November 10

The mid-morning temperatures are in the low 50’s under mostly sunny skies and a stiff west wind as I begin hiking at Forest Hill Nature Area. Right away, I notice a few Dark-eyed Juncos flying low among some trees and spot one as it perches briefly on a branch. These “snowbirds” arrive in Michigan in late September to early October, often as one of the first signs of approaching winter. Migrating from their summer breeding grounds in Canada, Michigan serves as their "south" where they overwinter. Heading west through fields of amber-colored Switch Grass, I look up to notice a few green, Sweet Crab apples still hanging on the tree. This native species is found throughout the southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan.  Nearby, I begin exploring what once was the bottom of a marsh called Sora Swale, now dried up due to a long-term drought. First, I come upon a few 1/2 -inch Marsh Ramshorn snail shells as well as a 1-inch Wooly Bear Caterpillar. Folklore suggests that the width of the middle brown band of this caterpillar can predict the severity of the coming winter. However, scientific evidence has debunked this, as the band width is actually influenced by the caterpillar's age, diet, and moisture levels. Still, looking around this dried up marsh, I observe white, snow-like patches that are actually dried fruiting bodies of slime mold. Entering South Woods, I come American Witch Hazel trees in bloom. The flowers are small, fragrant, and bright yellow with four distinctive, crinkly, ribbon-shaped petals. This species is unique among many flowering plants because it blooms from October through December. Near the exit to South Woods, I notice an 8-inch diameter Puffball mushroom. At this early stage, the fungus is white, firm and quite edible. Up ahead, I spot some Thin-walled Maze Polypore fungi growing on a decaying tree trunk. This is a tough, inedible bracket fungus with a maze-like pore surface on its underside that turns pinkish or reddish when bruised. Walking along, I see a few dragonflies fluttering about. However, tracking one that landed on a Basswood leaf, I’m not surprised it’s an Autumn Meadowhawk. As its name suggests, this species is known for being cold-hardy and remains active into November and December. Heading back toward the car, I look up to see an 8-inch diameter Bald-faced hornet nest attached to tree branches. The nest is constructed from a paper-like material the hornets create by chewing wood fibers and mixing them with their saliva. By now the workers and drones have died off, the nest is vacant and will not be reused. 

November winds rise

Air temperatures fall

Leafless shrubs short

Naked Aspens tall

Aster flowers close

Canopy opens wide

Chickadees are seen

Frogs and toads hide

Maple leaves descend

Oak’s cling and hang

Mother Earth in balance

Nature’s Yin and Yang

 

D. DeGraaf