December 2

To avoid a stray bullet from an aimless deer hunter, I’m hiking in the Hiawatha Hills Preserve, a 5-acre, semi-residential parcel, located four miles west of Mt. Pleasant. The early morning weather is cold and cloudy as I scan the landscape that can best be described as an Ash Tree graveyard. Thirty years ago, this place would have been a dense woodland dominated by tall, healthy Ash trees (stock photo). Since then, the larvae of the Emerald Ash Borer (stock photo) has infected, girdled and killed all of them that are now seen as large grey trunks sprawled on the ground in various stages of decay. Moving a short distance, I come to the edge of the Chippewa River and pause to look at and listen to its flowing water. Along the bank, I observe the trunk of a dead tree, most likely killed by Bootstrap fungi. Honey mushrooms are parasitic on live wood and send out these long root-like structures between the wood of a tree and its bark, killing the tree. When fresh, these roots are cream colored but darken to brown or black as they age. The fungus is also called root rot or shoestring root rot. Exploring the flood plain, I spot a green rosette of Wild Radish. This plant is non-native and invasive in Michigan. Depending on the season, the entire plant is edible, including leaves, roots, blossoms and the segmented pods that have a radish-like taste (stock photo). Moving away from the river, I come upon a small pile of red feathers from a Northern Cardinal, most likely the leftovers of a predator-prey confrontation between this bird and a hawk or owl. Other observations, include an old, hard 8-inch Artist Conk shelf fungus and a patch of Pixie cup Lichens. Nearby, in contrast to much of my drab-colored surroundings, I notice the red-orange leaves of a Barberry bush and remember the bright red fruit it displayed earlier in the season (stock photo). Leaving this preserve, I take a short drive to the other side of the river to the 2-acre Neyer Preserve where I hike past American Beech and Canadian Hemlock trees. Downstream, I spot mounds of white foam on the water surface. These natural suds result from higher levels of organic decomposition this time of year forming these dense masses of air bubbles. Along the far shore, I watch a few whitetail deer scamper in single-file below a river-front house. While heading back to the car, I pause to enjoy the quietude and scenery of this riparian ecosystem. From here, the Chippewa flows another 30 miles east before converging with the Pine River at the Chippewa Nature Center near Midland.

Early December days

Neath leafless trees

Nature at attention

Mother Earth at ease

Beside a shrinking pond

No frogs with leopard skin

Atop the meadow grass

No spider webs to spin

Squirrels of woodlands

Prepare for winter’s blast

Hoarding their food

Autumn breathes her last

 

D. DeGraaf

November 25

With mid-morning temperatures in the low 40’s, I begin my hike in dense fog at Alma’s Conservation Park, serenaded by a Blue Jay. My goal is to plan a path that I hope to turn into a self-guided nature trail, open to the public next summer. Called the “Trail of Trees”, (stock photo) this ½ mile loop will identify and describe common conifers and broadleaf trees growing close to the trail. Beginning in a counter-clockwise direction along the bank of the Pine River millpond, I could label such trees as White and Red Cedar and provide a printed pamphlet giving information about the differences between them. I could include the old, dying White Birch tree and note the lichens and moss that grow on its trunk. Continuing west, I could include the tall White Pine next to the deck and describe its role in Michigan’s logging history. Up ahead, I could include the Big-tooth Aspen tree and describe how its soft wood is used to make pulp and particle board. Further along, I could include the Red Oak tree and the proximate Burr Oak tree comparing their leaf shape, bark texture and acorn size. Turning south, I could include a s Black Locust tree describing its compound leaves and bean-like seed pods. Turning east on the paved service road, I could include the unique bark design of a Norway Spruce tree trunk and identify some of its fallen cones on the ground nearby. I could include a dead Ash ree trunk with borer tunnels and describe the recent demise of this species. Next, I come to the Eyer Learning Circle, turn north and proceed to the outward-facing benches. Moving around the circle and sitting on different benches, I could include an old, dying Scotch Pine tree trunk and point out how the younger trees are commonly used as in-home Christmas trees.  From another bench, I could include an old, bare tree trunk, called a snag, that is a source of food and shelter for a variety of wildlife. As the sun breaks through, I follow a narrow earthen trail north where I could include the large trunk of a Red Pine tree, comparing its bark and needles to the previous-seen White Pine tree. Up ahead, I could include the distinctive bark of a Black Cherry tree trunk and look for its fruit on the ground or high in branches during the summer months. Nearing the trailhead, I could include both the sinewy bark of a small Musclewood tree and the smooth gray bark of a large Beech tree and compare how their wood was used by Native Americans. Next summer, after completing the “Trail of Trees” and returning to the parking lot, I hope hikers will stop to enjoy the Butterfly Garden.

November book closes

Most pages read

Month of memories

Stir in my head

Trees of green

Decay to brown

From colorful canopy

To leafless crown

Moments to ponder

Miles of trails

Whenever the season

Nature prevails

 

D. DeGraaf

November 18

The mid-morning temperatures are in the upper 30’s, under partly sunny skies and a gentle west wind, as I begin my hike on a grass trail at Forest Hill Nature Area. Following the path west, I arrive on the edge of Sora Swale, one of several wetlands in the Nature Area. Scanning from here reveals a nearly waterless landscape never before seen. Because of a long-term draught, it looks dramatically different than it did a few years ago (stock photo). Some 30 years ago, Forest Hill Nature Area started out as farmland with no wetlands. During its first few years, with help from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife service, drain tiles were broken, allowing rainwater and snow melt to fill in the low spots and form year-round wetlands, like Sora Swale, that developed into ideal habitat for wildlife. Moving into South woods, I veer off the trail to find a weathered, 2-ton, granite boulder covered with moss, lichens and fungi. This sighting begs two questions: how did it get here and how old is it? Referred to as a glacial erratic, this rock was transported here by a glacier at the end of Michigan’s last ice age, some 12,000 years ago. During its journey south, a much larger boulder was weathered and eroded before coming to rest. Once here, it continued to get smaller and smoother during years and years of exposure to wind, rain, ice and snow. Continuing through South woods, I first glance down to see the trunk of an Aspen tree shredded by a Pileated Woodpecker looking for Carpenter ants and then glance up to see the delicate, yellow, autumn-blooming flowers on a Witch Hazel tree. Looping around to the east, I arrive at another wetland called, Willow Wallow, that too is nearly dried up but, retains enough water to support a family of muskrats. Up ahead, I come upon an abandoned Robin’s nest wedged in the crotch of a Thornapple tree and think about how wise the mother bird was last spring to build her mud-lined, nest in a tree shielded from predators by dense leaves and prickly thorns. Ascending Reflection Hill, I first notice the amber-gold color of a patch of Switch grass and then a leafless tree in the distance laden with orange fruit. Upon a closer look, I identify the fruit as cherry-size, Harvest Gold crabapples. Most crabapples are best suited for preserves rather than eating them raw. Descending the hill, I come to the grassy edge of Grebe Pond and notice, like other wetlands on the property, the water level is very low compared to what it was a few years ago (stock photo). Even so, I spot a few mallards swimming along the far shore. Despite frequently seeing mallards around here, their population is in rapid decline. One reason is the natural cross breeding of wild mallards with game-farm mallards released from hunting preserves. Game-farm mallards are passing on less desirable traits to wild mallards, making it harder for them to survive and thrive in the natural world. 

Hunting days, barely begun

Run, run, whitetail run

Far away from the hunter’s gun

Run, run, whitetail run

Some humans shoot for fun

Run, run, whitetail run

Low light of the morning sun

Run, run, whitetail run

Stay alive till season’s done

Run, run, whitetail run

 

D. DeGraaf

November 11

The early morning sky is overcast and temperatures are in the mid 50’s as Caroline, Riley and I begin hiking an earthen trail in Mt Pleasant’s Mission Creek Woodland Park. Today, I’m on my seasonal quest to spot any vegetation in the wild that still retains enough chlorophyll pigment to show off the green color that has mostly disappeared from this autumn landscape. My first discovery is one of several tufts of Woodland Sedge that will remain green in the forest most of the winter. Proceeding down a steep slope to Mission creek, I pause to look and listen as its water flows gently downstream. Following the leaf-covered bank, I stop to take in this riparian ecosystem. This 2.5 mile watercourse begins west of here and will flow another ¼ mile east where it merges with the Chippewa River. Scanning the creek surface, I first see the very green leaves of a Watercress plant and then a ½ inch Water Strider, skating in the shallow water above decaying leaves. Water striders typically live until a freeze hits, but if there is no freeze, they can live for up to a year.. Hiking away from the creek, I come upon a large blacken stump covered with ochre spreading tooth fungi as well as a downed log with rows of Wrinkled Crust fungi. While exploring the flood plain for more green vegetation, I come upon a leaf of Greenbriar as well as fronds of a Bracken fern poking through the liter. Up ahead, I observe delicate, palmately-divided leaves of the non-native, Herb Robert.  Sometimes called “Stinky Bob”, freshly picked leaves of this plant have an odor resembling burning tires when crushed. Herb Robert is not poisonous and has no toxic effects to people or wildlife. A few feet away, I watch a 2-inch Dusky Slug moving very sluggishly over a Basswood leaf. Slugs survive the winter by hibernating in protected places, such as under plant debris, mulch or in burrows. Nearby, I spot a patch of green Haircap moss growing on a blacken stump. Approached the car, first I notice a Whitetail Deer standing on a green grassy knoll. Then, I look and listen as a pair of Canada Geese fly south under a partly blue sky. During the second half of the 20^thcentury, this sighting was a sign of the season as flocks of these waterfowl were migrating south for the winter. However, due to milder winters and fewer ice-covered lakes and rivers, a residential population of geese now exists that can be seen flying in any direction in search of snowless fields and open water.

Midst of November

Nature takes a rest

Leafless willow tree

Shows an empty nest

Rain refills the creek

Cattails bow down

Herons bid farewell

Buck shows his crown

At the forest edge

Chickadees greet

Meadow colors fade

Autumn in retreat

 

D. DeGraaf

November 4

Along with sunny skies and chilly temperatures, my wife, Caroline and dog, Riley join me on a morning hike at the Kenneth Lehman nature trails on the campus of Montcalm Community College. Not far ahead, I pause to scan a placid South Twin Lake, surrounded by a colorful autumn landscape. Following a path around the lake, I spot the red fruit of a Swamp Rose vine and a Japanese Barberry shrub. Berries from this shrub are edible by humans but are too sour to eat raw and have a bitter taste. They’re also eaten by birds that spread the seeds, causing a rapid spread of this invasive species. Continuing on the leaf-covered trail, my attention is drawn to a giant (9-inch long) Red Oak leaf among the litter of smaller oak and maple leaves. Large leaves like this one often grow on young, vigorous saplings, especially those located in shady areas. Up ahead, I come upon a Wood Duck box mounted on a pole with a protective cone on it to keep raccoons, red foxes and black rat snakes from preying on the ducklings. Looking up, I spot some Sugar Maple leaves wafting to the ground. Colder temperatures and shorter photoperiods trigger a hormone in these trees that sends a chemical message to every leaf. Once the message is received, a bumpy line of cells grow between the leaf stem and the branch until they separate (stock photo). Nearby, I get a close-up look at a multi-prong thorn of a Thornapple tree. While these thorns are not poisonous, researchers have discovered that they harbor an array of pathogenic bacteria as yet another defense mechanism for the tree. Looking around, I notice the distinctive muscle-like surface on the trunk of a Blue Beech tree.  Also, called Muscle Wood, the tree’s extremely hard wood is used for tool handles, longbows, walking sticks/canes and golf clubs. After watching the morning sun sparkle through the trees, I look down to notice the leaf litter has lots of female cones from the surrounding White Pine trees. Small mammals, like Red Squirrels collect seeds from these cones (stock photo) during autumn and cache them as a winter food source. Birds such as Red-breasted Nuthatches (stock photo) store seeds under tree bark while Pine Siskins (stock photo), frequent seed eaters will flock here in winter. Turning toward the car, I look up to see a large number of reddish-orange berries on vines of American Bittersweet that have overrun a hickory tree. These berries are toxic to humans but a food source for many types of wildlife, including Ruffed grouse, Pheasants, Fox squirrels, Bobwhite, and Turkey.  

I thank the trees

For an autumn show

Spreading their color

To earth below

I thank the birds

For sticking around

To fill the forest

With gifts of sound

I thank the sun

Watching it set

Back in town

The voters fret

 

D. DeGraaf