November 18

The mid-morning temperatures are in the upper 30’s, under partly sunny skies and a gentle west wind, as I begin my hike on a grass trail at Forest Hill Nature Area. Following the path west, I arrive on the edge of Sora Swale, one of several wetlands in the Nature Area. Scanning from here reveals a nearly waterless landscape never before seen. Because of a long-term draught, it looks dramatically different than it did a few years ago (stock photo). Some 30 years ago, Forest Hill Nature Area started out as farmland with no wetlands. During its first few years, with help from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife service, drain tiles were broken, allowing rainwater and snow melt to fill in the low spots and form year-round wetlands, like Sora Swale, that developed into ideal habitat for wildlife. Moving into South woods, I veer off the trail to find a weathered, 2-ton, granite boulder covered with moss, lichens and fungi. This sighting begs two questions: how did it get here and how old is it? Referred to as a glacial erratic, this rock was transported here by a glacier at the end of Michigan’s last ice age, some 12,000 years ago. During its journey south, a much larger boulder was weathered and eroded before coming to rest. Once here, it continued to get smaller and smoother during years and years of exposure to wind, rain, ice and snow. Continuing through South woods, I first glance down to see the trunk of an Aspen tree shredded by a Pileated Woodpecker looking for Carpenter ants and then glance up to see the delicate, yellow, autumn-blooming flowers on a Witch Hazel tree. Looping around to the east, I arrive at another wetland called, Willow Wallow, that too is nearly dried up but, retains enough water to support a family of muskrats. Up ahead, I come upon an abandoned Robin’s nest wedged in the crotch of a Thornapple tree and think about how wise the mother bird was last spring to build her mud-lined, nest in a tree shielded from predators by dense leaves and prickly thorns. Ascending Reflection Hill, I first notice the amber-gold color of a patch of Switch grass and then a leafless tree in the distance laden with orange fruit. Upon a closer look, I identify the fruit as cherry-size, Harvest Gold crabapples. Most crabapples are best suited for preserves rather than eating them raw. Descending the hill, I come to the grassy edge of Grebe Pond and notice, like other wetlands on the property, the water level is very low compared to what it was a few years ago (stock photo). Even so, I spot a few mallards swimming along the far shore. Despite frequently seeing mallards around here, their population is in rapid decline. One reason is the natural cross breeding of wild mallards with game-farm mallards released from hunting preserves. Game-farm mallards are passing on less desirable traits to wild mallards, making it harder for them to survive and thrive in the natural world. 

Hunting days, barely begun

Run, run, whitetail run

Far away from the hunter’s gun

Run, run, whitetail run

Some humans shoot for fun

Run, run, whitetail run

Low light of the morning sun

Run, run, whitetail run

Stay alive till season’s done

Run, run, whitetail run

 

D. DeGraaf

November 11

The early morning sky is overcast and temperatures are in the mid 50’s as Caroline, Riley and I begin hiking an earthen trail in Mt Pleasant’s Mission Creek Woodland Park. Today, I’m on my seasonal quest to spot any vegetation in the wild that still retains enough chlorophyll pigment to show off the green color that has mostly disappeared from this autumn landscape. My first discovery is one of several tufts of Woodland Sedge that will remain green in the forest most of the winter. Proceeding down a steep slope to Mission creek, I pause to look and listen as its water flows gently downstream. Following the leaf-covered bank, I stop to take in this riparian ecosystem. This 2.5 mile watercourse begins west of here and will flow another ¼ mile east where it merges with the Chippewa River. Scanning the creek surface, I first see the very green leaves of a Watercress plant and then a ½ inch Water Strider, skating in the shallow water above decaying leaves. Water striders typically live until a freeze hits, but if there is no freeze, they can live for up to a year.. Hiking away from the creek, I come upon a large blacken stump covered with ochre spreading tooth fungi as well as a downed log with rows of Wrinkled Crust fungi. While exploring the flood plain for more green vegetation, I come upon a leaf of Greenbriar as well as fronds of a Bracken fern poking through the liter. Up ahead, I observe delicate, palmately-divided leaves of the non-native, Herb Robert.  Sometimes called “Stinky Bob”, freshly picked leaves of this plant have an odor resembling burning tires when crushed. Herb Robert is not poisonous and has no toxic effects to people or wildlife. A few feet away, I watch a 2-inch Dusky Slug moving very sluggishly over a Basswood leaf. Slugs survive the winter by hibernating in protected places, such as under plant debris, mulch or in burrows. Nearby, I spot a patch of green Haircap moss growing on a blacken stump. Approached the car, first I notice a Whitetail Deer standing on a green grassy knoll. Then, I look and listen as a pair of Canada Geese fly south under a partly blue sky. During the second half of the 20^thcentury, this sighting was a sign of the season as flocks of these waterfowl were migrating south for the winter. However, due to milder winters and fewer ice-covered lakes and rivers, a residential population of geese now exists that can be seen flying in any direction in search of snowless fields and open water.

Midst of November

Nature takes a rest

Leafless willow tree

Shows an empty nest

Rain refills the creek

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 4

Along with sunny skies and chilly temperatures, my wife, Caroline and dog, Riley join me on a morning hike at the Kenneth Lehman nature trails on the campus of Montcalm Community College. Not far ahead, I pause to scan a placid South Twin Lake, surrounded by a colorful autumn landscape. Following a path around the lake, I spot the red fruit of a Swamp Rose vine and a Japanese Barberry shrub. Berries from this shrub are edible by humans but are too sour to eat raw and have a bitter taste. They’re also eaten by birds that spread the seeds, causing a rapid spread of this invasive species. Continuing on the leaf-covered trail, my attention is drawn to a giant (9-inch long) Red Oak leaf among the litter of smaller oak and maple leaves. Large leaves like this one often grow on young, vigorous saplings, especially those located in shady areas. Up ahead, I come upon a Wood Duck box mounted on a pole with a protective cone on it to keep raccoons, red foxes and black rat snakes from preying on the ducklings. Looking up, I spot some Sugar Maple leaves wafting to the ground. Colder temperatures and shorter photoperiods trigger a hormone in these trees that sends a chemical message to every leaf. Once the message is received, a bumpy line of cells grow between the leaf stem and the branch until they separate (stock photo). Nearby, I get a close-up look at a multi-prong thorn of a Thornapple tree. While these thorns are not poisonous, researchers have discovered that they harbor an array of pathogenic bacteria as yet another defense mechanism for the tree. Looking around, I notice the distinctive muscle-like surface on the trunk of a Blue Beech tree.  Also, called Muscle Wood, the tree’s extremely hard wood is used for tool handles, longbows, walking sticks/canes and golf clubs. After watching the morning sun sparkle through the trees, I look down to notice the leaf litter has lots of female cones from the surrounding White Pine trees. Small mammals, like Red Squirrels collect seeds from these cones (stock photo) during autumn and cache them as a winter food source. Birds such as Red-breasted Nuthatches (stock photo) store seeds under tree bark while Pine Siskins (stock photo), frequent seed eaters will flock here in winter. Turning toward the car, I look up to see a large number of reddish-orange berries on vines of American Bittersweet that have overrun a hickory tree. These berries are toxic to humans but a food source for many types of wildlife, including Ruffed grouse, Pheasants, Fox squirrels, Bobwhite, and Turkey.  

I thank the trees

For an autumn show

Spreading their color

To earth below

I thank the birds

For sticking around

To fill the forest

With gifts of sound

I thank the sun

Watching it set

Back in town

The voters fret

 

D. DeGraaf

October 28

It’s mid-morning as I stand on the Barry Rd bridge to watch the water of the Bad River flow slowly under me. The name of this 44-mile watercourse comes from the Chippewa Indians who called the river "maw-tchi-sebe" or quite literally, "bad river," because of how difficult it was to navigate. Current temperatures are in the low 60’s under partly sunny skies and a gusty wind as I turn west and get a brief look at an American Beaver swimming near its partial dam and lodge of mud and piled branches, on the right bank. These lodges are well-insulated and can be 30 degrees warmer than freezing temperatures. Unfortunately, the beaver submerges before I can get a photo. Moving down off the bridge, I begin exploring the nearby floodplain where I come upon a freshly gnawed beaver stump and a well-hidden, 2-inch Leopard Frog. Nearby, I notice Milkweed seeds swaying in the wind, a perching Milkweed Bug and the crimson leaves of a Virginia Creeper vine climbing up a leafless Hawthorn tree. Turning around and crossing to the east side of the bridge, I make my way along a high bank covered with crunchy, fallen leaves. Looking down, I notice the leaf litter contains mostly oak mixed with an evergreen ground cover called Periwinkle. Despite its beautiful purple spring blossoms (stock photo), this non-native plant can spread rapidly and out-compete native species. Moving down closer to the river’s edge, I pause to look and listen as a gust of wind blows a few acorns off an overhanging oak tree into the leaf-covered water. Still on the muddy, shore, I watch the river’s gentle current. From here it flows eastward about 20 miles where it merges with the Shiawassee River, about 2-miles beyond the village of St. Charles. Back up the bank, I look around at a variety of tree trunks, including Wild Cherry, Shagbark Hickory and Hop Hornbeam with a large knot-hole. These holes are often used by insects and small birds like Black-capped Chick-a-dees (stock photo). Nearby, I spot a partially buried deer carcass and a few 2-inch dried, spiny seedpods of Wild Cucumber. Hydrostatic pressure that builds as the seedpods dry may cause them to burst open, flinging the seeds to the ground. (stock photo), occasionally making an audible sound. Looking skyward near the car, I observe the colorful, wind-blown leaves of a mature, Red Oak tree. The range and intensity of these colors are greatly influenced by the weather. The dry, sunny weather we’ve had this fall increased the production of the red pigment, anthocyanin in such leaves.

Autumn breathes a sigh                             

October breathes its last

Green goes in hiding

Others fading fast

Redwings left the marsh

Most muskrats stayed

Gone the flowered fields

Gone the forest shade

Nature dials down

Calls of creatures wild

No more longer days

No more breezes mild

 

D. DeGraaf

October 21

The early morning air is chilly, under partly sunny skies as I stand on the bank of the Pine River, watching its water flow gently eastward. I’ve entered the grounds of Jasper Township’s Chapel Nature Park, a new public access to the Pine River in Midland County. In addition to a picnic shelter, the park has constructed a modern canoe/kayak launch (stock photo). Nearby, I come upon a sign of the season, a small tree with some of the bark scraped off. Called a buck rub, this is where male deer rub their antlers to remove the velvet-like coating and bulk up their neck and shoulder muscles. They also secrete hormones from glands in their forehead to mark their presence, attract potential mates and suppress sex drives of younger bucks. Looking up, I notice a Cherry tree with several tuffs of stunted, woody shoots attached to some branches. Called Witches’ brooms, they can be a symptom of fungal, bacterial, or viral infection. If left alone, these new branches usually bloom and drop their leaves earlier than other branches of the tree. White spores are often visible on the undersides of any foliage produced on the branches that have been infected (stock photo). Overhead, I spot the leaves and fruit of Bitternut Hickory. The husks of the fruit are thin and dark while the nuts are quite bitter. While not poisonous, they are best left for the squirrels and other wildlife, given their unpleasant taste. Finding the car, I drive about ¼ mile north to the Jasper Township Cemetery and proceed again to the edge of the Pine River to view its water flow fast through a lovely autumn landscape. Looking more closely, I see the amber leaves of a Basswood tree and a Mussel shell submerged in the clear water. Making my way along the flood plain over a dense cover of dry leaf litter, I pause, stoop down to see mostly oak, maple and hickory. Nearby, I come upon the femur and tibia bones of a deer among the leaf litter. Up ahead, I notice a Multi flora Rose vine displaying lots of red-ripe fruit. Called hips, they contain large amounts of vitamin C, can be eaten raw or mashed for jelly or steeped in boiling water to make tea. In addition, they are an important winter food for birds, chipmunks, mice, rabbits and deer. Heading back to the car, I first spot an 8-inch wide Sycamore leaf on the ground and then green leaves of a Greenbriar vine. Also called brambles and prickle ivy, this partially deciduous, partially evergreen plant has the ability to photosynthesize year-round.  Finally, at the car, I scan the colorful distant trees of autumn before heading home.

Milkweed pods

Bursting white

Flossy seeds

Take to flight

Goldenrod

Dying brown

Fading grass

Bowing down

Mother Nature

Shows her hand

Autumn spreads

In meadow land

 

D. DeGraaf

October 14

This morning, I’m greeted by sunny skies, chilly temperatures and a gusty west breeze as I begin my hike in the 17-acre, Mill Pond Natural Area, one of the newest preserves owned by the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. After pausing to watch the Chippewa River flow east toward the rising sun, I make my way along the shore where I spot Raccoon tracks in the mud and dozens of tiny Whirligigs darting over the water surface. Up ahead, I notice a Mallard drake swimming upstream and a 1-inch, male Autumn Meadow Hawk dragonfly basking on a large flat rock. Turning away from the water into the floodplain, I spot several patches of dried stalks of the notorious Garlic Mustard plant that had previously foliated and flowered (stock photo). This species has become one of Michigan’s most invasive weeds, rapidly dominating the forest floor while destroying woodland habitat for many plants and animals. One mother plant can produce thousands of seeds that may remain viable for up to 10 years and while growing, its lateral roots are spreading rapidly, producing chemicals in the soil that repel native plants. Nearby, I come upon some fresh edible and favorable fungi called, Chicken-of-the-woods. Next, I pause to observe a never-before-seen shrub called, Black Jetbead with its fruit clusters. Rarely seen in Michigan, this plant is known to invade forested areas, creating a thick shrub layer which can displace native shrubs and shade out understory species. The berries are highly toxic to humans and can be fatal if eaten. Symptoms, include difficulty breathing, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, abdominal pains, vomiting, spasms, convulsions, coma and respiratory failure. Hiking over the dry, crunchy leaf litter, I look up to see a Catalpa tree with its large leaves and foot-long seed pods. These trees are the sole source of food for catalpa worms—caterpillars that feed on the foliage (stock photo). These 2-3 -inch long worms are valued as fish bait whereas some fishermen plant the trees solely for this purpose. Eventually the caterpillar turns into a Catalpa Sphinx moth (stock photo). Nearing the car, I look up to observe the leaves of a never-before-seen tree, called a Chestnut Oak. Rarely seen this far north, this species of oak gets its name from Chestnut-like leaf structure. A closer observation reveals the presence of a round Bullet Gall on one of the leaves. This growth occurs after a tiny female wasp deposits an egg on the leaf. Subsequently, the spherical gall grows around the developing larva (stock photo).

Coo of a dove

Or propeller above

Buzz of the bees

Or blower of leaves

Babbling streams

Or siren that screams

Killdeer afar

Or muffler-less car

Sandhill cranes

Or low-flying planes

Hammering nails

Or tranquil trails

 

D. DeGraaf

October 7

The morning is sunny with temperatures in the low 40’s as I find myself in the Maple River State Game Area, hiking along the bank of the Maple River, as water vapor rises from its surface. As one of few area water courses that flows east to west, this river begins its journey some 60 miles northeast of here, near the town of Owosso and then flows southwest from here another 14 miles where it empties into the Grand River in the village of Muir. Walking east on a dirt road toward the rising sun, I’m surrounded by large Poison climbing Ivy plants, displaying their thick, hairy vines, their colorful leaves and their ¼-inch ripe berries. Birds and mammals eat this fruit and excrete the seeds. Birds may also spread the seeds by regurgitation. However, because all parts of this plant contains a potent allergen, human contact often causes severe itching and blistering of the skin. Walking along the water’s edge, I spot several 3-inch Mussel shells. These bivalve mollusks are filter feeders that eat algae, bacteria and diatoms. In addition, they remove impurities, sequestering heavy metals, and even removing pharmaceuticals and bacteria such as E. coli. Based on the numerous Mussel shells and Raccoon tracks I observe together along the muddy shore, it appears these mammals forage mussels as a main food source (stock photo). Other predators, include birds, otters and muskrats. Empty mussel shells are a refuge for crayfish, snails and fish. Near my feet, I examine the mother-of-pearl inner shells displaying concentric rings. While foresters can look at tree rings to measure its age and learn about the climate and conditions of a forest over many years, limnologists can determine the age of mussels by counting these rings and make observations about long-term stream health. Near the shore, I notice a dense patch of Duckweed with the head of a 3-inch Green frog poking through. Noting that the size of the circular patch (ear drum) behind the eye is similar to the eye, I conclude it’s a female. Males, on the other hand, have eardrums larger than their eyes (stock photo). While frogs don’t eat Duckweed, it is an important food source for aquatic waterfowl and fish. While this tiny, fast-growing plant can completely cover surfaces of ponds, lakes and rivers, blocking sunlight, depleting oxygen and killing submerged wildlife, it can also be used for bioremediation of waterways with excessive amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen from agricultural runoff. Harvesting duckweed (stock photo)can remove these pollutants and provide valuable livestock feed or fertilizer. 

Autumn days ahead

Mother Nature slows

Redwings have left

Goldenrod shows

Cicadas in concert

Blue Heron wades

Asters in bloom

Greenery fades

October rises

Maple leaves fall

Canopy opens

Snow geese call

 

D. DeGraaf.