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