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