December 30

The early morning temperatures are in the low 30’s under cloudy skies as I enter a narrow, snow-covered trail that winds its way through a dense forest of aging conifers on the east side of Alma’s Conservation Park (stock photo). The trail then curves south past a variety of tree trunks. Because Red Pine trees grow tall and straight and the wood is strong, they are often lumbered for utility poles. The trail then curves north past a Boxelder tree. Box elders are generally considered a “weedy” tree and are held in pretty low regard by most people. They reproduce and spread rapidly as well as hosting swarms of Box Elder bugs. The trail then curves east past a young Maple tree. Dead leaves sometimes stay on trees because their abscission layer is not fully developed, allowing them to remain attached through winter, potentially protecting buds from harsh weather, deterring browsing animals like deer, or providing a layer of insulation. This phenomenon is most commonly seen on Beech trees. The trail proceeds south and then to the southeast past a large Maple trunk. Sap flow in early winter is primarily caused by the temperature fluctuations needed for it to run, with freezing nights and warmer days being the ideal conditions. The trail then curves back to the east past a Red Cedar Tree.  A significant source of food and shelter for wildlife. The blue fruits on the female trees are consumed by a wide variety of wildlife, including the Cedar Waxwing songbird, which is named for this tree. The trail loops back to the west where crows are heard. American Crows can be considered partially migratory. That is, some populations migrate, others are resident, and in others only some of the crows migrate. These crows in the southern parts of their range appear to be resident and do not migrate. The trail then turns back to the east where I see Red squirrel tracks. These squirrels mainly feed on the seeds and cones of evergreen trees. However, they will also eat bird eggs, berries, and fruit when they are available. During the summer, they collect and hide seeds and nuts so they have food storage during winter. Next, the trail curves back to the west to the edge of the forest. The trail then proceeds west across the easement. Prairies are temperate grasslands made up mostly of warm season grasses, sedges, and flowering plants such as Sunflowers, Cone flowers and Bergamot.These ecosystems are among the most decimated and threatened natural communities in the Midwest. Finally, the trail turns sharply to the north and proceeds to the end.

Winter arrives

December departs

Over the snow

Red squirrel darts

Clouds of gray

Pines of green

Among branches

Bluejay seen

Ice-covered pond

Descending fog

Tracks on trail

Moss on log

 

D. DeGraaf

December 23

Under mostly cloudy skies, scattered ground fog and temperatures in the low 30’s, I find myself hiking in a section of the massive Maple River State Game Area, east of US 127, between Ithaca and St. Johns. Heading east on a path of crushed asphalt, I look afar to see a curious Whitetail deer watching me, while to my right, I notice a muddy pond covered with a green slime. Upon a closer look, I see a mixture of Duckweed and Water meal. These surface floating plants thrive in water containing unwanted nutrients from geese droppings, lawn fertilizer and agricultural run-off. A dense layer of these plants can block sunlight, preventing underwater plants and algae from photosynthesizing and producing oxygen, killing native aquatic organisms. Along the way, I observe snowcapped seed heads of Buttonbush, Motherwort and Wild Carrot. Scanning the wetlands, I spot a 4 ft wide x 3 ft high Muskrat lodge dusted with snow. These mammals build their lodges, with cattails, mud and other materials cleared from the marsh. The lodge has an underwater entrance chewed out from the inside, creating a shelter that protects them from predators and weather. Besides lodges, muskrats also build smaller platforms (stock photo) for resting and feeding. They don’t just use cattails for lodges, but for food as well, eating virtually every part of the plant. Turning south, I follow a 2-track lined with snow-capped seed heads of the invasive Common Teasel, on my right. This plant is a threat to pastures, natural areas, and roadsides. It was introduced to the United States in the 1700s when it was used in the textile industry to raise the nap on woolen cloth, meaning it was used to brush the surface of the fabric with the dried, prickly heads of the teasel plant (stock photo) to pull out loose fibers and create a soft, fluffy texture on the wool, essentially making it appear plusher and warmer. Soon thereafter, it escaped cultivation and spread throughout the United States. Also to my right, down in a narrow, iced covered creek, I notice an open channel created by swimming muskrats. Heading back to the car, I’m surprised to come upon a Red Maple tree in bloom, displaying red flower clusters. Usually this tree blooms in late winter or early spring. Also, I spot a 4-inch long red winter twig sprouting from a nearby maple trunk.  With a break in the cloud cover, I catch a brief glimpse of the morning sun, recognizing its low elevation above the horizon, only a few days since the winter solstice and the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere.

Time once again

To recognize you

In gratitude

For all you do

For every plant

Your daily rays

For every creature

Warmth that stays

Star of the day

Orb of the sky

Sun of the heavens

Your solstice is nigh

 

D. DeGraaf

December 16

The early morning temperatures are in the low 30’s, under overcast skies, as I watch the Chippewa River flow rapidly through the 150-acre Meridian Park, three miles SW of Mt. Pleasant. Following an earthen path along the riverbank, I spot black berry clusters of Common Buckthorn and red-orange berries of American Bittersweet. Bittersweet berries are poisonous to humans, but songbirds, ruffed grouse, pheasant, and fox squirrels do eat them. Further ahead, I notice the dried seedheads of Common Ninebark as well as evergreen leaves and emerging blossoms of Bush Germander, an escaped cultivar that blooms in winter. As the trail follows the water’s edge, I come upon some orange slime floating among dead cattail leaves. While rarely seen along the river, this stuff is from naturally occurring bacteria that make their energy by oxidizing iron that is present in some soils. In addition to the slime, I observe patches displaying a rainbow-colored, oil-like sheen. Turning away from the river, I spot a white birch tree trunk displaying an organized series of holes made by a species of woodpecker, called the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (stock photo). These birds tap the tree for sap in the springtime, circling a trunk or large limb with their tiny drill holes. Following the trail up a steep bank, I pause and look down at a crescent-shaped wetland that was once part of the main river channel and later, an oxbow lake. This sequence of events occurs when a meandering river, (stock photo), like this section of the Chippewa, experiences a surging flood that reroutes the main channel, closing the meander neck and isolating a curved-shaped body of water referred to as an oxbow lake (stock photo). In this case, the lake eventually dried up, leaving only a cattail marsh and seasonal stream. Continuing along the high bank, I notice an old tapered beaver stump, now covered with Turkey tail fungi, more evidence that the main river once flowed nearby, Before turning around, I pause to hear a cawing crow while barely seeing a Muskrat swim along a narrow outflow. Making my way back to the car, I come upon a young Jack Pine tree with some branches displaying woody tumors, called galls. Referred to as Pine Gall Rust, this disease is caused by fungal spores that initially infect the needles and then move into branches. Infected branches become brittle and eventually snap off. Galls on the main branch can disrupt the tree's vascular system, eventually killing it. Nearing the car, I pass a few lingering patches of snow before spotting a whitetail deer running for cover. 

Deep in the woods    

Noises cease               

Sounds subdued

Nature at peace

Mid of December

End of the year

Mother prepares

Slumber is near

Tucks her children

Turns down the light

Covers them up

With blanket of white

 

D. DeGraaf

December 9

With noontime temperatures in the low 30’s and partly sunny skies, I’m hiking on a snow-dusted earthen trail in Harris Nature Center near Okemos, Michigan. Right away, I notice on the ground, some white Crust fungi growing on the cut-end of a downed log and a dark, thick, convoluted woody vine of Wild Grape. Up ahead, I watch a Gray Squirrel scamper up a tree and then walk over to check out its tracks in the snow. Soon, I come to the bank of the Red Cedar River where I see its water flow quietly from upstream before flowing rapidly past a pile of dead Ash trees. This watercourse has traveled some 40 miles from its source south of Howell and will continue another 10 miles west to Lansing where it converges with the Grand River. Back in the middle of the 20^th century, the Red Cedar River was very polluted, flowing through a stark and barren landscape. After much effort, the river landscape is now scenic and the water is clean. However, a recent risk downstream, is pollution caused by E. Lansing residents dumping abandoned electric scooters into the river where toxic lithium from their batteries leach out. Walking along the snowy bank, I come to a sandy shore where I spot a ¾ inch shell of a Marsh Ramshorn snail. These snails are the intermediate hosts of a parasite that's the most common cause of swimmer's itch in Michigan's lakes. This condition is an allergic reaction to a blood fluke released into the water by infected snails that burrow into human skin, causing small, itchy bumps. Near the snail shell are several ¼ inch Fingernail Clam shells. Also known as pill clams or pea clams, they are filter feeders that remove organic materials from the river. Turning away from the river, I continue through a woodland where I see the mottled trunk of a Sycamore tree, a scaly trunk of a Swamp Oak tree and a moss-covered trunk of a Hop Hornbeam tree. On the ground, I spot tiny heart-shaped green leaves of Ground Ivy (Creeping Charley) and recall the purple blossoms displayed on this ground cover during the spring (stock photo). Before returning to the car, I stop by some bird feeders behind the Center’s classroom where I notice some usual visitors, including a Tufted Titmouse and a Downy Woodpecker.  In a nearby tree, I spot a perching Northern Cardinal and White-breasted Nuthatch while on the ground I see a foraging Dark-eyed Junco. Next to the feeders, in a large cage, I watch two, permanently injured, Red-tailed hawks that were rescued years ago and now live in captivity where they are cared for and put on public display.

Late autumn woodland

Mighty oak stands bare

Squirrel scampers up

Toward his leafy lair

Hightailing skyward

Filling his cache

Over furrowed bark

Along branches gray

Perched in a crotch

Mate lingers near

Through barren twigs

Snow clouds appear

 

D. DeGraaf