August 25

It’s mostly cloudy with morning temperatures in the mid 60’s and a gusty breeze as I enter the 200-acre Alma College Ecological Station, just east of the village of Vestaburg. Following an earthen trail, I recognize one of several Sassafras trees, easily identifiable by the variable shapes of its leaves. All parts of this tree have a distinctive spicy aroma, similar to root beer, which comes from the chemical compound Safrole found in its bark and other tissues. The root bark was historically used to flavor root beer and other foods. Since Safrole was linked to liver cancer in animal studies, it was banned by the FDA in the 1960s. Further along, I spot a Mayapple plant displaying a green, unripe, toxic “apple”. Ripe fruit, which turns from green to yellow is edible with a sweet, citrusy, and sometimes berry-like flavor. Nearby, I come upon a Crown-tipped Coral Mushroom. They are edible, peppery-tasting mushrooms, but it's crucial to try only a small cooked portion first to check for adverse reactions. Turning downslope and proceeding ahead on a floating boardwalk, I notice large patches of Sphagnum moss, including one occupied by a small Wolf Spider. Soon, I come to the edge of small Davis Lake, known as a peat bog. Also called a quagmire, this wetland is characterized by the accumulation of partially decayed sphagnum moss, referred to as peat moss. Peat forms water-saturated spongy layers along the edge of the lake that is habitat for unique flora like this carnivorous Purple Pitcher plant with its pitcher-shaped leaves that collect rainwater and act as a trap for unsuspecting insects. The inner surface of these leaves is lined with downward-pointing hairs to prevent insects from escaping. Enzymes in the water pool within the pitcher break down the trapped insects, providing the plant with nutrients. Also, along the water’s edge, I spot purple blossoms of Pickeral Weed as well as a Bumble bee feeding on pink blossoms of Swamp Loosestrife. Unlike invasive Purple Loosestrife (stock photo), Swamp Loosestrife is a valuable part of native wetland habitats. Turning around, I make my way back to the car, where I notice some tiny orange Pinwheel mushrooms. While they’re not poisonous, they’re not recommended for consumption because they’re too small to be a worthwhile food source. Driving home, I realize that every time I come here, my hike is full of quiet drama between plants, fungi, insects, and other creatures. What at first seems like a hushed, still landscape quickly reveals itself as a bustling stage of color, texture, and sound. It’s a place of blossoms and berries, mushrooms and moss, buzzing bees and skittering spiders. Together, these life forms are interconnected, each detail worth pausing to see.

Far edge of August

Everywhere is green

Realm of living flora

Nature is the queen

Leaves of the canopy

Shade the earth below

Ferns and sedges

Still grow and show

Grasses of the meadow

Their color remains

Early morning dew

Late summer rains

 

D. DeGraaf