December 25

In 1926, when George Beck of Ithaca learned that one of the last stands of White Pine in Gratiot County was going to be cut down, he called on local lumberjacks and rivermen to buy a 40-acre tract to preserve these majestic conifers. In 1927, these woodsmen organized an association and raised $3000 to purchase the land that became Lumberjack & Rivermen's Park. Between 2016 and 2018, I was pleased to lead an effort to establish a network of five nature trails within the park. The morning skies are mostly cloudy with temperatures in the upper 20’s and a west wind as I leave the Madison Rd. trailhead where I notice the skeletal remains of a Whitetail deer (likely a decomposed roadkill). Proceeding north, I pause to look at the snow-covered boardwalk and reminisce on its construction, seven years ago. After crossing the board walk where I spot some fox tracks, I come to a small pond covered with ice and Duckweed that surprisingly remains green and alive despite freezing temperatures. Arriving at the footbridge over Mud Creek, I remember completing its construction six years ago as we set two, 30-foot telephone poles across the channel and then built a walkway out of oak lumber, milled from trees in the park. Following the Mud Creek trail north through towering Red and White pines, I circle around, continue west on the Riverview Trail and pause at the edge of the Pine River as its water flows gently past. On a nearby snag, I notice seepage of sap called Slime flux. Also known as wet wood, this seepage is foul-smelling. Slime flux is caused by common surface-inhabiting bacteria or yeast fungi that enter the trunk through wounds. Following a steep bank to the north, I pause at a favorite vista of this watercourse. After crossing the Lumberjack Rd bridge over the river, I follow the Campground Trail south along the bank as the water flows over some boulders. Upon a closer look, I spot a fresh deer carcass stuck on some rocks, perhaps mortally wounded by a hunter’s bullet. Continuing on the Campground trail, I come across some more green vegetation, including fronds of Christmas ferns and a leaf of Wild Yam. I continue south through the vacant campground on an aisle of fallen leaves and a leafless canopy of Oaks and Maples, overhead. Leaving the trail, I once again pause on the river’s edge to watch water from Mud Creek flow into the main channel. After completing the Campground trail, I stop on the Madison Rd. bridge to take one last look at the river as it meanders south toward Riverdale.

Christmas sanctuary

No windows or walls

No carol music playing

Only a Chickadee calls

Christmas sanctuary

Choir of gathering geese

Gratitude for solitude

Planet Earth at peace

Christmas sanctuary

No ringing silver bells

Early morning hike

Mother Nature dwells

 

D. DeGraaf

December 18

There’s a slight westerly wind and partly sunny skies as I watch the water of the Chippewa River flow gently north through Meridian Park. Early morning temperatures are in the mid 30’s as I notice an ice-covered Viburnum shrub nearby and two pair of Mallards swimming along the far shore. Following a narrow trail along the riverbank, I come upon the base of a tree trunk with its bark stripped off by either a Pileated Woodpecker or more likely a Porcupine. I gaze afar skyward to the north and spot a likely nest of a Bald Eagle, wedged in a tall, leafless tree. These nests are made with large sticks and may be lined with moss, grass, plant stalks and sod. They’re usually about 4 to 6 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep. These birds are very territorial and most breeding pairs return to the same nest site year after year, adding more sticks and making it larger. Following a trail away from the river into a woodland, I observe a white Birch tree trunk displaying a pattern of holes made by a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a few willow trees displaying densely growing twigs, called “Witches Brooms”.  In medieval times, mysterious and unexplainable occurrences were often blamed on witchcraft. Brooms during that time were made of bundles of twigs. A number of stresses, both biological and environmental, can lead to the formation of brooms. Organisms such as fungi, mites and aphids can cause these abnormal growths when they attack a host tree. Some brooms appear to be caused by genetic mutations in the buds of the branches. Other observations, include litter of decaying maple leaves and the unique design on the trunk of a White Poplar tree. Continuing north, I climb a steep, sandy bank and look down at a marshy, wet area that was a partial oxbow lake,10 years ago (stock photo). The complete lake was most likely formed during a big flood event when swift, raging water took a short cut directly across the neck of a river meander (curve) and carved out a new, straightened river channel (stock photo). Cutoff from any inflow or outflow it began drying out eventually formed this marsh. Oxbow lakes get their name because their shape starts out resembling the “U” of the old wooden oxen yoke, like the one being formed to the east (stock photo). After pausing to scan the river, I turn around and make my way back where I notice a patch of Reindeer moss on the ground. Just before getting in the car, I watch a few Dark-eyed Juncos foraging along the edge of the parking lot.

Deep in the woods    

Noises cease               

Sounds subdued

Nature at peace

Mid of December

End of the year

Mother prepares

Slumber is near

Tucks her children

Turns down light

Covers them up

Blanket of white

 

D. DeGraaf

December 11

The early morning sky is clear with temperatures in the mid 30’s, as I make my way eastward toward the rising sun, over a patch of crunchy snow on the Meijer bike trail, near the tiny village of Cedar Lake. Just off the trail, I notice a narrow stream of water flowing through some lush Watercress, the only plant that is still displaying lots of green chlorophyl. Not surprising, I spot several deer tracks in the snow and a couple crossing the trail in the distance. Evidence of recent Coyote activity, include its linear gait pattern of snow tracks in a bike tire track on the trail and its scat containing strands of hair and fur. Birds that catch my eye, include a pair of Mourning Doves and a female Downy Woodpecker. After a mile hike, I reach the Wolf Creek bridge to check out the beaver activity that I discovered a month ago, on a previous hike. Sure enough, the branches they stuffed under the bridge were still in place, damming the creek and creating a large pond for their lodge. Turning around, I spot a perching Eastern Bluebird. Years ago, these birds would have migrated by now to warmer climates of Texas and southeastern states. However, because of milder Michigan winters, more and more of them are situational migrants, meaning they are residents that stay in the vicinity of their breeding territories year-round. However, snowstorms and blizzards may force them to temporarily migrate. These birds eat mostly insects, wild fruit and berries. Occasionally, they have been observed capturing and eating larger prey such as shrews, salamanders and tree frogs. These birds are skilled fliers with incredible vision. They can spot an insect on the ground from 60 feet away. Heading west, I first observe a few Opossum tracks in the snow and then I look hard, through a dense stand of tall Phragmites, at a stand of cattails, reminding me that the invasive species continues to push out the native species. Proceeding west, I’m surrounded by Tamarack trees whose dead needles have dropped to cover the trail in front of me. This tree, sometimes called an Eastern Larch or Hackmatack, is a unique deciduous conifer that displays green needles in the spring and summer (stock photo), that turn yellow in the fall (stock photo), before dropping to the ground. Similar to Cedar, the wood of this tree is virtually rot-proof, making it ideal for making shingles, patio furniture and decks. Porcupines eat the inner bark. Snowshoe Hares eat the seedlings and Red Squirrels eat the seeds. Nearing the car, I gaze at a stark landscape, colored with scattered branches of leafless Red Osier Dogwood shrubs.

Blossoms of pink

Finches of gold

Dormancy and death

Have taken hold

Voice of the Vireo

Pines embrace

Song of silence

Has taken its place

For other seasons

Do not yearn

Nature is ready

It’s winter’s turn

 

D. DeGraaf

December 4

It’s mostly sunny with freezing temperatures as I begin my early morning hike in the 14-acre Stearns Preserve, one of 25 preserves operated by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy and the only one in Gratiot County.  After admiring a Gibbous moon against azure blue skies, I proceed to the edge of the Pine River to watch its water flow gently through a pre-winter landscape. Moving up to the Meijer bike trail, I proceed east where I spot red berries of Viburnum and a few fading leaves of Honeysuckle, the only green foliage I can find. Continuing toward the bridge, I’m reminded of how different this view was on my hike back in June. Likewise, from the bridge, I look down to watch the river flow south through a stark landscape and compare this with the view I had back in June. Across the bridge, I make my way down a steep slope to the edge of the river, follow it upstream and turn to view the bridge from afar and compare it with the one I had back in June. Along the way, after ducking under thorns of Prickly-ash, I come upon a 12-inch stump displaying a variety of colors, including tiny Orange Cup fungi, pale green Foliose Lichens, black mold, green algae as well as white snow and ice. Back on the bike trail, I walk through a corridor of leafless Box Elder trees and recall doing the same thing back in the lush surroundings of June. Up ahead, I leave the paved path, descend a steep bank to the north and enter a landscape rarely seen in these parts. Referred to as a Rich conifer swamp or Cedar swamp, this groundwater-influenced, forested wetland is dominated by northern white cedar and thick layers of moss that insulate saturated soil. Due to anaerobic conditions associated with a high water table and organic soils, trees are shallowly rooted.  As a result, leaning, bent, or fallen trees are common, creating tip-up mounds, abandoned root pits, and coarse woody debris. The complex community structure is further enhanced by root hummocks of cedar, which are often elevated above adjacent saturated or flooded organic soil. Cedar swamps provide a food source as well as sanctuary and shelter for dozens of species during winter, especially White Tail deer. During a severe winter with deep snow, swamp temperature is warmer, wind speeds are lower and the snow is shallower than the surrounding area. Back to the bike trail, heading for the car, I catch a quick glimpse of a Dark-eyed Junco in flight (lower left corner) with its white tail feathers. 

 

River water

Gently flows

Seasons change

Nature knows

Barren bank

Green no more

Geese midstream

Icy shore

Rising sun

Clouds of gray

Morning hike 

December day

 

D. DeGraaf

November 27

Under partly sunny skies and frigid temperatures in the upper 20’s, I make my way into the Hiawatha Preserve, five acres adjoining the Chippewa River, west of Mt. Pleasant. Moving north to the river’s edge, I gaze through the clear flowing water at a couple of three-inch, Mussel shells lying on the stony bottom. These bivalves, (also called “clams”) spend their lives underwater, buried in river sediment. As filter feeders, they draw water in through a siphon, strain out free-floating microscopic organisms, digest them in their gut, and expel wastewater through an outlet siphon. Because of their filter feeding strategy, mussels contribute to keeping the river water clean.. A healthy mussel population can filter many thousands of gallons of water per day. Researchers, including CMU faculty and students (stock photo), have reported a decline in the local mussel population due to a number of factors such as invasive species (including zebra mussels), contaminated waterways, and low water flows. Nearby, perched on a downed tree trunk, I spot a well-camouflaged, Eastern gray squirrel feasting on a nut. These squirrels have a rogue gene that determines how much of a dark pigment, called melanin they have in their hair. The black squirrels, seen around here, are exactly the same species as gray squirrels, except they have additional melanin. Recent research shows we have more of these black-morph squirrels now than in the past. Moving along, I get a close up view of never-before-seen Pixie-Cup Lichens. The tiny little golf tee-shaped parts are their fruiting bodies. Spores produced in them will be splashed out of the cup by raindrops. Along the bank, I observe a dead tree most likely killed by never-before-seen Bootstrap fungi. This disease is caused by honey mushrooms, which are parasitic on live wood and send out long root like structures called rhizomorphs between the wood of a tree and its bark. When fresh, these rhizomorphs are cream colored but darken to brown or black as they age. The fungus is also called root rot or shoestring root rot. Heading back to the car, I come upon a huge Sycamore tree with its mottled trunk bark and olive-size spiny seed pods, hanging from its branches. After a short drive around to the other side of the Chippewa River, I enter the two-acre Neyer Preserve and stop at the 8-ft x 8-ft deer exclosure where, for the last 10 years, CWC staff have been researching the effects of deer browsing on forest vegetation. Proceeding to the river’s edge, I pause to watch the water flow gently past. 

I walk a different path today

My favorite trail is far away

Tis the time to kill the deer

Shooting guns, far and near

Unsafe to walk that ground

Too many hunters around

Hope the whitetails find a way

Escape the bullets of death today

Hope these creatures find a place

Where pursuers cannot trace

I wish hunting season to end

So I can hike my trail again

 

D. DeGraaf

November 20

The early morning skies are mostly sunny, temperatures are in the upper 30’s and winds are light from the west as I begin my inaugural hike in Starks Preserve. This 8-acre parcel is Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s newest acquisition. Soon, I come upon a Multiflora Rose bush with its bright red berries, called hips. This fruit can be eaten raw but making a hot or cold tea out of them is a popular way to enjoy their unique flavor. Also known as Japanese Rose, this bush has become invasive in many parts of the United States and Canada.  Up ahead, I spot signs of seasonal change, including the seeding out of Aster and Clematis blossoms. Passing by several White and Red Cedar trees with their characteristic trunk bark, I come upon the base of one with its ornate root structure. This part of the tree is valuable for its use in making furniture. (stock photo). On the muddy trail below, I’m not surprised to see deer tracks, but am surprised to see geometric ice crystals, formed during an overnight freeze. Still looking down, I come upon a fresh pile of diarrhea-like Raccoon scat filled with lots of undigested berries. Overhead, I notice an odd-looking, 18-inch growth on a Maple tree trunk, called a Burl. This tumor-like structure formed because the tree’s growth hormones were disrupted due to an injury or fungal infection. Oddly, burls do not kill the tree. It can live out its entire lifespan with this growth attached to it. Because of its unique beauty, the wood cut from a Maple burl is quite valuable in making furniture (stock photo). Further ahead, I pause to watch a Pileated Woodpecker fly over and land in a nearby tree where I notice this beautiful bird is a female because the red coloration is only on top of her head while in a male the red coloration extends down to the bill (stock photo). The word “pileated”, from the Latin pileatus, meaning “capped”, refers to the bird’s prominent red crest. I continue to watch as she whacks away on a dead tree in search of her main prey, carpenter ants. She also uses her long, barbed tongue to extract wood-boring beetle larvae or termites, lying deep in the wood. When hammering into this soft wood, Pileated Woodpeckers use their long neck to pull far back from the tree, then make powerful strikes. Following the trail back toward the car, I come upon a few plants that still have plenty of chlorophyl in their leaves, including Canadian Thistle and Curly Dock.

Woods of November

Season of the gun

Whitetail of the wild

You’re on the run

Scent of humans

Flurries of snow

Whitetail of the wild

Time to lie low

Creature of nature

One of the best

Whitetail of the wild

No time to rest

 

D. DeGraaf

November 13

It’s a mostly sunny morning with temperatures in the low 40’s as I hike west on the paved Heartland bike trail near Montcalm County’s village of Vestaburg. On both sides of the trail, I see several Tag Alder shrubs, displaying their reddish male catkins and dark female cones. Nearby, I pause to examine a small, nearly dead, needle-less Red Pine tree with woody, tumor-like galls on some of its branches. Called Pine-pine gall rust, this disease is caused by a fungus that infects the vascular cambium and can kill young trees. Continuing west, I enter the northern section of the Vestaburg State Game Area, consisting of nearly 3000 acres of wetlands (stock photo). Amid the stark landscape, colors that catch my eye, include the pink, terminal twigs of Gray Dogwood and the red fruit of High Bush Cranberry. This fruit will soften and sweeten over winter to provide food for Cedar Waxwings and Robins. Up ahead, I come upon a dense patch of tall Phragmites with their feathery flowerheads, in the background mixed with a few cigar-shaped cattail flowerheads, in the foreground. Over the past few years, I’ve watched this patch of invasive reeds expand rapidly into the wetlands and overtake acres of native cattails. Along the way, I begin to see shrubbery having recently been cut down by Beavers. Up ahead, I come to the place where the water of a narrow Wolf Creek is supposed to flow freely under the bike trail, only to see that the beavers have built a dam of branches to block the flow and created an acre of flooded wetland. In addition, I notice they constructed a dome-shaped lodge just off the trail. Since the lodge can only be accessed by underwater entrances, it gives them protection from predators such as bobcats and coyotes. High above the flooded wetlands in a leafless tree, I spot a Mourning Dove (not Morning), named after its call that is often found to be sad or mournful. This call is generally referred to as the “perch coo”, sung by an unmated male on a perch. Surprising to me, this bird is hunted across much of the United States, 41 states in all. Thank goodness it’s protected in Michigan. It’s hard to imagine harvesting this bird for meat since an average adult weighs a mere 4.5 oz. Each breast fillet is about as long as a thumb and weighs one ounce or less before cooking. Turning around, I retrace my steps back toward the car, where I notice a decaying log displaying orate Turkey tail fungi and the paved path at my feet displaying a leaf litter of Maple, Oak, Aspen and Pine. 

Gone are the days when

Maples turned gold

Now is the time for

Winds to blow cold

Gone are the days when

White Asters bloom

Now is the time for

Gray clouds of gloom

Gone are the days when

Log turtles lie

Now is the time for

Juncos to fly

 

D. DeGraaf

November 6

With mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 20’s, I’m taking a morning hike on a section of the Meijer Heartland bike trail through a premature, sparkling winter landscape, after two inches of snow fell overnight. Gazing skyward, I notice a Gibbous moon. Recalling a lesson from junior high science class, this natural satellite of earth doesn't emit its own light, it reflects sunlight. As it orbits Earth each month, we see only part of the sunlit side, called a phase. Looking north, I observe a fresh game trail, while far ahead, I spot one of many Whitetail deer, on the move this time of day. Overhead, I observe some, thin foot-long bean pods of a Northern Catalpa tree. Also known as Cigar tree, the seeds and pods were used by pioneers in the 19th century to treat asthma, whooping cough, and various heart conditions. While the pods are edible, they do not taste very good-- some say it's like eating cotton mixed with sawdust. Also overhead, I spot a large, inactive nest of Paper Wasps. Except for queens, most colony members have died from cold temperatures. This nest will disintegrate and a new colony will rebuild next year. Continuing east, I pause on a bridge to watch the water of Honeyoey Creek flow toward its confluence with the Pine River, 1½ miles to the southeast. This watercourse is one of the worst contributors to the pollution of the river by transporting cropland runoff, contaminated with e-coli bacteria from excessive manure applications. Autumn leaves that catch my eye, include the multi-colored American Beech and crimson Staghorn Sumac. Also, the lovely red stems and fruit of Gray Dogwood on a snowy background is a sight to behold. Also, just off the trail, I notice the red berries of Viburnum and purplish black berries of Common Buckthorn. Buckthorn is a highly invasive shrub native to Eurasia that was introduced to North America in the 1880’s as an ornamental plant. There is some evidence that Buckthorn is allelopathic, producing chemicals that inhibit the growth of other species. Turning around to retrace my steps, I spot hanging fruit from both a Crabapple tree and American Bittersweet tree. Bittersweet fruit is poisonous to humans when ingested, but happily consumed by birds. The roots of this tree were used by Native Americans and colonizers to induce vomiting, treat venereal disease and symptoms of tuberculosis. Native Americans also used it in decorations, and even today it is commonly used in dry flower arrangements and for winter decor. Nearing the car, I’m not surprised to spot a fresh buck rub on a Honeysuckle branch. 

Dawn of November

Dawn of the day

Aisle of autumn

Nature’s display

Winterberries

Naked trees

Scampering squirrels

Grounded leaves

Crows afar

Chickadees near

Trail ahead

Whitetail deer

 

D. DeGraaf

October 30

The morning sky is partly sunny with temperatures in the low 50’s as I stand on a deck in Mt. Pleasant’s Chipp-A-Waters park to watch the Chippewa River flow past me. On the high bank, I notice the compound leaves and thorny branches of a Black Locust tree as well as leaves of a Gingko Tree. Ginkgo or Maidenhair is a tree native to China that has been grown for thousands of years for a variety of uses. Because it’s the only surviving member of an ancient order of plants, it’s sometimes referred to as a living fossil. While its leaves and seeds are often used in traditional Chinese medicine, modern research focuses on Ginkgo extract, which is made from the leaves. Ginkgo supplements are associated with several health claims, most of which focus on brain function and blood circulation. Gazing upstream, I arouse a flock of Mallards as they take to flight. Proceeding on a paved path, I can barely see a White-throated Sparrow resting in the lush grass and a Dark-eyed Junco perching on a dead branch. Junco sightings are a sign of the season as these “snow” birds migrate here for the winter, from their summer breeding grounds in Canada. Just off the trail, I spot some Fan-shaped Jelly Fungi growing on a downed tree. In China, they are sometimes included in a vegetarian dish called Buddha’s Delight. Ripe fruit that catch my eye, include deep blue clusters of Wild Grape and red clusters of High bush Cranberry. Nearing a bridge that spans the river, I notice the bright red fruit of Winterberry mixed with the beige, wispy seeds of Old Man’s Beard. Halfway across the bridge, I pause and look east as the river flows through a muted autumn landscape. Moving away from the bridge and the river, I hike through a dense woodland as the Sugar Maple leaves rain down. Soon, I spot the dried, spiny seedpods of Wild Cucumber. Each pod contains four large, flat black or brown seeds, two in each of the two cavities in the pod. Despite the common name, the fruit (stock photo) is not edible and can cause burning reactions in some people. Nearby, I observe a Golden Rain Tree displaying several air-filled seed capsules, resembling Japanese lanterns. This invasive tree is native to China, Japan, Korea, and Manchuria. It was first introduced to North America in 1763. It flowers at an early age with a display of summer yellow flowers that produce a fireworks show of bright color (stock photo). When the blooms are finished, the petals drop to the ground resembling a "Golden Rain" blanket, hence the common name. 

 

Nature’s cue

Bees to the hive

Muted meadow

Wooly Bears thrive

Finches turn pale

Chickadees stay

Geese leave 

Seeds blow away

Leaves rain down

Red and gold

Winds pick up

Green on hold

 

D. DeGraaf

October 23

Back on September 18, I began my quest to follow Corbin Creek upstream from its confluence with the Pine River to its source. This morning, under mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the high 40’s, I join three fellow outdoorsmen as they help me find the source of this watercourse. Hiking northwest from Deaner Road, we come upon the possible origin of Corbin Creek, with its water trickling slowly northeastward through a narrow channel where it merges with a small swamp that is part of a large wetlands. Exploring the flood plain, we spot a pair of Red-belted conks growing on a dead tree trunk. These are some of the most common and important wood decay fungi in North America. Named after the red belt of color between the base of the fungus and the layers of growth above, it is fairly easy to identify. It is definitely not a mushroom for cooking and eating as it has a very hard texture and bitter flavor. Nearby on another dead tree trunk, we notice a few orange-colored, edible fungi called Velvet Shank mushrooms. They have a pleasingly slippery yet firm texture and sweet, mealy flavor. Young, dry buttons are also exceptionally good raw with a very sweet and aromatic toffee-like taste. On the damp ground, we see a five-inch cap of a Amanita mushroom. This fungus is a hallucinogen and must be considered poisonous. Its common name, Fly Agaric, is a reference to the tradition of using this mushroom as an insecticide. In some European countries mushroom caps are crumbled up and placed in saucers of milk to attract house flies. As the flies drink the milk they become drowsy, collapse and die. Later on, I venture to the east side of the wetlands where Corbin Creek re-emerges, flows a short distance east and then turns sharply to the south as it carves a deep, meandering channel into the terrain. Along the high bank, more fungi catch my eye, including, a large cluster of very edible Chicken-of-the-Woods mushrooms and a collection of never-before-seen Black Bulgar mushrooms. A fairly common and widespread woodland species in Britain and Ireland, this black fungi is commonly referred to locally as Black Jelly Drops or Poor Man’s Licorice. Considered inedible and poisonous in western countries, in northeastern China it is elaborately prepared and treated as a culinary delicacy. Continuing south, I arrive, once again, at Deaner Rd. and finally bid farewell to Corbin Creek as it flows under the road and continues its southerly journey.

Forest floor of fall

Leaf litter is ready

Shapes and shades

Sun and shadows

Dew drop diamonds

Pigments aplenty

Heavenly hues

Canvas awaits

Easel’s erect

Palate’s prepared

Nature poised

Artwork begins

 

D. DeGraaf

October 16

Awaiting another encounter with Corbin Creek, I’m hiking in a section of the Maple River State Game Area, west of US 127 in Gratiot County. The early morning temperatures are in the mid 40’s, under mostly cloudy skies as I watch some Wood ducks take off from these expansive wetlands. Looking eastward, I’m awed by a murmuration of black birds (stock photo), an aerial ballet of hundreds of Red-wing Blackbirds, perhaps along with Starlings, Cowbirds and Grackles, flying in mass, but seemingly with one mind. These birds flock together because, primarily, there is safety in numbers. Predators, such as owls and hawks, are frequently befuddled and overwhelmed by such a whirling mass of birds. In the weeks ahead, these blackbirds will begin migrating south for the winter. Soon, I watch part of the flock land in a nearby leafless tree where I look and listen to a single bird. Continuing eastward, I spot blossoms of Water Smartweed and Hedge Mustard. Glancing afar, I notice the traffic on US 127, about ¾ of a mile away while just off the trail, I observe a Velvetleaf plant with its ornate, dried seed pods. Each pod of this highly invasive cropland plant contains 5-15 flattened seeds, a favorite food of the Deer Mouse. Turning around to retrace my steps, I scan the water surface to see the swarming of dozens tiny black insects, similar to the murmuration of black birds. Looking more closely, I see they are Whirligigs, 1/8 inch aquatic beetles that swim fast and are almost always in motion. These insects have eyes that are completely separated into two portions. The lower portion views the underwater environment, while the upper portion surveys the aerial environment. Adults are primarily scavengers, quickly pouncing on live or dead insects that land on the water surface. They may also detect prey using echolocation, waves produced by their swimming motion. Further along, I look skyward to hear the familiar calls of Killdeer birds and look at my feet to see a two-inch, edible Meadow Mushroom. Nearing the car, I stoop down and notice the stem of a Swamp Milkweed, covered by my dozens of 2-mm orange, Oleander Aphids, feeding on the sap. Sometimes called a Milkweed Aphid, this insect (stock photo) ingests sap from the phloem of its host plant. The damage caused by these colonies is mainly aesthetic due to the large amounts of sticky honeydew produced and the resulting black sooty mold that grows on the honeydew. Though native to the Mediterranean region, this aphid is an invasive pest species throughout much of the world.

Treading neath trees

Near to clinging leaves

Few to be found

Most blanket the ground

Quilt of many colors

Yellow, red and others

Bare branches debut

Sky of azure blue

Autumn surrounds 

Nature abounds

 

D. DeGraaf

 

October 9

The early morning sky is mostly sunny with temperatures in the high 50’s as I watch the water of Corbin Creek flow south under Church Rd. Proceeding downstream as the current increases, I come across the dainty white blossoms of Purple-leaf Willowherb and the cattail-like leaves of Sweet Flag. Trudging back to the road, I spot some white berries of Gray Dogwood and red berries of Maple-leaf Viburnum. Back on the road, I look north where the creek is partially choked with a leafy green plant, called Watercress. Cultivated from a wild plant in Europe, Watercress was introduced to America in the 18th century and became commercially popular in the late 20th century. This plant is a member of the mustard family which includes many well-known leafy and tuberous vegetables such as collard greens, kale, turnips, and radishes, as well as problematic weeds such as garlic mustard. It is widely cultivated and is the same Watercress commonly used as a salad green. It is also used as a garnish for meats and other dishes where a peppery or pungent flavor is desired. Ducks, muskrats, and deer eat the leaves of watercress while the plant also serves as shelter for small aquatic life. Along the bank, I notice both Swamp Milkweed and Joe-Pye-Weed are seeding out. Nearby, I spot some blossoms of invasive Crown Vetch and some leaves on a Red Oak tree beginning to turn colors. Walking west along the road toward the car, my ears perk up to the call of a Red-bellied Woodpecker.  Looking up, I see the bird pecking away on a Birch tree trunk. Oddly enough, this bird is named for its least distinctive feature, a light wash of red or pink on its belly that can only be seen if the bird is hanging upside-down. One of the most common mistakes when identifying this bird is calling it a Red-headed Woodpecker (stock photo).  While feeding, a Red-bellied Woodpecker can stick out its tongue nearly two inches past the end of its beak. The tip is barbed and the bird’s spit is sticky, making it easier to snatch prey from deep crevices. Near the car, I come upon a Maple tree trunk with unsightly seepage of sap, called Slime flux or Wet wood. This disease is caused by common surface-inhabiting bacteria or yeast fungi that enter the trunk through a wound. The bacteria and yeast may live on sap nutrients within injured trees for many years without any outward evidence. It is normally not a serious disease. However, a tree with a chronic case may decline in general vigor.

 

Watercourse of nature

Flow, creek, flow

Your journey ahead

I wish to know

Take me along

Your beauty to show

Riding your current

Fast or slow

Beams from the sun

Glisten and glow

Gifts from the clouds

Rain and snow

 

D. DeGraaf

October 2

With rain clouds overhead and temperatures in the high 50’s, I’m standing on Lake Montcalm Rd looking south at 10-acre, Twin Lake, an impoundment likely from Corbin Creek being dammed downstream from here. At my feet, I observe the underside (plastron) of a 6-inch long turtle of unknown species. Turtles are reptiles and like all reptiles, they have scales. The scales on their shell are specialized plates called scutes (pronounced “scoots”). When the turtle grows, the plates shed or peel way and the new ones that grow underneath are larger than the old ones (stock photo). This process is similar to a snake shedding its skin. Turning around and facing north, as a few drops of rain begin to fall, I notice a 2-acre pond, filled by water from eastward flowing Corbin Creek. Looking more closely, I see a gathering of Mallards along with a few Northern Pintails, swimming along the far shore. Walking west on Lake Montcalm Rd, in search of another creek access, I notice some of the, not-often-seen, large, deeply-lobed leaves of Summer Grape have turned yellow. The smaller, heart-shaped leaves of Wild Grape (stock photo) are much more commonly seen in this area while the fruit of both varieties are edible. Leaving the road with a map in hand, I trudge north through dense underbrush, searching for the creek channel. After a brief, arduous hike, I return to the road, continue west until I find suitable terrain to proceed toward the creek. Turning north again into dense vegetation, I spot the red fruit of Autumn Olive and the dark blue fruit of Nannyberry. After slogging through wetlands for 20 minutes, past cattails and ferns, I finally reach the edge of a narrow, gently flowing Corbin Creek, where I pause to look and listen. Making my way along the bank, I come upon the bead-like, spore stalk of a Sensitive fern. These fertile fronds turn brownish black at maturity and persist through winter, releasing spores the following year. This fern (stock photo) gets its common name from its intolerance for cold, the sterile fronds dying at the first frost. Nearby, I notice purple blossoms of Closed Bottle Gentian, among the colorful leaf litter. Only strong bees can force the pedals open in order to get at the nectar and deposit pollen. Roots and leaves of this plant are bitter tasting to mammals and other herbivores, so they usually are not a food source. White-tailed deer are one of the few animals that may eat the tender tops before they have a chance to flower. 

 

Current babbles

Wood ducks squeak

Cicadas whine

Edge of the creek

Autumn aromas

My senses seek

Alone with nature

Edge of the creek

No human ruckus

No words to speak

Mum in the marsh

Edge of the creek

 

D. DeGraaf

September 25

It’s late morning as I watch the glistening water of 10 ft.-wide, Corbin Creek flow east through a culvert under Douglas Rd, in northeastern Montcalm County. Under partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 60’s, I continue my exploration of this watercourse, upstream to its source. While observing the lush creek bank, I’m surprised to hear the sound of a Spring Peeper. Usually, a chorus of these tiny amphibians (stock photo) emanate from the wetlands in early spring. However, if similar conditions occur in the fall, like short days, cool temperatures and moderate rainfall, a sporadic peep can be heard. Leaving the road, I follow the creek bank where I spot the yellow blossoms of Beggar’s-ticks and the orange blossoms of Jewelweed. Jewelweed contains chemical compounds that counteract the itchy, blistered rash that often occurs from contact with Poison Ivy. Applying sap from this plant immediately after contact can help stop the rash. Up ahead, I pause to look for and listen to a few Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. In mid/late October to late November these large, colorful birds will migrate to Texas, New Mexico, Mexico and Arizona. Trudging through the pathless, floodplain, I come upon a ½ inch, perching Crane Fly.  During their two-week life span they don’t eat. Adults mate on plants or in the air near the water. Afterwards, the female deposits her eggs. When mating and egg distribution is complete, both the male and female die. The larval stage (stock photo) can last anywhere from a few weeks to one year. During this time, larvae are important for recycling and decomposition – they eat leaves, plants and small bits of organic material in the soil or water bodies. Next, I walk a short distance south to another section of the creek where the bright red leaves of Virginia Creeper are on display. Likewise, I notice the bright red fruit of Winterberry and Highbush cranberry. Highbush cranberry is actually not a cranberry at all, though its fruit strongly resembles true lowbush cranberries (stock photo) in both appearance and taste. They also mature in the fall, as cranberries do. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, and like cranberries, they are rich in vitamin C and so have a tart, acid taste. They are an excellent substitute for cranberries and are likewise used in preserves, jams, jellies and sauces. Making my way, along the road back to the car, I spot a single blossom of Sow Thistle and several blossoms of Sky-blue Aster. Near the car, I pause at the clearing to enjoy the music of an Orthopteran chorus of grasshoppers, crickets and katydids.

I welcome these days

When the Egret flies thru

Creeper leaves glow red

Their berries shine blue

I welcome the sun

On its annual descent

Geese are gathering

The meadow is spent

I welcome the morning

Cool and clear

Greetings autumn!

Glad you’re here

 

D. DeGraaf

September 18

From its source, one mile due east of Montcalm County’s village of Vestaburg, Corbin Creek meanders southeast about four miles where it spills into the Pine River, just southwest of Gratiot County’s village of Elm Hall. For the next month or so, I plan to track this watercourse, upstream from its mouth to its source, observing wildlife along the way.This morning, with temperatures in the mid 50’s under mostly cloudy skies, I join landowner, Jerry Baker for a hike along the creek, downstream toward the mouth. Right away, I notice the creek bed and banks contain abundant sand, gravel and huge boulders. These geological features can be traced back to Michigan’s last ice age, some 10,000 years ago. As massive glaciers moved, they leveled off hills, filled in valleys, gouged out lakes and changed the existing surface by grinding, eroding and depositing. On the far bank, I spot an invasive European Marsh Thistle. These tall thistles were first recorded in Michigan in 1934 and by 1956 were considered common in the Upper Peninsula. By 1959, this thistle species spread to the Lower Peninsula.  Nearby, I spot a bunch of ripening fruit on a Nannyberry shrub. Nanny goats apparently feed on the ripe berries, hence the common name. The ripe fruit is edible and may be eaten off the bush or used in tea, jams and jellies. Sometimes called sweet viburnum, the taste is somewhere between a prune and a banana. Continuing downstream, I first spot a small Musclewood tree trunk with its sinewy texture and then a pile of Wild Turkey feathers, likely left behind by a predator, such as a Great Horned owl. Following the flowing water, I pause to notice blossoms of White Snakeroot and Common Beggar-ticks. Fungi that catch my eye, include Toothed Crust on a decayed log in the flood plain and Milk- Cap mushrooms on a decayed log, out in the water. This mushroom’s name is in reference to the milky latex that is exuded from the gills when they are cut or torn. Milk-cap mushrooms form important associations with various tree species and are valuable to wildlife. Perhaps the most exciting feature of these mushrooms is that some are edible. After trudging through the floodplain and not finding where the creek flows into the Pine River, we turn around and retrace out steps back to the house. Later on, I drive east and make my way onto a two-track, south along the Pine River (stock photo) where I find, what I think is, the confluence, which is merely a subtle stream of creek water flowing slowly through small openings in dense vegetation on the river’s edge.

Outer edge of summer

Nature’s colors revealed

Purple aster blossoms

Dot the golden field

Maples of the forest edge

Those in between

Still hold some leaves

Still show some green

Rose hips of red

Berries of blue and white

Thistle for the finch

New season in sight

 

D. DeGraaf

September 11

The morning is mostly sunny, warm and humid with a slight southerly breeze as our daughter, Allison and dog, Riley join me on a hike at Forest Hill Nature Area. Along the edge of North Trail, I notice several seed heads of Queen Anne’s Lace have folded up into cup-like shapes, comparable to birds’ nests. Nearby, I open up one of these seed heads to reveal a ½-inch, spotted, Carrot Seed Moth caterpillar.  The caterpillar feeds on the seeds, spins a web and hibernates, sometimes for two years. After pupation, the adult moth emerges (stock photo). Passing through Pollinator Meadow, yellowed with Goldenrod, I spot a ¼-inch Asian Lady beetle on a Wild Grape leaf and then, open up another seed head to reveal a ¼-inch Ground beetle. Following the trail into the shade of North Woods, the song of an Eastern Wood Pee-wee gets my attention. Up ahead, we come upon a pile of fresh feathers and bones of an Eastern Screech owl (stock photo), indicating a predator-prey confrontation. Even a bird-of-prey like this owl has predators, including other owls and small mammals. Exiting North Woods, we begin circling Succession Field where I come upon a 1-inch Pearl Crescent butterfly perched on a blossom of Queen Anne’s Lace and a ¼-inch Shining Flower beetle, crawling on a nearby seed head. In fall, larvae fall from the plant and tunnel into the soil, where they spend the winter. Before turning into South Woods, we pass through Birch Row where I observe a patch of Small-flower Asters, a sign of the upcoming season. Along the trail through South Woods, I notice a 4-inch cap of an Amanita mushroom and a cluster of Jack-in-the-Pulpit fruit. Exiting South Woods, we head for Willow Wallow where I observe a ¼-inch Spined Soldier Bug nymph crawling on another seed head of Queen Anne’s Lace. The adult bug (stock photo) is a predatory stink bug that is sometimes found in cotton and soybean fields. After pausing on the new deck to scan Willow Wallow, we climb to the top of Reflection Hill where I observe a Monarch butterfly feeding on a blossom of Red clover. After a brief glance at Grebe Pond, we descend the hill where I come across a patch of Wild Grape leaves being eaten by several Japanese beetles. Circling past Brady Cemetery into Native Grassland, we walk along the edge of Grebe Pond where I spot several Canada Geese swimming close to the far shore. Finally, we complete the circuit, back to the car for our trip home.

Summer’s waning

Birds vacate the nest

Some heading south

Food aplenty for the rest

Meadow changing colors

Asters reveal their flowers

Wetlands are drying up

Awaiting autumn showers

Leaves lose their hold

Forest floor strewn

Nature giving hints

Fall is coming soon

 

D. DeGraaf