May 8

I’m standing on the edge of Blanchard Rd., 5 miles due west of Shepherd, looking north at a drainage ditch that marks the source of Salt Creek. For the next several weeks I plan to explore this watercourse (stock photo) as it snakes its way through Isabella and Midland Counties before spilling into the Chippewa River, 17 miles northeast of here. Under mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 50’s, I hike south along a steep, lush bank where the water in the 3-ft wide creek channel is barely seen. Moving down slope closer to the water, I notice blossoms of Beggar-ticks, known for their barbed seed-like fruits that stick to animal fur or clothing. The name comes from the tiny seeds that resemble ticks (insects) on the clothes of beggars. Other common names for this plant include, devil's-pitchfork, devil's bootjack, sticktights, bur marigold, pitchfork weed, and tickseed sunflower. Further downstream, I spot a patch of green horsetail shoots as well as some dead stalks of Burdock showing a few Velcro-like seed pods. Turning around, I head back toward the car where my ears tune in to songs of a Yellow Warbler and Catbird. Next, I drive south on Crawford Rd. and stop to explore the creek where some of its banks are covered with blue blossoms of Common Periwinkle. This plant was first introduced to North America in the 1700’s as an ornamental and is still commonly sold as lawn ground cover. However, as seen here, it escaped cultivation and is invading a natural area. It grows vigorously and forms dense mats that displace native herbaceous species. On the path, I come upon a rosette of Common Mullein with its velvet-like leaves. Upon closer look, I spot a 1/8-inch Humble Fly. In addition to familiar forensic clues such as fingerprints and bloodstains, more and more criminal investigators are relying on the services of the humble fly. Given the nature of the things flies choose to dine on, they are often the first to be found at crime scenes. There is a predictable succession of flies that arrive at a corpse, with different fly species specializing in eating different parts of the body at different stages of decomposition. Back in the car, I drive a short distance southeast and stop to explore the creek as it flows under Pleasant Valley Rd. Moving along the bank, I look and listen to a male Redwing Blackbird perched on a cattail stalk, most likely protecting a nest down near the water’s edge. Back toward the car, I watch run-off water from nearby cropland flowing through a drain tile into the creek and wonder if it contains pollutants.

 

Beside the trail

Forest glade

Slithering, weaving

From sun to shade

Forked tongue

Stripes of black

Sometimes taut

Sometimes slack

Reptile of the wild

Worthy of praise

Snake in the grass

I admire your ways

 

D. DeGraaf