October 21

The early morning air is chilly, under partly sunny skies as I stand on the bank of the Pine River, watching its water flow gently eastward. I’ve entered the grounds of Jasper Township’s Chapel Nature Park, a new public access to the Pine River in Midland County. In addition to a picnic shelter, the park has constructed a modern canoe/kayak launch (stock photo). Nearby, I come upon a sign of the season, a small tree with some of the bark scraped off. Called a buck rub, this is where male deer rub their antlers to remove the velvet-like coating and bulk up their neck and shoulder muscles. They also secrete hormones from glands in their forehead to mark their presence, attract potential mates and suppress sex drives of younger bucks. Looking up, I notice a Cherry tree with several tuffs of stunted, woody shoots attached to some branches. Called Witches’ brooms, they can be a symptom of fungal, bacterial, or viral infection. If left alone, these new branches usually bloom and drop their leaves earlier than other branches of the tree. White spores are often visible on the undersides of any foliage produced on the branches that have been infected (stock photo). Overhead, I spot the leaves and fruit of Bitternut Hickory. The husks of the fruit are thin and dark while the nuts are quite bitter. While not poisonous, they are best left for the squirrels and other wildlife, given their unpleasant taste. Finding the car, I drive about ¼ mile north to the Jasper Township Cemetery and proceed again to the edge of the Pine River to view its water flow fast through a lovely autumn landscape. Looking more closely, I see the amber leaves of a Basswood tree and a Mussel shell submerged in the clear water. Making my way along the flood plain over a dense cover of dry leaf litter, I pause, stoop down to see mostly oak, maple and hickory. Nearby, I come upon the femur and tibia bones of a deer among the leaf litter. Up ahead, I notice a Multi flora Rose vine displaying lots of red-ripe fruit. Called hips, they contain large amounts of vitamin C, can be eaten raw or mashed for jelly or steeped in boiling water to make tea. In addition, they are an important winter food for birds, chipmunks, mice, rabbits and deer. Heading back to the car, I first spot an 8-inch wide Sycamore leaf on the ground and then green leaves of a Greenbriar vine. Also called brambles and prickle ivy, this partially deciduous, partially evergreen plant has the ability to photosynthesize year-round.  Finally, at the car, I scan the colorful distant trees of autumn before heading home.

Milkweed pods

Bursting white

Flossy seeds

Take to flight

Goldenrod

Dying brown

Fading grass

Bowing down

Mother Nature

Shows her hand

Autumn spreads

In meadow land

 

D. DeGraaf