September 15

The early morning sky is sunny with temperatures in the low 50’s as I hike east on a railroad track to Bush Creek where its water flows under me through acres of crop land. Next to the steep bank, I spot a funnel-shaped web made by an American Grass Spider (stock photo). This arachnid spends most of its time hidden in the web's funnel, emerging and moving rapidly to catch insects that land on the web. Nearby, I notice a patch of Beggarticks with their yellow blossoms. The "beggar" part of the name refers to people who might be walking through fields or areas where the plant grows and then having the seeds cling to their clothes.  The "tick" part of the name comes from the seeds' ability to stick like ticks. The seeds have barbed awns or hooks (stock photo) that grip surfaces, resembling the way a parasitic tick clings to its host. This plant has many common names that describe its seed-dispersal method, including Stick-tights, Pitchfork weed and Bur-marigolds. While examining one of the many orb webs clinging to the vegetation, I observe a 1-inch Banded Garden Spider. Female spiders produce over 1,000 eggs that overwinter in egg sacs attached to vegetation. In the spring, the eggs hatch and young spiderlings disperse by ballooning in wind currents as the life cycle continues. A short distance away, I come upon a 2-inch Virginia Tiger Moth Caterpillar, crawling upside down while clinging to green stem with pairs of prolegs on its abdomen. These prolegs have small, hook-like structures called "crochets" at the tips, which help the caterpillar grip surfaces like leaves and stems. Also known as yellow wooly bears, these caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants eventually emerging as white moths (stock photo). Turning around, I see blossoms of Wild Carrot as well as one that has lost its flowers and folded up into a seed-head. Knowing that these nest-like shapes provide habitat for insect larvae, I open up one of them to reveal a tiny, spotted larva of a Carrot-seed Moth (stock photo) These larvae feed on the flowers and developing seeds of plants in the parsley family, including dill, carrot, parsley, and fennel. Making my way back to the car, I spot a patch of Field Pepper Grass and also catch the glimpse of a bird perched on the railroad track that looks like a Savannah Sparrow, Finally, I reach the car and drive a short distance to M-46, turn right and pause on a road bridge to watch the creek flow downstream toward its confluence with the Pine River, some 8 miles NE of here. Also, I’m reminded that this once natural watercourse has been drastically altered to serve farmers at the expense of water quality and a thriving habitat for local flora and fauna.

Mid of September
Summer’s goodbye
Monarchs leave
Gone, geese that fly
Yellow drapes the fields
From oaks, acorns fall
Fawns continue to grow
Crows continue to caw
Seasons are changing
Maples showing red
Autumn coming soon
Nature moves ahead 

 

D.DeGraaf

September 8

The early morning sky is sunny with temperatures in the low 60’s as I stand on the edge of Gratiot County’s Harrison Rd to see an overgrown drainage ditch that marks the beginning the Bush Creek. This watercourse (stock photo) flows NNE for about 15 miles before merging with the Pine River in Midland County. For the first few miles, I watch the creek as it makes its way through cropland confined to drainage ditches with limited buffer strips. After it flows under Jackson Rd, I hike along its bank where I spot a large Banded Garden Spider in the middle of its web. When a victim becomes entangled, the spider will wrap it in a thick shroud of dense webbing. Then it will jab its fangs through the exoskeleton of its prey to deliver a venomous brew containing neurotoxins that halts its struggling. Up ahead, I can barely see an adult Raccoon feeding near the water’s edge. Nearby, I spot a perching red dragonfly called a Carolina Saddlebags, an insect that I’ve never seen before. The name comes from the large dark patches on their hind wings that seem to straddle their abdomen like the pack on a horse. Further along, I pause to notice a Chickweed Geometer Moth. This small insect with its wavy wings, I’ve never seen before. The caterpillars (stock photo) are known as "inchworms" and are often found in grassy areas where their host plants, like Chickweed, grow. Moving along the bank, I come upon a small moth called a Soybean Looper, feeding on Yellow Toadflax blossoms. Also called Butter and Eggs, this plant, native to Europe, can form dense patches that out compete native species. The caterpillar of this moth (stock photo), named for its looping movement while in motion, is a significant pest of soybeans crops in the United States though less so in Michigan, consuming large amounts of foliage and occasionally the beans. On the far bank, I observe white blossoms of Queen Anne’s Lace and yellow blossoms of Canadian Goldenrod. Turning around and heading back toward the car, I stir up a couple of yellow butterflies, fluttering from the ground ahead of me. Soon one of them lands on a Dandelion blossom where I can see it’s a Cloudless Sulfur. It won’t be long and these butterflies will begin migrating south to warmer climates. Their caterpillars look different depending on their food source. The ones feeding mostly on leaves are green to yellowish green with a yellow line down their sides, and black dots all over. (stock photo). The ones feeding mostly on flowers are yellow with scattered black dots all over. (stock photo). As with many of the watercourses I’ve hiked over the years, this creek is a living landscape for blossoms, insects, wildlife and people who pass along its banks.

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

September 1

The morning sky is mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 50’s and a westerly breeze as I begin my hike on private property in northern Gratiot County where I first confront a Whitetail deer before it veers into a cornfield. Moving along the edge of a small pond, I spot seed pods of Swamp Milkweed covered with tiny, yellow, sap-sucking Oleander Aphids. Also called Milkweed Aphids, these non-native insects are sometimes left alone by predators due to their sequestering the cardenolide toxins from the milkweed, Like Monarch caterpillars, this prevents predators from effectively feeding on them. Sometimes ants will tend to these aphids and collect their honeydew as a food source. Circling around the pond, I come upon a large patch of Common Milkweed displaying a variety of insects, including this 1/8 inch spotless Lady Beetle. An adult female consumes about 300 aphids during her several week life span. On another Milkweed plant, I notice a large Milkweed Bug resting on a seed pod. Like all true bugs, they have sucking mouthparts to inject digestive enzymes into the plant tissue and then suck the liquefied plant material through their straw-like beak. Like Monarchs too, they sequester cardiac glycosides in their bodies so are poisonous to most predators.  On another plant, I spot a cluster of immature Milkweed bugs. These nymphs go through 5 instars before molting into adults. Continuing to explore Milkweeds, I watch a bristly Tussocks Moth Caterpillar crawling on a leaf. Like other milkweed specialists, it too sequesters glycosides from the plant, making it less palatable to most predators. While searching in vain for a Monarch caterpillar or chrysalis, I did find an adult perched on a stem. Making my way back toward the car, I come upon a Hawthorn tree displaying its berry-like fruit, called Haws. Although their flesh is notably dense and dry., they are suitable for making jellies and can serve as an excellent substitute for ketchup, In addition, the leaves, flowers, and fruit of the Hawthorn can be used to make an herbal tea. Near the car, I spot a 1-inch, fuzzy, yellow American Dagger Moth Caterpillar resting on a tree trunk. If handled, the long black hairs on its body can break off and sting, causing hives, burning sensations, and general skin irritation. The adult form, the American Dagger Moth (stock photo) is a grayish moth with sharp, black lines at the bottom of its wings. Late summer displays both the fullness of the present and a hint of what comes next, a reminder that nature’s cycles move forward with both urgency and elegance.

September awakes

Summer holds on

Meadow’s edge

A frisky fawn

Herons remain

Redwings fled

Frog sits still

Berries turn red

Nature’s realm

Forest is lush

Away from town

A welcomed hush

 

D. DeGraaf

August 25

It’s mostly cloudy with morning temperatures in the mid 60’s and a gusty breeze as I enter the 200-acre Alma College Ecological Station, just east of the village of Vestaburg. Following an earthen trail, I recognize one of several Sassafras trees, easily identifiable by the variable shapes of its leaves. All parts of this tree have a distinctive spicy aroma, similar to root beer, which comes from the chemical compound Safrole found in its bark and other tissues. The root bark was historically used to flavor root beer and other foods. Since Safrole was linked to liver cancer in animal studies, it was banned by the FDA in the 1960s. Further along, I spot a Mayapple plant displaying a green, unripe, toxic “apple”. Ripe fruit, which turns from green to yellow is edible with a sweet, citrusy, and sometimes berry-like flavor. Nearby, I come upon a Crown-tipped Coral Mushroom. They are edible, peppery-tasting mushrooms, but it's crucial to try only a small cooked portion first to check for adverse reactions. Turning downslope and proceeding ahead on a floating boardwalk, I notice large patches of Sphagnum moss, including one occupied by a small Wolf Spider. Soon, I come to the edge of small Davis Lake, known as a peat bog. Also called a quagmire, this wetland is characterized by the accumulation of partially decayed sphagnum moss, referred to as peat moss. Peat forms water-saturated spongy layers along the edge of the lake that is habitat for unique flora like this carnivorous Purple Pitcher plant with its pitcher-shaped leaves that collect rainwater and act as a trap for unsuspecting insects. The inner surface of these leaves is lined with downward-pointing hairs to prevent insects from escaping. Enzymes in the water pool within the pitcher break down the trapped insects, providing the plant with nutrients. Also, along the water’s edge, I spot purple blossoms of Pickeral Weed as well as a Bumble bee feeding on pink blossoms of Swamp Loosestrife. Unlike invasive Purple Loosestrife (stock photo), Swamp Loosestrife is a valuable part of native wetland habitats. Turning around, I make my way back to the car, where I notice some tiny orange Pinwheel mushrooms. While they’re not poisonous, they’re not recommended for consumption because they’re too small to be a worthwhile food source. Driving home, I realize that every time I come here, my hike is full of quiet drama between plants, fungi, insects, and other creatures. What at first seems like a hushed, still landscape quickly reveals itself as a bustling stage of color, texture, and sound. It’s a place of blossoms and berries, mushrooms and moss, buzzing bees and skittering spiders. Together, these life forms are interconnected, each detail worth pausing to see.

Far edge of August

Everywhere is green

Realm of living flora

Nature is the queen

Leaves of the canopy

Shade the earth below

Ferns and sedges

Still grow and show

Grasses of the meadow

Their color remains

Early morning dew

Late summer rains

 

D. DeGraaf

The early morning temperatures are in the mid 60’s under hazy skies as I begin hiking east on a section of the Meijer Bike trail within the 14-acre Stearns Preserve, located in the village of Riverdale, Michigan. As a volunteer monitor for the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy, I’m doing my annual walk-through and subsequent report of the preserve to make sure it complies with CWC’s definition of suitable wildlife habitat. Even though I’ve walked this part of the trail dozens of times, I’m surprised at the sight of a few smooth, gray, Beech-like tree trunks. After observing the Maple-type leaves on their branches, I determine they are never-before-realized, Norway Maple trees. Continuing east across a bridge over the Pine River, I pause to watch its water flow gently south. Up ahead, I spot ripening fruit on a Silky Dogwood shrub and the unripe fruit on a Wild Grape vine. The vine also displays some shrunken leaves with tiny galls caused by Phylloxera, a native, sucking aphid-like insect (stock photo). This condition does not seem to impact the quality and quantity of the grapes. Nearby, I come upon a familiar mushroom, called Chicken-of-the-Woods, Since it is soft and moist to my touch, I know it is quite edible. However, it’s important to cook this fungus thoroughly, as it can be difficult to digest raw. It's often used by foragers in stews and pasta dishes as a plant-based substitute for chicken due to its meaty texture and flavor. Further along, I spot a 2-inch, Northern Pearly-Eyes Butterfly perched on a tree trunk. These butterflies are unusual because they lack the long, sucking mouth parts needed for pollination. Instead, they feed on sap, dung, and decaying matter rather than nectar from flowers. Their 1-inch caterpillar (stock photo) feeds on a variety of wild grasses. Next, I notice a tiny, ¾ inch Common Angle Moth resting on a leaf. The caterpillar of this typical geometer moth (stock photo) can be seen “inching” its way along branches. They primarily feed on leaves of maple, oak, and birch trees. In some cases, this leads to defoliation, which can weaken trees and potentially kill young saplings. After spotting the CWC boundary marker, I turnaround to retrace my steps back toward the car and pause to listen to the cat-like mewing call of a Northern Catbird that gives this species its common name. However, these birds are also known to mimic the calls of other birds and even other sounds like frog calls or mechanical noises. Their vocalizations are diverse and can include whistles, squeaks, gurgles, whines, and nasal tones. Near the car, on the north side of the bike trail, I explore a small meadow where blossoms of Blue Vervain and Joe-Pye Weed catch my eye.

Welcomed sight

Pleasant sound

Carving the earth

Shaping the ground

Channel is full 

Current is swift

Burgeoning banks

Nature’s gift

Living water

Worthy of praise

Pine River

Admire her ways

 

D. DeGraaf

August 11

It's early afternoon under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 80’s, when Caroline, Riley and I hike a trail through the Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge, near Sherwood Oregon. This place spans 1,856 acres, including wetlands and lowlands, providing habitat for a diverse range of wildlife. Following the trail, I hear the familiar song of a House Finch (stock photo). Approaching a large pond, I spot both a dark, Great Blue Heron and a white, Great Egret. Herons are year-round residents in Oregon. While they don't undertake long-distance migrations, they may move to lower elevations or coastal areas during the winter,. Egrets are partial migrants, meaning some individuals migrate while others remain resident. Near shore I spot a foraging Nutria. These beaver-size rodents are an invasive species, causing damage to wetlands and agricultural areas. With no license or limit required, Oregonians are encouraged to hunt and eat them as a way to control their population. The meat is considered a cheap and available source of protein. Some people describe the taste as similar to rabbit or the dark meat of a turkey. Looking skyward, I see a perching Tree Swallow. These birds are common summer residents in Oregon, particularly near wetlands and waterways. They are long-distant migrants that soon will gather in large flocks before heading south. These swallows are thought to migrate along the Pacific coast and eastern Rockies. While some winter in the southern United States, many continue south to Central America and the Caribbean. Next to the path, I pause to watch yellow button-like blossoms of Common Tansy sway in the breeze. Up ahead, I notice the tiny, pink blossoms of Slender Centaury, a plant native to Mediterranean Basin of Africa, Asia and Europe. Down the trail, I come upon a Snowberry shrub displaying clusters of white, pea-size berries. While the fruit is not poisonous to birds and other wildlife, it can cause stomach upset in humans if ingested. Nearby, I spot an Oregon Grape plant with its holly-like leaves and clusters of small, blue-black berries that are edible but tart and are a favorite of birds and other wildlife. Close to the car, I observe an Oregon White Oak tree with some pool-ball size galls attached to a branch. Previously, a small wasp (stock photo) deposited eggs on the branch, inducing the formation of these galls around the larvae who then feed on the inner tissue. After the larvae pupate in late summer, they bore their way out of the gall, fly off to lay eggs in other trees to repeat the cycle.

Why do I walk in distant lands

Hiking trails in rain or shine

Why do I get up early and go

Start before the stroke of nine

What brings me to these places

With wetlands, river and hill

What draws me to the wild

There’s a need I wish to fill

My spirit connects to nature

Feelings for her are strong

Another place on earth

She’s been waiting all along

 

D. DeGraaf

August 4

The early morning weather is clear and cool as Caroline, Riley and I follow a walking Western Gull along the rocky and sandy Oregon seashore. Since the tide is low, a variety of marine creatures are on display among the huge rocks and tide pools. A closer look at the rocks, show a surface covered with dark-colored, clam-like California Mussels mixed with light-colored Goose-neck, Acorn and Little Brown Barnacles. Mussels and Barnacles are filter feeders and compete for space and resources. Some are harvested for seafood. Coming upon one of many tide pools, I spots some colorful Ochre Sea Stars. These starfish display color polymorphism, where different colors exist within the same species. The orange color comes from a diet of Mussels, rich in orange pigments while the reddish and brown colors come from a more varied diet. Ochre Sea Stars are voracious predators on Mussels. By killing large numbers of them, they determine to some extent their distribution. Mussels are superior competitors for space and may take over the rocky substrate, but the presence of these Sea Stars allows other animals to use the space that is void of Mussels. In addition to starfish, I notice some small greenish-brown Aggregating Anemones. They use bits of shell and sand to camouflage themselves, making them blend into their surroundings. They can have "war" with other colonies using specialized tentacles. Under the water, I spot a 2-inch Tidepool Sculpin. This fish has several adaptations that allows it to thrive in these conditions. It can breathe air for short periods when out of the water, helping it survive when the tide recedes. It can change color to match its surroundings, making it difficult to spot. Sculpins are predators, feeding on small invertebrates like isopods, amphipods, and worms. Continuing to explore the beach, at my feet, I observe one of many Sand Fleas. Often called beach hoppers, these ¼ inch organisms are not insects, but small Crustaceans. Looking up at a steep rock face, I spot white blossoms of Coast Angelica and a Pelagic Cormorant standing on its nest that it cemented to the rocks with its own white guano (feces). Looking seaward, I notice a large mat of floating Bull Kelp. This species forms dense underwater forests that are particularly important for providing food and shelter for various species and are known to be essential to Oregon's coastal fisheries. However, these forests are facing decline due to warming waters and overgrazing by sea urchins, highlighting the need for conservation efforts. 

Peak of summer

Here in the west

Exploring nature

Remains my quest

Endless ocean

Rocky beaches

A pelican dives

A whale breaches

An osprey soars

Higher than most

Pounding surf

Carves the coast

 

D. DeGraaf