The early morning temperatures are in the upper 50’s under partly sunny skies and a refreshing easterly breeze as I find myself hiking on private property on the southeast bank of the Pine River, between Alma and St. Louis. Up ahead, I look up to see some Silver Maple leaves displaying pencil-lead thin growths called spindle galls. These protrusions are caused my microscopic mites (stock photo) These mites spend the winter under tree bark before emerging in the spring, to feed on new leaves causing them to form the protective gall. These galls are purely cosmetic. Well-established trees are not harmed by them. Along the bank, I spot a lovely stand of Dame’s Rocket blossoms. While this plant produces fragrant, showy pink and white flowers it is highly invasive displacing native flora. Since a single plant can release up to 20,000 seeds, it can rapidly spread. Following an earthen trail, I pause to scan the river's floodplain marsh where I first hear a Song Sparrow and then the distant sound of a solitary Green Frog. Up ahead, I notice the eggshell of a new hatched Mallard chick on the ground while out on the water I see a mother Mallard swimming with three of her chicks. Also, on the water I spot some yellow Waterlilies beginning to bloom. While the steep bank displays a patch of Ostrich Ferns, out on the water, I notice three Canada Geese confronting a Mallard Drake. High overhead, I notice two perching Common Grackles. Breeding male and female Grackles frequently perch together. During the spring courtship and pair-formation phase, established pairs separate from the initial flock to fly, sing, and forage together. Turning around and heading back to the car, my eyes are drawn to a flower cluster from as Horse Chestnut tree. While they’re popular landscape trees, they produce toxic, inedible nuts. Nearby, I observe the leaves and seeds of a highly invasive Norway Maple tree. Widely planted as ornamental trees, they aggressively spread into natural areas, outcompeting native trees like the Sugar Maple by producing dense shade and inhibiting native seed germination. They create a thick canopy that blocks out the sun for understory wildflowers and plants. Their leaves are also largely unpalatable to native insects. Back to the car, I pause and realize spring is pushing forward — blossoms opening, seeds appearing, ferns unfolding and young wildlife beginning their lives along the river. I have the feeling that this stretch of the Pine is not simply a place to walk through, but a living landscape constantly renewing itself with breezes, blooms and birdsongs.
Signs of spring abound
Mother Nature thrives
Frog sits and watches
Duck swims and dives
Nests fill with chicks
Trees fill with green
Warbler on a branch
Heard, seldom seen
Seasons are changing
Summer comes soon
Farewell to May
Greetings to June
D. DeGraaf
