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