November 21

Before starting a hike at Alma’s Conservation Park, I’m checking out my newly-started butterfly garden next to the bathroom building. Under overcast skies and temperatures in the lower 30’s, I head south when a gust of wind shakes the dead oak leaves still clinging to the tree above me. Further along, I pass through a grove of Red Pine trees where their slightly reddish trunks are noticeable and the leaf litter reveals lots of their dead needles. Moving west under the powerlines through the native grassland, I notice a few blue berries remain on some dead Pokeweed plants. As the trail veers north, I come upon a vine of the invasive, Oriental Bittersweet with its colorful red berries, some of which still display their orange seed capsules. This Asian native was imported in the 1860’s as an ornamental landscape plant but has long since escaped into the wild. The vines grow vigorously and tend to suffocate native plants from growing by preventing exposure to sunlight and other resources in the landscape. It’s not surprising that florists like to add these vines to wreaths and other autumn decorations. While the berries are toxic to humans and pets, they are a winter food source for birds like Robins, Grouse and Starlings. Birds are a key part of the plant’s success story sine the seeds inside the fruit usually pass safely through the birds’ digestive tracts and quickly get spread. Up ahead, I come upon another invasive, Asian import- a thorny shrub with bright red berries, called Japanese Barberry. This plant was introduced to the United States as an ornamental in the 1870’s. As a hardy, exotic species, it since has spread to open woods, roadsides, and natural areas. The berries are eaten by birds and small mammals who widely disperse the seeds. Humans can eat the berries as well. Eaten raw, they taste a lot like very tart cranberries. In the Middle East, the fruit is usually dried for preservation so it can be used year-round in all manner of dishes. At my feet, I notice the leaf litter includes oak, maple and cottonwood. Up ahead, I stop by the Eyer Learning Circle and Bird Observation Hut before heading west through tall pines as snowflakes begin to fall. Turning north, I come to a high bank of the Pine River where I scan the austere millpond, occupied by some swimming waterfowl. Upon closer observation, I see several male and female Mallards. As snow continues to fall, I follow the riverbank eastward through one of the overlooks where the leaf litter reveals big-tooth Aspen. Finally, I glance one more time at the whiting landscape before reaching the car.

 

Far away from the hunter’s gun

Run, river run

By light of the moon, light of the sun

Run, river run

Your journey’s not over, only half done

Run, river run

Keeping you clean is priority one

Run, river run

Ice flows have not yet begun

Run, river run

Walking beside you is lots of fun

Pine River run

 

D. DeGraaf