September 29

The mid-morning temperatures are in the upper 60’s under sunny skies and a refreshing west breeze as I start hiking along the bank of Bush Creek, upstream from the Jefferson Rd bridge. After following this watercourse through one county drain after another, I’m pleased to see the creek flow naturally through a lush, wooded landscape that provides suitable wildlife habitat. Hiking along a high bank through dense foliage, I’m entertained by Black-cap Chickadee songs. Up ahead, I first spot a Pignut Hickory tree displaying one of its compound leaves that’s changing colors. Looking more closely at the tree, I notice green husks on some branches beginning to split open, while on the ground I find a whole nut. The meat (stock photo) of this nut is usually small, hard to extract, and often bitter — which is why people say it’s more for squirrels and raccoons.. Early settlers and farmers noticed that pigs readily ate the nuts, bitter or not. The nuts were sometimes even gathered and fed to them as a food source, thus the name “pignut”. After catching a quick glimpse of a Raccoon running along the far bank, I pause at a tree trunk, where I spot an unusual growth— a burl shaped like twin scrolls of wood pressed side by side. Such growths often form when a tree has been stressed or injured, Arriving in a sunny area, I notice yellow blossoms of Sow Thistle have attracted a variety of pollinators, including a Bubble Bee and a Honeybee. On another blossoms, I observe a tiny Sweat bee and a Japanese’s Beetle enjoying some nectar. Before turning around, I look skyward as the morning sun shines through a tall Aspen tree whose leaves are swaying in the breeze. On my way back, I observe the bright red fruit of Bittersweet Nightshade. These berries are especially attractive to children and can be toxic if eaten in sufficient quantities. All parts of the plant contain toxins that can harm or even kill animals if ingested. However, some birds have adapted to safely consume the ripe berries with no ill effects, spreading the seeds as they travel.  Skunks are also known to be immune to the toxicity of the berries. Near the car, clusters of blue berries from a Juniper tree catch my eye. Dried Juniper berries add a sharp, unique flavor to marinades, meats, soups, and stews, and are a key ingredient in gin. It was not a morning of grand discoveries, but of smaller things, each one marking the season’s change. Bush Creek may flow low and slow, but its world is alive—seen in blossoms, in berries, in leaves and wings. 

Onset of autumn

Behold! Some signs

Debut of the reds

Virginia creeper vines

Shriveling brown fronds 

Drape the Bracken Fern

Blossoms of Aster

Everywhere you turn

Late September air

Chills the early day

Cold bloods retreat

Nature shows the way

 

D. DeGraaf