November 6

Thursday, Remi & I hiked at the 25-acre, Williams-Blackburn Preserve in Isabella County. This Chippewa Watershed Conservancy property is located 4 miles northeast of Mt. Pleasant off from Leaton Rd. The early morning weather included thick clouds, spotty light rain with a temperature of 40 degrees and no wind. I hiked north through a dense stand of evergreens including pine and spruce. Since there was no trail, I entered a mature woodlot where the leaf litter revealed nothing but oak. I continued north, descended a steep bank to the edge of the Chippewa River where I stopped to once again look and listen to this local natural resource that I've come to know and appreciate. While exploring a small peninsula formed by the river as it made a sharp turn, I noticed a few American Bladdernut trees with their dried fruit pods shaped like Chinese lanterns. Also, still displaying green Chlorophyll were some patches of sedge and leaves of Wild Ginger. Following the river as it turned south, I stopped to barely make out a Chipmunk from a distance. On the far shore, bank erosion had exposed the complex root system of a large oak that is destined to topple over in the near future. Next, I was intrigued by a mature maple tree with several burls on its trunk. A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress that maybe due to injury, mold or insect infestation. Nearby, a few decomposing logs were covered with colonies of small shelf fungi. Climbing back up the bank toward the car, I could see, in the litter, several oak leaves with a fungal disease called Tubakia Leaf Spot. Finally, we made it back to the car to warm up and head home.

Gone from the fields

The luster of gold

Sunshine of summer

Has now turned cold

Gone are redwings

That ruled the marsh

Winds of November

Blow wild and harsh

Gone is the green

Of leaves and vines

Revelations of nature

Mid autumn signs

D. DeGraaf

October 31

Friday, Remi & I returned to Forest Hill Nature Area for our “weekly wandering.” The early morning weather included thick overcast skies, light rain, a temperature of 39 degrees and no wind. Standing at the crest of Energy Hill, the new security fence reminded me of a few days ago when I had to open the gate for a Cottontail Rabbit that got trapped inside and was running around in a panic. I descended the hill, passed Mallard Marsh with a few late-blooming Hoary Alyssum nearby and walked toward North Woods where I could see its trees were mostly bare of leaves except the tall Cottonwood on the north edge whose crown remained golden. Hiking through the woods, it was easy to spot the Beech trees since they were the only ones that still retained their leaves. Next to the empty vernal pond, I paused to observe the large trunk of a dead Ash tree with some fascinating shelf fungi and reddish Jewel Lichens. Exiting the woods, I looked across a brown Succession Field to the almost leafless White Birch trees on the edge of South Woods. I circled the field and entered South Woods where I again walked out on our new boardwalk into Swanson Swamp and paused to look and listen. Continuing through the woods, I noticed most of the Witch Hazel leaves were now part of the thick leaf litter. Exiting the woods, I followed the trail east and then south past Sora Swale where I stopped to examine a cluster of Rough Bullet galls on a Bur Oak branch. These galls can exude a honeydew-like sweet material that is attractive to bees and wasps in the fall. Following south trail east, I turned at Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery where I stopped to notice some fresh Foliose Lichens growing on a branch of Red Osier Dogwood. Turning north at the cemetery, I walked through a barren Native Grassland where next to the trail were dozens of brown flower heads of Bergamot and Coneflower. I continued north to the barn where I decided to turn west, walk out on the Grebe Pond dock to look at surface water that was no longer covered with Watermeal and listen as a few Redwing Blackbirds had stopped by on their migratory journey south. Finally, we made it to the car for our trip home.

Out of a willow thicket

Comes a pair of deer

Out of a resting rock

Centipedes appear

Out of cattail cover

Heron takes to flight

Out of a rotting log

Beetles are in sight

Out of an earthen hole

Comes a tiny shrew

Out of clouds above

Geese come into view

Out of a leafless tree

Comes a noisy jay

Everywhere I look

Nature on display

D. DeGraaf

October 26

Sunday, Remi & I hiked at Camp Cutler, located 11 miles west of Alma off from Douglas Rd. in Montcalm County. The early morning weather was clear, sunny with a temperature of 40 degrees and no wind. This 160-acre scout camp along the Pine River consists of woods, fields, streams, wetlands, and two small lakes. Leaving the car, I headed east into a woods toward the rising sun. Crossing over the Pine River, I noticed the leaf litter on the trail was dominated by brown oak leaves including Red Oak, Bur Oak and White Oak. Nearby, a few leaves of Swamp White Oak had not yet changed colors and still clung to their branches. Despite the noise I made hiking through the dry litter, I still was able to see a dozen Whitetail deer, a half dozen gray squirrels and a family of Wild Turkey. Continuing east toward the rising sun, I noticed the distinctive scaly bark of a Black Cherry tree. I came to a large clearing where I saw patches of Sphagnum Peat Moss growing close to the ground as well as Reindeer Moss which is really a lichen. Following the trail back into the woods, I noticed the leaf litter was now dominated by maples including Sugar and Red. As the trail crossed the river again, I was startled by two dozen noisy Wood ducks as they took off while making their distinctive squeaking calls. Arriving at the riverbank, I stopped to observe a mixture if British Soldier and Goblet Lichens growing on a decaying log. I followed the trail into another clearing where I noticed leaves of Poison Ivy and Wild Strawberry had turned colors. Heading back to the car, I stopped to admire a male Cardinal and a stand of Aspen trees against a clear, blue sky. Finally, we arrived back to the car for our trip home.

Treading neath trees

Close to clinging leaves

Just a few to be found

Most blanket the ground

A quilt of many colors

Yellow, brown and others

Bare branches debut

An autumn sky in view

October in the forest

Nature at her best

D. DeGraaf

October 18

Early Saturday morning, Remi & I hiked at the Florence Maxwell Audubon Woods Preserve, a 40-acre, natural area located 7 miles west of Mt. Pleasant off from Wing and Gilmore Rds. Exiting the car, I was greeted by a dense cloud cover, a fine mist, a temperature of 41 degrees and a brisk north wind. I followed a trail north, descending a slope through a mature hardwood forest. While many of the surrounding Beech trees retained their leaves, the colorful leaf litter at my feet indicated that many of the nearby trees of Red Oak, Sugar Maple and Big Tooth Aspen were dropping their leaves. Examining the leaves more closely, I noticed a variety of color patterns as Chlorophyll disappeared revealing other pigments. Continuing down grade, I spotted an Aspen log with a fresh growth of shelf fungi. Approaching the Chippewa River, the trail leveled off on a narrow flood plain where I saw several large logs covered with lush, green moss. A closer look revealed it was Delicate Fern Moss. Scattered about were patches of Maiden Hair ferns loosing their color. On the riverbank, I spotted a rarely seen form of Brown Jelly Fungi. This form often has the shape of a human ear, so it is called by common names such as Jelly Ear, Tree Ear, or Wood Ear. Its shape and color also is similar to that of a large prune. When dry, it is a thin brownish-black growth not easily seen until it becomes saturated with water after rains and “blossoms”. Next, I paused near an overhanging White Cedar to watch and listen to the fast flowing river heading east toward Mt. Pleasant. Turning around, I retraced my steps south up the slope where the leaf litter occasionally revealed bright yellow Sassafras and red Quaking Aspen. Overhead, the strong wind rustled through a less-dense canopy. Finally, we got back to the car and headed south for home.

Leaves of fall or flowers of spring

Bird’s feather or butterfly’s wing

Skin of a snake or hide of a deer

Snow that’s fresh or sky that’s clear

Grass in a field or dirt on the ground

Seeds that fly or fruit that’s round

Lichens on trunks or needles of pine

Dark clouds or bright sunshine

A favorite color is hard to decide

Nature displays each with pride.

D. DeGraaf

October 12

Sunday, Remi, me and my guest, Harold Brock of Alma hiked at Forest Hill Nature Area. The early afternoon weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 55 degrees and a steady south wind. Under a clear blue sky, I headed west down the hill, past Mallard Marsh and into Bobolink Meadow where the yellow blanket of Goldenrod from a few weeks ago had been replaced by the beige and browns of fall. The entrance to North Woods was surrounded by colorful Silver Maple leaves. On the path through the woods, I noticed the afternoon sun had penetrated the ever-thinning canopy while on the ground a decaying Beech log was covered with fresh mushrooms. I exited the woods, turned west and circled Succession Field where my feet made a crunching sound as I stepped on remnants of the large Red Oaks nearby. Entering South Woods and hiking along the edge of Swanson Swamp, I was pleased to see the new boardwalk that had been completed yesterday by a group of scouts from Breckenridge. After leaving the wood and turning east, I paused at Artist Overlook where I could easily spot patches of maroon-colored Dogwood bushes against the fading colors of the field. Following south trail, I turned south at Frog Fen, passed Brady Cemetery and turned north into Native Grassland where the pleasing sight of colorful summer wildflowers was now only a memory. At Grebe Pond, I stopped to enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful autumn day. Approaching the barn, the brief sighting of a Monarch on an Aster blossom reminded me how once again this year I had seen very few adults and no caterpillars. Finally, we continued north past the barn to the cars, exchanged farewells and left for home.

An aura of autumn

Before snows come

From sunny glades

Colors and shades

Of scarlet and gold

Trees, young & old

Where frost of fall

Envelops it all

In crystalline white

From a longer night

Mother Nature’s glow

Her October show

D. DeGraaf

October 6

Monday, Remi & I traveled north to Mt. Pleasant where we hiked in the scenic, 60-acre, Mission Creek-Woodland Park. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 46 degrees and a light wind from all directions as it bounced around us in the sheltering forest. I headed north on the Creek Trail through a dense stand of Beech, Maple, Oak and Hickory where I also noticed several Witch Hazel trees in the understory including some with yellowing leaves and others beginning to flower. After descending a steep bank, I paused to take in the tranquil beauty of Mission Creek. This 2-mile long, narrow stream runs west to east where it empties into the Chippewa River at the Mt. Pleasant Country Club. I headed west along the creek where the trail passed through a grove of Canadian Hemlock and Eastern White Cedar. Close to the edge, it was easy to spot some bright red, toxic fruit of Woody Nightshade still hanging on. A short distance ahead, I glanced up at a sure sign of the season as some unknown deciduous trees had dropped their leaves to open up the canopy and reveal a partially blue sky. I turned around, climbed back up the bank and followed the upper trail where the leaf litter revealed an unusually large number of acorns as well as colorful leaves of Bigtooth Aspen, Red Maple and White Pine. I crossed the creek again where I was startled by a Great Blue Heron that took off from a nearby fishing spot. As the trail curved back to the south, more red colors of autumn including Sumac leaves and ripe apples caught my eye. Finally, after finding the car and admiring the surrounding fall foliage one more time, we were homeward bound.

Below the canopy

On leaf-colored ground

Over lying logs

Gray squirrels bound

In barren branches

Chickadees perch

Ants climb up trunks

Raccoons still search

Preparing for winter

Is now the cause

Tis the season

For nature to pause

D. DeGraaf

September 30

Tuesday, Remi & I returned to Forest Hill Nature Area where I planned to take my annual saunter around the top of Reflection Hill and pause as I face different directions to take in nature’s sights & sounds. The early afternoon weather was overcast with a temperature of 55 degrees and a chilly breeze from the northwest. Arriving at the top of the hill, I first noticed a Honeysuckle bush with several Honeysuckle Witches Broom Galls that had turned pale purple. Looking north, I was not surprised that the dense cattail growth surrounding Mallard Marsh made it impossible to see the water surface and the trees of North Woods were showing some color change. Following the trail counterclockwise, I noticed that most Goldenrod flowers had gone to seed while a few Milkweed leaves were turning yellow and dropping off. Further along, the bird box that the cub scouts put up last spring was empty as the Tree Swallows who nested there had left and were gathering for their fall migration. Nearby, I saw that a Velvetleaf plant had dropped all of its leaves and only the dried up fruit capsules remained. Following the trail as it turned south, I could hear all around me the constant, low background noise of grasshoppers and crickets while in the distance I could see the tall White Pine trees of Brady Cemetery sticking up behind the Willow thicket of Frog Fen. Just off the trail I spotted another sign of the season as a Goldenrod stem gall had turned from green to red. Turning back toward the north, I hopped on top of a bench and did a 360-degree scan of the surrounding landscape including Grebe Pond where over the past week I had been watching with amazement a resident Great Blue Heron share a fishing spot with a transient Great Egret. After doing some research on this behavior, I discovered it’s not that unusual in other parts of the country. Continuing north, I could barely make out dozens of tiny, black Ground Crickets hopping through the grass along the edge of the trail. After completing the loop, I descended the hill back toward the classroom where I observed my first Spotted Tussocks Moth caterpillar of the season on a willow leaf. Finally, we made it to the car and left for home.

As September ceases

The heron still wades

Colder winds blow

Goldenrod fades

Whining Cicadas

Crawling Wooly Bear

Turtles are gone

Logs are now bare

Tree Swallows gather

South they will go

Cattails explode

Nature’s autumn show

D. DeGraaf