Pleasant, adjoining Chipp-A-Waters Park. The property was purchased with the assistance of a grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation. In addition to the purchase, the grant will fund five years of site restoration including the removal of invasive species and the reintroduction of native plants. With no trails to follow, I make my way along the riverbank where I spot a female Mallard floating downstream. On the muddy shore, I can barely make out a ½-inch American toadlet. What’s surprising about these toadlets is that they are so tiny compared to adult toads. For example, there is no such thing as mini-bullfrogs. Tadpoles of “true toads” metamorphose at a very small size, often all at once, and then disperse. Where tadpoles are plentiful, dozens or even hundreds of these tiny toadlets are seen hopping around. Nearby, I recognize tracks of raccoon and deer while just of shore, water striders are seen skating next to a partially submerged tree trunk. Turning inland, I come upon some Dryad saddle fungi growing on a decayed log. These fungi grow fresh edible caps first thing in spring and then again now as temperatures cool down. Hiking gingerly through a dense woodland of maple, cottonwood, boxelder and ash (both alive and dead), I spot a 1-inch perching Crane Fly and a scattering of Virginia Knotweed. Up ahead, a pile of deer scat (summer version) is seen. This softer, moist scat means the deer was hydrated compared to dry winter scat (stock photo) when drinking water is scare. Within one of several glades, I notice a few tall stems of Stinging Nettle displaying their hanging bead-like flowers. However, most of the area is blanketed with the shorter False Nettle displaying their dense tube-like flowers. Unlike, Stinging Nettle, False Nettle does not have prickly leaves emitting acid that when touched, causes skin irritation. Nearing the car, I notice some leaves of a cherry tree have tiny spindles growing on their surface. Called spindle galls, they do not seriously harm the tree; instead, they’re homes of tiny garden mites (stock photo). In the spring, these mites emerge from their hiding places under bark and bud scales to begin feeding on the newly opened leaves. Usually, the most serious effect is that infected leaves are tricked into encapsulating the mite, thus forming the very noticeable gall.