September 17

Last Tuesday, I drove 23 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the 8-acre, McNeel Preserve, another property of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 52 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car parked off Saratoga Springs Road, I headed east across Winn Rd onto the preserve where I spotted a few patches of the invasive Crown Vetch. With no trails to follow, I plodded through a dense stand of Aspen trees along the north edge of Urie Drain while noticing the unripen fruit of Silky Dogwood and the ripen fruit of Virginia creeper. Continuing east, both the needle-covered ground and the canopy indicated I was passing under a stand of mature Red and White Pines. As the drain curved sharply to the north, I leapt over it and continued east on a game trail through a dense woods of Beech, Maple & Oak where I noticed patches of Bracken Ferns whose fronds were beginning to turn brown, an early sign of fall. Arriving at the edge of the Chippewa River, I paused to look and listen as the water flowed rapidly, still carrying runoff from heavy rain over the past few weeks. From here this ever-meandering river flows north to Deerfield Nature Park where it makes a sharp turn east toward Mt. Pleasant. Following the river north along a gradually ascending bank, I spotted some raccoon scat on a bed of pine needles, some Maidenhair Ferns as well as a fresh patch of Turkey Tail fungi on a decaying stump. Turning west, I made my way back to the edge of the Urie Drain where I spotted several blooms including: Blue Beards tongue, White Turtlehead, as well as a mix of Sky blue Aster and Goldenrod. Once again, hopping over the drain, I continued wandering west where I spotted some large, aged (12” diameter) Artist Conk fungi on an old stump as well as a few 5-inch diameter Fly Amanita Mushrooms. Also, I was pleased to stumble upon some rarely seen blossoms of Bottle Gentain. Finally, I exited the property, crossed Winn Rd and found my car before heading for home.

Waning days of summer

Nature’s hues revealed

Purple Aster blossoms

Dot the golden field

Maples on the edges

Those in between

Still hold their leaves

Still show their green

Rose hips of red

Berries blue and white

Finches flash yellow

New season in sight

D. DeGraaf

Sept 10

Last Friday, I drove 45 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the 79-acre Peterson Natural Area, another property of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 52 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car in the parking area off 180thAve., I proceeded west into an expansive grassland with the sun at my back and no trails to follow. The first thing I noticed was that the dewy conditions combined with the angle of the sunrays exposed hundreds of spider webs clinging to the vegetation. At the “bulls eye” of many of the large circular webs was a Yellow Garden Spider. This common, colorful orb weaver creates a delicate, spoked web of silk to capture its prey. At the end of today, it will eat what’s left of the web and make a new one tonight. The smaller, non-circular webs that appear messy and disorganized were created by a tiny 1/8-inch Cobweb Weaver (barely visible). Proceeding west, I came upon a large meadow covered with yellow blossoms. While most of them were from Canadian Goldenrod plants including this one being visited by a grasshopper, a few were of the Lanced-leaved variety. It’s time once again to remind the reader that Goldenrod pollen is not the source of seasonal “hay fever” allergies, but instead it’s the less showy Ragweed. Continuing to explore the meadow, I spotted a few blossoms of Small-flowered White Aster as well as Spotted Knapweed. In a field ahead, I noticed a hue of pastel purple coming from a patch of Purpletop grass whose spikelets bloom this time of year. Even though the Milkweed plants I observed were no longer in bloom, one was being partially consumed by a Monarch caterpillar while another provided a basking place for an adult Monarch. Within a month or so, the adults will begin their 3000-mile migration to Mexico. Still meandering around the meadow, I spotted a Pearl Crescent Butterfly resting on a blade of grass. Next, I turned around and began retracing my steps east where I was amazed how the morning sun reflected off a dewy patch of Purpletop grass. Finally, I reached the car and started my journey home.



Throughout summer
Green had its way
Grasses and shrubs
Meadow’s display
Splashes of white
Queen Anne’s Lace
Milkweed pink
If only a trace
Along comes yellow
To blanket the sod
Autumn approaches
Behold! Goldenrod

D. DeGraaf

Sept. 3

Last Wednesday, I drove 32 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the 25-acre Kjolhede’s Kove Preserve, another property of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 68 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the west. Leaving the car parked along side Beal City Rd, I put on my knee boots and proceeded south into the preserve that can best be described as a deciduous jungle whose only access are a few barely used game trails through mud and deep puddles. After spotting the red fruit clusters of Jack-in-the-Pulpit, I made my way to the edge of Coldwater River that was flowing fast and spilling over its banks due to heavy overnight rain. This scenic, 13-mile stream flows south out of Littlefield Lake, passes through Weidman Mill Pond, continues south to where I stood, then passes through Coldwater Lake and finally empties into the Chippewa River, three miles south of here. Trudging south through muddy water as I followed the river toward Coldwater Lake, I noticed a pair of tiny Goldenrod Crab spiders on a Common Boneset blossom. Further ahead, I came upon a large swarm of Woolly Alder Aphids feeding on the sap of a Tag Alder branch. The “wool” on these tiny insects is wax, produced by their abdominal glands. The wax streamers shed water, make the aphid look like mold, and are distasteful and distracting to predators. The strands also assist this insect in flight, helping it float in the breeze and disguising it as an airborne plant seed. These aphids excrete honeydew as a byproduct that is a food source for ants. These guardian ants (brownish color on photo) in turn “milk” the aphids while also protecting them from predators. Since the water got deeper and the footing got worse before I could reach Coldwater Lake, I retraced my steps back to the car and drove east a short distance where I was able to gain lake access. On the rocky shore, I spotted Jewelweed, Purple Loosestrife, Smartweed and Sow Thistle. Gazing to the northwest across the cove, I could make out the shoreline of the preserve. Back to the car again, I headed home.

September awakes

Summer holds on

Beyond the shore

A graceful swan

Herons remain

Redwings have fled

A frog sits still

By the river bed

Nature’s realm

Forest is lush

Away from town

A welcomed hush

D. DeGraaf

August 27

Last Thursday, while in Muskegon for my wife’s 50th high school reunion, we hiked nearby in the 1200-acre, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park. The mid morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 67 degrees and a westerly breeze off Lake Michigan. From the parking lot of the Gillette Visitor Center, we first stopped at their butterfly garden where I spotted a pair of adult Monarchs feeding on Jerusalem Artichoke blossoms as well as a caterpillar crawling on a Milkweed leaf. On another Milkweed plant, I noticed a cluster of Milkweed Bugs including nymphs and adults feeding on the seedpods. These bugs undergo incomplete metamorphosis. The nymphs look like adults but do not have full wings and their color pattern is different. They have five instars before they reach adulthood. By feeding on milkweed they obtain nasty tasting chemicals and, in turn become distasteful to a wide range of predators. Following the trail west we entered a mature, back dune forest of American Beech, Sugar Maple and Black Oak as well as Canadian Hemlock. Arriving at a fork, we turned south and followed the Dune Climb Overlook trail to a set of 193 stairs that took us to the top for a panoramic view of Lake Michigan and a portion of the worlds most extensive set of freshwater dunes. These sand hills are among the youngest geological formations in Michigan, formed only 3,000 years ago and constantly changing in appearance, size and their effect on the environment. Retracing our steps back to the fork, we took the Lake Michigan Beach trail as it gradually descended west toward the lake. After noticing a few young Sassafras trees, we moved out of the forest toward the shoreline where I paused to observe a Beach Wormwood plant. Wandering around the fore dune, I spotted two kinds of beach grass including: Marram Grass and Sand Reed Grass. Finally reaching the beach, I paused to look and listen to the breaking waves rolling on shore. Also, I spotted a few Ring Billed Gulls far ahead. Retracing our steps back toward the car, we were serenaded by whining Cicadas. Reaching the car, we headed back to our rental in Muskegon.

Breaking waves

Wash the land

Dunes of summer

Grains of sand

Scenic shoreline

Seagull shrills

Dunes of summer

Shifting hills

Opportunity

We had to take

Dunes of summer

Beside the lake

D. DeGraaf

August 20

Last Wednesday, I drove 18 miles southeast of Alma to hike on the nature trail in Gratiot County’s 100-acre Reed Park. The mid afternoon weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 86 degrees and no wind. From the parking lot, I walked north to the trail and followed it into dense forest of mature deciduous trees where I spotted some colorful fruit of Highbush Cranberry. Following the Beech-Maple Trail east, I scanned the landscape and noticed several trees with trunks of various colors and textures. Those that were easy to distinguish included: American Beech, Yellow Birch, Black Cherry, Musclewood and Hop Hornbeam. As the trail turned to the north, I noticed trunks whose differences were more subtle without seeing their leaves including: Sugar Maple, Red Oak and Basswood. Speaking of leaves, I gazed up at the forest canopy that was nearly enclosed. Continuing north, I spotted a recently fallen chlorotic maple leaf on the leaf litter as well as some acorns and an Acorn Plum Gall. This gall grows on Red Oak acorns in response to eggs laid by a female Cynipid wasp. Cutting the fleshy gall in half revealed tiny larvae that will soon pupate and turn into adult wasps. Following the trail as it turned west then south, I was serenaded by sounds of Cicadas. On my left, I came upon a patch of Elderberry bushes with their compound leaves consisting of seven leaflets. On my right, I spotted the fruit of False Solomon’s Seal. Near the trailhead, I came upon a large decaying stump where I spotted the silken-lined burrow of a Wolf Spider. Also, I observed a Harvestman (Daddy long-legs) whose body was about 1/8 inch in diameter and legs about an inch long. Watch how this amazing creature uses its legs to probe the surroundings (while a Housefly ignores it). These legs, especially the second pair, serve as ears, nose, tongue, and even as supplementary "eyes." They are loaded with nerves and literally thousands of tiny sense organs that lie inside microscopic slits. Finally, I completed the circuit and made it back to the car for my trip home.

Forest of summer

Trail through trees 

Time of the year

To show off leaves

Towering Maples

Stand all around

Spreading their green

Shading the ground

High in the canopy

Beyond my reach

Seeking the sun

Oak and Beech

D. DeGraaf

August 13

Last Thursday, I drove 34 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the 100-acre, Bundy Hill Preserve, Chippewa Watershed Conservancy’s latest acquisition. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 68 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the west. Leaving the parking area off W. River Rd., I headed south on a 2-track where I noticed a patch of Smartweed near my feet. Soon, I came to a 2-3 acre meadow covered with the pink blossoms of the invasive Spotted Knapweed. Wandering around the perimeter, I spotted: a Tussocks Moth caterpillar on a Milkweed leaf, a Field Grasshopper barely visible in the grass (can you find it?) and a Lesser Cream Wave Moth resting on a Raspberry leaf. Next, I began ascending the hill on the McNeel Trail where I paused to look at a Cairn. The word “cairn” comes from a Gaelic term meaning “heap of stones.” One of its purposes is to guide hikers by marking a turn in the trail. More recently, cairn construction involves the art and science of rock balancing. Nearby, I noticed a decaying stump of a Red Oak exposing the reddish heartwood. After passing the huge “Bundy Boulder”, I arrived at the summit where the view to the south was limited by leaf cover and morning haze. Following the newly created Summit trail, I began my descent where I observed three kinds of edible fungi: Chicken of the Woods, Spiny Puffballs and tiny Scarlet Wax caps. Following the meandering trail through a grove of immature Big Tooth Aspens, I came upon a patch of Sweet Fern and a few blossoms of Pink Beardtongue. Further down the hill, I paused to hear two Eastern Towhees exchanging calls. Continuing my descent, I stirred up a flock of several dozen Grackles (with a few Redwing Blackbirds mixed in) as they flew rapidly through the dense canopy. It's normal for these birds to flock together after the nesting season to forage for food and roost in a patch of woods. Finally, I reached the base of the hill as the trail led me back to the parking lot where I hopped in the car and headed home.

Birds begin their tunes

As I walk in early day

A wildlife sanctuary

Nature shows the way

Trail for me to follow

Path that leads me on

From the forest glade

To the hill beyond

Climbing past the oaks

Still higher and higher

Finally reached the top

A vista to admire

D. DeGraaf

August 6

Last Wednesday, I drove 23 miles northwest of Alma to hike in the two-acre, Hagen Preserve owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 66 degrees and a gentle southerly breeze. Leaving the car parked alongside Winn Rd, I hiked east into an open field along the southern boundary of the preserve where I spotted lots of Spotted Knapweed and Sweet William as well as an early sign of autumn- reddening leaves of Virginia creeper. Without any groomed trails to follow, I trudged northeast into wooded wetlands where the pink blossoms of Joe Pye Weed dominated the scene. This plant is named after a Native American medicine man from Salem, Massachusetts who earned his fame using it to cure colonial settlers of typhus in the late 1800’s. Also, I noticed a few blossoms of Canadian Goldenrod, another early sign of autumn. While plodding through the dense growth of reeds, grasses and sedges, one of my arms came in contact with some Stinging Nettle that resulted in a brief rash and inch. Nearby, I spotted a Black Swallowtail Butterfly hidden in the lush vegetation and a Pearl Crescent Butterfly resting on a leaf. Arriving at the edge of the gently flowing Chippewa River, I paused to look and listen. After turning around to begin retracing my steps, I came upon a patch of Motherwort and Bed Straw mixed in the tall grasses while seeing Virgin’s Bower vine winding up the side of a large tree trunk. In the fall, this plant produces white, wavy seed floss referred to as “Old Man’s Beard.” Continuing back toward the car, I once again stopped at the river’s edge where I observed a large aggregation of fast moving Whirligigs. This tiny, 1/8-inch long beetle is well adapted for life on the water. It has a split compound eye allowing it to observe objects both under water and on the surface. When disturbed, it exudes a disagreeable-smelling milky liquid, which protects it from predators. As a carnivore, it uses its antennae to locate food sources such as a fallen insect by sensing the waves it generates. Also, it can fly to escape predation and seek new habitats. Finally, I made it back to the car and headed home.

Once again

A welcome retreat

Away from town

With nature I meet

No noisy cars

Or smoggy air

No concrete jungle

Or lights that glare

A forest trail

Points the way

Nothing disturbs

But a call of the jay

D. DeGraaf