December 1

The early morning sky is clear with temperatures near freezing as I enter the Emma Burnham Outdoor Center operated by the St. Louis Public Schools. Years ago, most school districts in Gratiot County had properties like this (stock photo) where students were taught outdoor education as part of the curriculum. However, because of current academic pressures and cultural changes, these properties, including this one, are either underutilized or abandoned. Thank goodness, students in our county schools can still put away their cellphones and receive much-needed outdoor education from Forest Hill Nature Area (stock photo). Following a path south into a mature deciduous forest, I’m not surprised to see the canopy open and the ground covered with a thick layer of leaves. Looking more closely at the leaf litter, I spot mostly Red Oak leaves along with a few White Oak and Bur Oak. The dull, earthy brown color of these leaves is due to a chemical compound called Tannin which remains after the green and red pigments break down. Up ahead in the leaf litter, I notice a single Sugar Maple leaf and a few Beech leaves among the oaks. Nearby, random observations of leaf litter, include a single Quaking Aspen Leaf, fresh Raccoon scat and a green Buckthorn leaf retaining its chlorophyll. Continuing to walk through the leaf litter, I’m reminded how these leaves decompose, returning essential elements to the soil. This litter creates a critical microhabitat and provides insulation for a wide array of wildlife during the winter months. Also, leaf litter offers shelter and camouflage for small mammals and a variety of ground-foraging birds. Insects and other invertebrates that live within the leaf litter serve as a crucial food source for birds, especially during the winter months. Leaf litter acts as a natural mulch, which helps the soil retain moisture by reducing evaporation and moderating soil temperature extremes. Shuffling through the leaves, I’m reminded how they form a protective cover that absorbs the impact of rain, prevents soil compaction and erosion, allowing rainwater to filter into the ground. Looping around on an earthen trail, I observe a tree trunk with an 18-inch growth called a Burl. Burl wood is highly sought after by furniture makers for its unique beauty (stock photo). Further along, I come upon a decaying log covered with Turkey Tail mushrooms. One of the active ingredients in this fungus is a polysaccharide-PSK, an approved cancer therapy in Japan for conditions like gastric, colon and lung cancers.

Dawn of December

Pulse of nature slows

Decaying leaf litter 

Covered by early snows

Down earthen tunnels

Retreat meadow mice

Over the vacant pond

Brittle layer of ice

Creature sounds are few

No buzzing of bees

Only a Chickadees call

Heard among the trees

 

D. DeGraaf