October 31

With morning temperatures in the lower 60’s under mostly sunny skies and a southerly breeze, I look south from the Johnson Rd. bridge at an unusually straight section of the Pine Creek channel, most likely reshaped by humans to facilitate drainage of farmland. Likewise, the lack of a natural vegetation buffer along the banks, means runoff from this farmland (likely containing herbicide and pesticide residue) washes directly into the creek. Moving down from the bridge, I spot seeds of Milkweed and Clematis (Old Man’s Beard) as well as the red berries of Bittersweet Nightshade. Although not as toxic as Deadly Nightshade (stock photo), these berries are somewhat poisonous and have caused loss of livestock, pet poisoning and, more rarely, sickness and death in children. While exploring the creek, north of the bridge, I pause to watch its water flow gently past, carrying and depositing Cottonwood leaves. After driving north to the Buchannan Rd. bridge, I work my way along a high bank and come upon a patch of recently disturbed dirt called a “buck scrape.” In most cases a buck begins the scraping process by rubbing his forehead and spreading is scent on an overhanging branch and in some cases licking and chewing it.  Once done, he will paw the leaves and other debris from the ground under the branch, then urinate on it, leaving liberal amounts of scent behind to signal his dominance over other bucks. Moving down the bank, I notice a small tree trunk with scrape marks called a “buck rub. These abrasions are caused by a buck rubbing his forehead and antlers against it to remove the velvet from newly grown antlers. Likewise, this effort leaves a scent that communicates a challenge to other bucks while also attracting potential mates. Glancing skyward, I see and hear a perching male Redwing Blackbird-a sight and sound expected in early spring when he claims his breeding territory. However, most likely, this bird is part of a larger feeding flock that is migrating south from his summer breeding grounds in northern Michigan or Canada to winter grounds in southern US or Mexico. Looking across the creek, I can barely make out a clump of dead grass mixed with the fur and bones of an unknown mammal, clinging to a woody snag. Working my way back to the car, I can’t help but notice another one of many suspicious drainpipes sticking out of the bank. Near the car, I’m reminded of the season while observing leaves fall gently as the morning sun shines through a dense stand of deciduous trees. 

 

Autumn breathes a sigh

October breathes its last

Green has gone in hiding

Colors fading fast

Swallows long gone

Blue Jays stayed

Gone the flowered fields

Gone the forest shade

No more warming sun

Or calls of the wild

No more long days

Or breezes mild

 

D. DeGraaf

October 24

For my 7th encounter with Pine Creek, I start by observing its water flowing slowly south under the Hayes Rd. bridge. Under sunny skies, with noontime temperatures in the upper 50’s and a stiff southwest breeze, I make my way off the road toward the creek bank where I’m surprised to see a half dozen Cloudless Sulfur Butterflies fluttering about and landing on the grassy ground. These butterflies exhibit migration and overwintering behavior like monarchs, but they do not travel as far or in as great of numbers. Soon they will leave their breeding sites here and travel south to Florida and other southern states. There, they stay until the end of winter when they again return here to the same breeding sites. One of the greatest threats to these and other migrating butterflies is the destruction and loss of habitat. The caterpillars (stock photo) are often considered elusive pests, because they turn green when eating green leaves and turn yellow when eating yellow flowers. From the bank, I watch yellow blossoms of Black Mustard sway in the breeze. While this plant mostly blossoms in spring, some do blossom now. Moving my way along the bank next to cropland, I spot the never-before-seen, cattail-like seedhead of a grain called Pearl Millet which is used by farmers for poultry, cattle and swine feed. Back near the road, I come upon a well-decomposed roadkill of some unknown mammal, about the size of a Raccoon, Opossum or Woodchuck. While moving the carcass, I notice part of the hairless, scaly remains of an Opossum’s tail. An average adult has a long tail used as an adaptive tool when grasping something (prehensile). This amazing marsupial uses its tail as a fifth limb when climbing on different surfaces. Many people are not aware that they produce a scent at the base of their tail. When a scent is created, it can be easily identified by other Opossums to identify territorial boundaries. In some cases, an Opossum may wag its tail to signal other others that there is danger lurking around, like predators such as large dogs, coyotes and raccoons. Moving my way upstream next to Ennis Rd, I pause to watch a wading Great Blue Heron searching for aquatic prey such as small fish, frogs and snakes. These large, graceful birds will soon migrate south for the winter, some going to the Caribbean, Central America, or northern South America. They travel by day or night, alone or in flocks. Finally, along the bank, I once again spot a drainpipe. Since it drains from a nearby cattle feedlot, it’s pretty good evidence that animal waste is making its way into the creek. 

 

Showy leaf

Autumn day

Won’t last

Won’t stay

Red to yellow

Fades to gray

Brown to black

Moldy decay

Disintegrates

Without delay

Joins the soil

Nature’s way

 

D. DeGraaf

October 17

The noontime temperatures are in the mid 50’s, under sunny skies as I stand on the Grant Rd. bridge watching Pine Creek water flow slowly toward its confluence with the Maple River, some 7 miles to the south. Exploring the bank below, I come upon a 16-inch, well-decomposed carcass of a Common Carp. This species was introduced to North America as a sport and food fish during the middle of the 19th century. In the US, carp was farmed by private interests as well as by state and federal fish-and-game authorities. The fish spread quickly and by the 20th century it became an invasive nuisance species competing with native species for food and living space. Also, it uprooted aquatic vegetation, which increased the cloudiness (turbidity) of rivers and lakes. Nearby, I spot a ½-inch Boxelder Bug resting on an Aspen leaf. At this time of year these insects become gregarious and congregate on the south side of rocks, trees and buildings where the sun hits. After large masses gather, they migrate to nearby buildings or homes to overwinter. In the spring they emerge from hibernation when the Boxelder tree buds open. They first feed on fallen boxelder seeds and later move to the female boxelder trees or maple trees where they eat newly developing leaves. Boxelder bugs are not known to bite, but their piercing-sucking mouthparts can occasionally puncture skin, causing a slight irritation and producing a red spot like a mosquito bite. Also, near the ground, I come upon a ¼-inch Winter Cranefly fluttering about. Up ahead, I watch a ¼ inch winged Carpenter Ant crawl rapidly up a dead tree trunk as it passes several pea-size holes made by Carpenter Bees (stock photo). On my way back to the car, I almost step on a 1-inch Garden Slug moving slowly over the ground. Near the car, I spot a Wild Cucumber fruit. While related to the familiar, domestic vegetable, the prickly “cucumbers” is not edible. Instead of fleshy tissue under the skin, it has two seed chambers containing lacy netting. The netting holds four large seeds (stock photo) in place until the fruit ripens and the seeds drop to the ground to begin a new vine. Californian Indians of old would mash the root of this plant and add it to river water to stun fish which would float to the surface for easy retrieval. Next, I drive a short distance to the Luce Rd bridge where I stop and observe the creek as it flows westward. Finally, I pause to look at a stand of trees filled with hundreds of chirping Starlings while others perch on a nearby electrical transmission tower.

 

Summer leaves

Captured the sun

Green and lush

Everyone

Fall foliage

October days

Yellows and reds

Browns and grays

No matter the pigment

No matter the shade

Forest has no favorites

Every color displayed

 

D. DeGraaf

October 10

It’s a chilly 39 degrees under sunny skies as I walk east on a railroad track from the Gratiot County village of Perrinton (population of 400) toward another encounter with Pine Creek. From 1888 to 1956, the track was used daily to run passenger and freight trains from Muskegon to Ashley and back. Presently, a rare freight train uses this track to haul grain between elevators in Ashley and Middleton. Up ahead beside the tracks, I spot leaves changing into their autumn colors including, Sugar Maple and Sycamore Maple while in the distance, a Whitetail deer looks my way. Arriving at my destination, I descend a steep slope and look up to admire the sturdy trestle that spans the creek. After gazing downstream, I explore the bank where blossoms of Black Mustard and Pennsylvania Smartweed catch my eye. Moving upstream, I pause to take in the sights and sounds of this peaceful landscape. Next, I come upon a drain tile that empties into the creek from nearby cropland and wonder if any pollutants make their way into this watercourse. Moving back toward the tracks, I notice a huge glacial erratic boulder. Unlike the one I saw last week that weighed a 1000+ pounds, this one is at least twice as large. About 10,000 years ago during the last ice age, massive flowing glaciers eroded bedrock from Canada and dragged large fragments, such as this one, south to Michigan where they were deposited when the glacier stalled or melted back. Back on the tracks and proceeding west, I pick up the duet of a Blue Jay and Chipmunk. Further along, I see the tiny white blossoms of Heath Aster and the bright red berries of Maple Leaf Viburnum. Finally, I reach the car, parked on the north side of Perrinton. Founded in 1886, this tiny village owes its existence largely to the fact that a railroad track was built and required a station (stock photo) here. When building a station became a certainty, Ansel Phinney, one of the founders of the village of Ashley, proceeded to purchase land and plat a village. The projected village was named “Perrin” in honor of a prominent firm of lawyers from St Johns. Later the name was changed to “Perrinton” because there was already a post office named “Perrin.” Quoting Gratiot County historical records, “Perrinton is in excellent farming country. As a trading post, Perrinton is up to standards with dealers and stocked to satisfy all demands of a discriminating public. The village is fairly supplied with religious societies. It is a peaceful, law-abiding town where the churches are doing their full duty and are amply sufficient in numbers and influence.”

 

Coat of many colors

Nature can’t defer

Green lost its hold

Others begin to stir

Shades of orange

Find the maple leaf

Yellow starts to show

Joins aspen motif

Red’s wait is over

Responding to its cue

Many yet to cover

Early autumn debut

 

D. DeGraaf

October 3

About a ½ mile upstream from my last Pine Creek encounter, I’m using a map to hike cautiously through private property toward the flowing watercourse. With temperatures in the low 50’s, the morning sun at my back and a stiff wind in my face, I look up at an azure blue sky to see the leaves of a towering Cottonwood tree sway in the wind. As the trail leads me into a clearing, I spot blossoms of Panicle Aster and a Milkweed plant with a seed pod opening to reveal its brown seeds attached to white, silky strands, called floss. Alayna Rasile, an environmentally conscious textile artist has a small apparel line and a Milkweed-based design studio called May West that makes outerwear using milkweed floss as a goose down alternative. Just ahead, I pause to look at and listen to a perching male Eastern Chipmunk. The “chip-chip” sound is an alarm call to other members of the colony that a predator (or curious human) is nearby. Only male chipmunks have vocal sacs for making sounds. Moving toward the dark shade of a dense woods, I hear the call of an Eastern Wood Pewee. A long-distance migrant, this small bird (stock photo) is one of the last to leave for its wintering grounds in wooded and shrubby habitats of Central America and the Andes region of northern South America. Entering the woods, I’m pleasantly surprised to witness an amazing riparian landscape of old growth Beech and Maple trees, sloping terrain, a wide floodplain and a gently flowing Pine Creek. At the water’s edge, I watch a narrow tributary converge with the shallow Pine Creek as it flows south over piles of rocks along a lush bank where I come upon a small Shagbark Hickory tree. Turning around and heading back toward the car, I pass by a moss-covered, 1000+pound, glacial erratic boulder that was transported here thousands of years ago during the last ice age. Back into the clearing, I spot a Cockspur Hawthorn tree with its long thorns and one remaining berry (haw). Hawthorn fruit is extremely high in pectin and therefore particularly useful for making jams and jellies. Near the car, I see the walnut-like compound leaves of a Tree of Heaven. This rapidly growing deciduous tree has become a widespread invasive species across North America. Known by other names including stinking sumac, Chinese sumac and stink tree, the plant releases a strong, offensive smell from its flowers. It was brought from China to the United States in the late 1700’s as a horticultural specimen and shade tree. 

 

October forest 

Brushed with green

Artist is ready

To change the scene

Her canvas is set

Her easels unfold

Orange and brown

Oak leaves behold

Dabs of yellow

Splashes of red

Maple leaves

More colors ahead

 

D. DeGraaf

September 26

On this last day of astronomical summer, I’m hiking with wife, Caroline, dog, Riley and friends at Hall’s Lake Natural Area in western Isabella County. Combining three of Chippewa Watershed Conservancy preserves, this 170-acre property is located along the eastern shore of 68-acre Hall’s Lake, near the village of Remus. The temperatures are in the mid 70’s under partly sunny skies with a refreshing breeze as we follow an earthen trail through a dense woodland where the damp, leaf litter reveals dozens of large, yellow-orange Fly Agaric mushrooms. This mushroom is both poisonous and psychoactive to humans. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, hallucinations, involuntary movements, delirium and seizures. In northern climates, reindeer go to great lengths to seek out this hallucinogenic mushroom. Eating the fungi makes them behave drunkenly, run about aimlessly and make strange noises. Herders in Europe and Asia have long collected reindeer urine as a safer way of taking this hallucinogen. The common name, Fly Agaric is a reference to the using this mushroom as an insecticide. In some European countries caps are crumbled up and placed in saucers of milk to attract house flies. As flies drink the spiked milk, they become drowsy, collapse and die. Other fungi I notice nearby include a cluster of Honey Mushrooms that are best eaten after cooking and Coral Mushrooms that can be eaten raw, so I sample a small piece. As the trail approaches the lake, amphibians catch my eye including a 1-inch American Toad and a 3-inch Leopard Frog. Further ahead, I come upon an ornate, grape-size Oak apple gall that had fallen to the ground from an overhead tree (stock photo). This gall contains the larva of a wasp (stock photo) that feeds on inner tissue before pupating into an adult and breaking out. Arriving at the west trailhead, I look over at Hall’s Lake shoreline, see this wonderful preserve and reflect on the large amount of time, effort and financial resources it took by property owners in partnership with the Conservancy to make it a reality. Turning around and heading back to the car, I pause to observe a small white sphere moving over the leaf litter. Upon closer look, I see it’s a 1-inch, female Wolf Spider towing a silk sac full of 100 or so eggs. Once hatched, these tiny babies raise their abdomen and shoot out a small string of silk. When done correctly, this silk catches in the breeze and carries the babies off. Scientists think they do this to avoid competition with other siblings. 

 

Orb of the earth

Star of the day

Your path is sure

You do not stray

Solstice to solstice

Halfway there

Summer has set

Chill in the air

Sustainer of life

Warming sphere

Sun of autumn

Glad you’re here

 

D. DeGraaf

September 19

This morning, for my 3^rd encounter with Pine Creek, I’m on the Luce Rd. bridge, watching this watercourse flow slowly southwest toward Rainbow Lake, about a mile downstream. The skies are partly sunny with temperatures in the mid 50’s as I explore the bank, noticing a few Yellow Toadflax (Butter-and-Eggs) blossoms and a couple of Common Teasel plants, one still in bloom and one seeding out. The distinctive seed heads are popular in floral arrangements. Originally from Europe and northern Africa, this plant was first introduced to North America in the 1700's and has since spread from coast to coast. Working my way upstream, I first look down to the grassy ground where tiny leaves of a Virginia Creeper vine have turned bright red and then look up to see a Black Walnut tree displaying some green husks. After pausing to observe the placid creek surface, I explore the earthen trail while noticing some acorns of Bur Oak with their shaggy, bur-like coverings. Moving up the high bank, I spot blossoms of Bluestem Goldenrod and patches of Crown-tipped Coral mushrooms. These mushrooms can be eaten raw but are most often cooked as they can cause an upset stomach in some consumers. Descending a steep bank to the water’s edge, I see that the creek surface is completely covered with Duckweed which does block sunlight and inhibits algae growth. Algae produce oxygen and a sudden loss of algae means that fish can become stressed and die off. Walking along the floodplain, I spot white blossoms of Turtlehead. Native to North America, this plant is an important host for certain butterflies whose larvae feed on the leaves. It also attracts pollinators such a bees and hummingbirds. Working my way back toward the car, I’m not surprised to see a crawling Wooly Bear Caterpillar. This larva of an Isabella Tiger Moth (stock photo) will feed through the fall before going into a semi hibernation state through the winter.  Next spring it will pupate, form a cocoon and emerge as an adult moth. According to folklore, the wider the Woolly Bear's black bands, the longer, colder, snowier, and more severe the winter will be. Similarly, the wider the middle brown band, the milder the upcoming winter will be. However, the truth is the caterpillar's coloring is based on how long it has been feeding, its age, and species. The better the growing season, the wider the black bands on the ends and narrower brown band in its middle.  Also, the coloring indicates the age of the caterpillar.

 

Takes leaves of green

Gives us those of red

Takes a fading meadow

Gives us yellow instead

Takes a redwing’s song

Gives us a cricket’s call

Takes away summer

Gives us another fall

Seasonal transitions

Nature gives and takes

After months of sleep

Lady Autumn awakes

 

D. DeGraaf