December 17

Last Thursday, I stayed close to home and hike on some private land just east of Alma. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 17 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car, I headed north along a 2-track, accompanied by a small flock of Juncos that darted through the leafless underbrush where I couldn’t help but notice the huge wind turbines off in the distance. While looking more closely at the underbrush, I spotted the colorful seeds and husks of American Bittersweet. Since, there was a thin layer of snow on the ground, it was easy to spot some fresh coyote tracks. Following the trail as curved to the west and then south, I entered a forest of mature hardwoods and conifers where the leaf litter showed evidence of oak, maple and pine. Continuing on the trail as it ascended a steep slope and meandered westward across a high narrow ridge with wooded wetlands below, I marveled at what appeared to be glacial type terrain, a rare sight indeed in the predominately flat landscape of Gratiot County. Suddenly, a large raptor flew over the trail ahead and landed high in a nearby tree where I could see it was a majestic Barred Owl. Continuing west, I noticed a few green but frozen leaves on an Autumn Olive shrub beside me and a few fresh opossum tracks on the snowy path at my feet. Next, I paused to watch a family of wild turkeys cross the trail in front of me. Descending the ridge, I wandered over to the edge of one of several large wooded wetlands to scan the landscape. Near shore, I spotted a few fresh rabbit tracks on the snow-covered ice. Turning around, I began retracing my steps to the east when I came upon an unusual site- a healthy looking maple tree whose leaves had turned brown and had not fallen off. While this phenomena is common in oak and beech trees, it is rarely seen in maple trees. Continuing eastward, I exited the forest and came to a gravel pit surrounded by large pine trees where I spotted a set of deer tracks crossing the ice covered surface. Finally, I returned to the car and headed home.

Outer edge of fall

Thin layer of snow

Creatures hunker down

Grasses cease to grow

Farewell sun of autumn

Winds from the north

Sweep the icy pond

Reeds sway back and forth

Gone, flowers of May

Gone, birds of June

Nature takes a break

Winter is coming soon

D. DeGraaf

December 10

Last Tuesday, I drove 14 miles southwest of Alma to hike in Centennial Park, located in the village of Sumner. The early afternoon weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 34 degrees and no wind. From the car parked off St. Charles Rd., I headed a short distance west to the edge of the swollen Pine River to observe the water flowing fast to the south under the bridge. From there, the river will curve around to the northeast and meander for approximately 8 miles before reaching the millpond in Alma. Turning north, I followed the riverbank and entered the walking trail where I followed my shadow through a corridor of leafless trees and shrubs. Below my feet, I noticed a few dead maple leaves on a bed of moss while overhead, the naked canopy revealed a sky of blue and white. Just ahead, I paused to scan the extensive river flats while also noticing a thin layer of ice on a nearby vernal pond. I continued on the trail as it curved east and then back to the south where I spotted some small brown fungi growing from a decaying log. While they looked like Galerina Mushrooms, I wasn’t sure. Since these kind of mushrooms are difficult to identify, mycologists refer to them as LBMs (little brown mushrooms). There are hundreds of species found everywhere, in all seasons and all habitats. Many LBMs are poisonous and some contain the deadly amatoxin. Continuing south, I came upon the remnants of a Ground Cherry vine with some of its Chinese lantern-like husks. Up ahead, the trail displayed some deer tracks while a White Oak tree still retained its leaves. As I was exiting the woods, I noticed the bright red fruit of High Bush Cranberry. Despite its name, this fruit is not cranberry. However it looks somewhat like a cranberry, tastes like a cranberry and ripens at the same time of year. Finally, I wandered back to the river for one last look before returning to the car and heading home.

December arrives

Escorting cold

Dormancy and death

Have now taken hold

Fur on the trail

Bones in the mud

A patch of snow

Drops of blood

Creatures confronted

Predator and prey

One lives, one dies

Mother Nature’s way

D. DeGraaf

December 3

Last Wednesday, I drove 20 miles north to hike in Mt. Pleasant’s 90-acre Mill Pond Park. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 27 degrees and a slight breeze out of the west. From the parking lot, I headed south along the edge of the Mill Pond that was beginning to ice over. Along the way, a solitary Milkweed plant with a few seeds yet to be dispersed reminded me of the warm days of summer when it had fragrant pink blossoms and was sometime visited by Monarch Butterflies. Just ahead, I spotted some squirrel tracks in the snow as well as some of their nests high in a leafless maple tree. From near shore, I paused to observe some Sugar Maple leaves submerged in the murky frigid water. Retracing my steps back to the beginning, I turned east and followed the main trail where a few oak leaves were scattered on the paved pathway and a few leafless Buckthorn trees displayed some of their black berries. The presence of these berries at this late date indicated they were not the most desirable food source for wildlife. Even though the seeds are mildly poisonous, birds will eat them and their laxative effect helps with seed dispersal trough their droppings. Also, I noticed a few Musclewood (Blue Beech) trees were still clinging to some of their leaves. As the path continued east along the bank of the Chippewa River, I paused to watch the gently flowing current. Based on the current flow rate data from Mt. Pleasant, the water was moving at a rate of 387 cubic feet per second compared to a high of a little more than 2000 feet per second back in March. In contrast, further ahead I came to the river’s edge to look and listen as it passed over a dam and spilled north over some rocks. Crossing a pedestrian bridge, I turned around and walked along the south river bank where off to my left I could see how the snow helped outline the contorted trunks and branches of mature Box elder trees that were a dominant species in the flood plain. Not surprisingly, a few female trees still held on to some samaras. As the path turned south along the riverbank, I spotted a few wispy seeds of the invasive Clematis shrub (Old Man’s Beard). After turning around, I proceeded north over another bridge and retraced my steps west back to the car.

You speak to me

Waters of worth

Sustainer of life

Artery of earth

Raparian wonder

Born in a lake

Carving the land

You give and take

Soothing sounds

Resource giver

Rapids on rocks

Chippewa River

D. DeGraaf

November 26

Yesterday, I stayed close to home and hiked in Alma’s 50-acre Conservation Park. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 37 degrees and a light gusty breeze from the west. From the parking lot, I headed west along the edge of the Pine River millpond where I spotted a few Canada Geese and Mute Swans swimming near the far shore. Continuing west, I noticed a patch of leafless Red-Osier Dogwood with their burgundy branches. Just ahead, I paused on an observation deck to scan the millpond where, at my feet, the leaf litter showed mostly Aspen, Oak and Pine. Continuing west along a high bank above the river, I noticed the leaf litter was dominated by Red and White Oak along with a few Beech. Turning south, I followed the dirt road past a mature leafless deciduous forest to the newly renovated Girl Scout Cabin. Just past the cabin, I saw a colorful patch of British Soldier Lichens growing on a decomposing stump. Turning east, I first found evidence of deer activity including a fresh buck rub and some tracks in the mud before glancing ahead to see a gathering of them staring at me. Little did they know how fortunate they are to live in this preserve that doesn’t allow hunting. Continuing east across the mowed grassland under the power lines, I entered a dense wooded area of spruce and pine where I came face to face with a young curious whitetail. Following the meandering trail as it turned north, I came upon a few red berries of Viburnum and Barberry. Exiting the woods, I followed a paved road back to the west where the leaf litter included rarely seen Chinquapin Oak leaves. Next, I stopped at the Eyer Bird Observation Hut where I watched the feeders for a few minutes and spotted a Nuthatch, a Chickadee and a Downy Woodpecker. Finally, I returned to the car for a short drive home.

Far away from the hunter’s gun

Run, river run

By light of the moon, light of the sun

Run, river run

Your journey’s not over, only half done

Run, river run

Ice flows have not yet begun

Run, river run

Keeping you healthy is priority one

Pine River run

D. DeGraaf

November 19

Last Wednesday, I drove 31 miles northeast of Alma to hike on the River Point Trail, one of several trails within the 1200-acre Chippewa Nature Center. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 23 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car parked in the cul-de-sac at the end of E. Hubert Rd., I followed my shadow onto a groomed trail northeast into a wooded area that included maples as indicated by the leaf litter. At the fork where a mile-long loop began, I veered right and hiked along with my shadow through a wooded area dominated first by Pin Oak and then by Red Oak and Aspen as indicated by the leaf litter at my feet. Scanning my surroundings, I noticed many downed tree trunks dusted with last week’s snow. Approaching the edge of the Chippewa River, I paused on a high bluff to observe the slow moving current. The main branch of this river begins its 92-mile journey from a dam impoundment in Mecosta County’s village of Barryton. From there it meanders southeast through Mt. Pleasant and then flows more easterly along the M-20 corridor to this point. From here it continues east about a mile where it picks up the Pine River tributary and flows another 4 miles to Midland where it empties into the Tittabawassee River. Continuing counterclockwise on the loop trail, the only green vegetation I noticed were the roundish leaves of a Pagoda Dogwood tree. Nearby, a decaying tree trunk was covered with fresh Oyster Mushrooms. Following the trail as it curved south, I noticed the litter contained more American Beech leaves. Turning east, I walked on a narrow boardwalk over one of many vernal ponds. Continuing east toward the rising sun, I completed the loop and retraced my steps back to the car for my trip home.

Season moves ahead

Nature rids of green

Autumn colors exposed

Falling leaves are seen

Barren is the meadow

Frost glazes the ground

Swallows leave the pond

Wooly Bears around

Grasses cease to grow

Creatures go away

Comes the colder night

Comes the shorter day

D. DeGraaf

November 12

Last Saturday, I drove 6 miles northwest of Alma to hike once again in the 90-acre, Forest Hill Nature Area. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 25 degrees and a noticeable breeze out of the west. Leaving the parking lot, I proceeded west to the crest of Energy Hill where yesterday’s snowfall dusted the landscape. After walking down to the edge of ice-covered Mallard Marsh, I continued west through Bobolink Meadow where I noticed a large section had been mowed in preparation for reintroduction of native grassland species. Entering North Woods, I proceeded west past a swollen vernal pond before turning south into Succession Field. Circling west and then south, I walked through oak alley where Red Oak leaves continued to fall and litter the trail. Also, I paused to notice a Flowering Dogwood tree and was puzzled as to why its leaves were still green. Turning east through birch row, I got off the trail and ventured into Succession Field to investigate a solitary Birch tree that unlike all the other birch trees nearby, still retained most of its leaves. A close examination revealed it was not a white birch like the others but probably a gray or river birch. From there, I entered South Woods, stopped briefly to scan Swanson Swamp and spot a few bright red Winter berries before continuing along the trail where I noticed some of the leafless Witch Hazel trees were still in bloom. Exiting the woods, I turned east and then south past Sora Swale where the muddy trail revealed a few deer tracks. Turning east, I followed the trail through another grassland section that had been mowed before reintroduction of native species. Continuing east, I paused briefly at Brady Cemetery to admire the new sign and restoration work done to many of the gravesites. Turning north through Native Grassland, I paused to gaze at Grebe Pond as well as the recently mowed top of Reflection Hill. Finally, I followed the trail around past Raske Barn., glanced south at Grebe Pond before making my way back to the car for my trip home.

Midst of November

Nature takes a rest

Leafless willow tree

Shows an empty nest

Rain refills the pond

Cattails bow down

Herons bid farewell

Buck shows his crown

At the forest edge

Chickadees greet

Meadow colors fade

Autumn in retreat

D. DeGraaf

November 5

Last Thursday, I drove 8 miles west of Alma to hike in a 74-acre, Department of Natural Resources’ property abutting the eastside of the Pine River north of Riverdale. The late afternoon weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 45 degrees and a noticeable breeze from the east. Parking on a dirt driveway off M-46, I followed a 2-track north past a locked gate into a clearing where I noticed leaves on Autumn Olive shrubs were beginning to turn yellow. Continuing north, the path took me through a grove of oak trees whose leaves had turned rusty red. Examining the leaf litter, I noticed they were Red Oak. With no trail to follow, I turned west and made my way through a dense cedar swamp where I spotted some foliose lichens growing on a fallen tree branch and lush moss covering a decaying log. Continuing west, I came to the edge of an expansive floodplain marked by pools of water and fallen trees. Exploring this area, I paused as a gust of wind passed through an American Beech tree blowing down some of its golden leaves. Continuing to meander westward through muddy river flats, I noticed the peeling bark of a Yellow Birch tree and a standing tree trunk marked by several burls. A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress caused by an injury, virus or fungus. Most burls grow beneath the ground, attached to the roots as a type of malignancy that is generally not discovered until the tree dies or falls over. Continuing west, I came to the edge of the Pine River and paused to watch the slow moving current as it flowed north to south under the noisy highway toward the city of Alma. After turning around to make my way back, I came upon a large patch of dark green stalks of Equisetum as well as a small patch of light green Liverwort. This plant gets its name from the shape of its thallus. Like moss it doesn’t have leaves, stems or roots. Nearby, I spotted some aging Red-banded polypore fungi attached to a fallen tree trunk. Returning to higher ground, I found a groomed trail and followed it south where I noticed the leaf litter was comprised of maple and aspen. Finally, I returned to the car and headed home.

Gone from the fields

Is the luster of gold

Sunshine of summer

Has now turned cold

Gone are the redwings

That ruled the marsh

Winds of November

Blow strong and harsh

Gone is the green

Of trees and vines

Scenes of nature

Mid autumn signs

D. DeGraaf