October 6

The mid-morning temperatures are in the upper 60’s under sunny skies and a refreshing east breeze, as I stand on County Line Rd, watching stalks of Giant Stinging Nettle sway in the breeze as water of Bush Creek flows north. Handling these stalks produces a serious sting due to hairs on the stems and leaves. From here, the creek still has 4 miles to go before merging with the Pine River. Still on the road, I look down into the clear, shallow water to spot a school of 2-inch minnows, likely Bluntnose. This species is one of the most common minnows in Michigan and much of eastern North America. They feed mostly on small insects, algae and plankton. They typically live 3–4 years and reach a maximum size of 4 inches. Hiking upstream, I catch a glimpse of a wading Great Blue Heron, standing still, fishing for minnows, frogs or snakes. Most herons migrate south by the end of October, returning in March. However, some individuals may stay in Michigan throughout the winter if there are areas of open, unfrozen water. Moving ahead, I spook the Heron and can barely see it as it takes off and flies a short distance up stream to another fishing spot. Beside the trail, I spot both white and purple blossoms of Aster. The name Aster means star in reference to the shape of the flower. The purple ‘flower’ of New England Aster is actually made up of an aggregate of about 100-150 individual flowers of two types that form a head. The ‘petals’ are each an individual flower called a ray flower. In the center of the head is the other kind of flower called a disk flower (stock photo). Walking through a dense patch of Goldenrod, my feet step on a dried crunchy layer of leaves that had previously fallen from a huge Cottonwood tree overhead. Along the bank, I’m not surprised to see one of many nut-like galls on a Goldenrod plant. This spherical swelling is caused by the tiny Goldenrod Gall Fly. The female fly lays eggs in the stem, and the larva's secretions trigger the plant to form the gall, creating a protective chamber and food source for the larva over winter. During winter birds such Woodpeckers and Chickadees as peck holes in the galls to reach the larvae inside. In some areas, people collect the galls in early spring to use the larvae as fish bait. In the spring, the larva pupates, transforming into an adult fly inside the gall. It then tunnels out and flies away to start the cycle again. Heading back to the car, I notice the leaves of Staghorn Sumac are turning red. Finally, as the season progresses, I pause as a gust of wind rattles the surrounding leaves that yet cling to the branches before they waft to the earth.

Landscape of autumn

Transformed again

Creature of summer

Retreats to its den

Milkweed pods

Dry up and shred

Silky white seeds

Escape and spread

Goodbye to the goose

Farewell to the crane

October commences

In nature’s domain

 

D. DeGraaf

September 29

The mid-morning temperatures are in the upper 60’s under sunny skies and a refreshing west breeze as I start hiking along the bank of Bush Creek, upstream from the Jefferson Rd bridge. After following this watercourse through one county drain after another, I’m pleased to see the creek flow naturally through a lush, wooded landscape that provides suitable wildlife habitat. Hiking along a high bank through dense foliage, I’m entertained by Black-cap Chickadee songs. Up ahead, I first spot a Pignut Hickory tree displaying one of its compound leaves that’s changing colors. Looking more closely at the tree, I notice green husks on some branches beginning to split open, while on the ground I find a whole nut. The meat (stock photo) of this nut is usually small, hard to extract, and often bitter — which is why people say it’s more for squirrels and raccoons.. Early settlers and farmers noticed that pigs readily ate the nuts, bitter or not. The nuts were sometimes even gathered and fed to them as a food source, thus the name “pignut”. After catching a quick glimpse of a Raccoon running along the far bank, I pause at a tree trunk, where I spot an unusual growth— a burl shaped like twin scrolls of wood pressed side by side. Such growths often form when a tree has been stressed or injured, Arriving in a sunny area, I notice yellow blossoms of Sow Thistle have attracted a variety of pollinators, including a Bubble Bee and a Honeybee. On another blossoms, I observe a tiny Sweat bee and a Japanese’s Beetle enjoying some nectar. Before turning around, I look skyward as the morning sun shines through a tall Aspen tree whose leaves are swaying in the breeze. On my way back, I observe the bright red fruit of Bittersweet Nightshade. These berries are especially attractive to children and can be toxic if eaten in sufficient quantities. All parts of the plant contain toxins that can harm or even kill animals if ingested. However, some birds have adapted to safely consume the ripe berries with no ill effects, spreading the seeds as they travel.  Skunks are also known to be immune to the toxicity of the berries. Near the car, clusters of blue berries from a Juniper tree catch my eye. Dried Juniper berries add a sharp, unique flavor to marinades, meats, soups, and stews, and are a key ingredient in gin. It was not a morning of grand discoveries, but of smaller things, each one marking the season’s change. Bush Creek may flow low and slow, but its world is alive—seen in blossoms, in berries, in leaves and wings. 

Onset of autumn

Behold! Some signs

Debut of the reds

Virginia creeper vines

Shriveling brown fronds 

Drape the Bracken Fern

Blossoms of Aster

Everywhere you turn

Late September air

Chills the early day

Cold bloods retreat

Nature shows the way

 

D. DeGraaf

September 22

The afternoon temperatures are in the upper 70’s with sunny skies and a gentle breeze, as I continue my exploration of Bush Creek. From the E. Olive Rd bridge, I watch the water flow slowly along another drainage ditch through acres and acres of cropland. Driving a short distance east, I begin to hike along the south bank of the creek on a 50 ft wide filter strip while noticing the opposite bank displays no filter strip. A filter strip is a band of permanent herbaceous vegetation between a cropland area and a surface water body to treat runoff. It slows the flow of runoff, causing sediment and pollutants to be filtered out, thereby protecting water quality.  Nearby, I spot a beautiful Red Admiral Butterfly feeding on nectar of Canadian Goldenrod. This is a migratory butterfly that overwinters as an adult in warmer climates and migrates to cooler regions in the spring. Their under wings feature a cryptic, colorful marbled pattern. When the butterfly rests with its wings closed, this pattern provides camouflage, (stock photo) making it appear less visible to predators by mimicking a leaf or tree bark. The Red Admiral caterpillar (stock photo) feeds on Stinging Nettle plants. On another Goldenrod blossom, I watch a Bumble Bee feeding on the nectar. Near the water’s edge, I notice yellow blossoms of Beggar ticks and green leaves of Broadleaf Arrowhead. Turning around and heading back, I pause to see a patch of Pokeweed displaying its fruit.  These berries are poisonous to humans but are a food source for many birds. All parts of the Pokeweed plant are toxic, with the highest amounts of poison in the roots, leaves, and stems. The only edible part is the very young, tender stems and leaves, which are used to make "poke sallet". Traditionally, the leaves are boiled in water, drained, and then boiled again to remove toxins. Afterward, they can be fried with bacon fat, scrambled with eggs, or cooked like spinach. Poke sallet has a long history in Southern Appalachian and rural food traditions, where people made use of what grew wild. The name “sallet” is an old English word for “cooked greens”. Near the car, I spot a 1-inch Short-horned Grasshopper perched on the stem of a Common Milkweed whose leaves have turned yellow. These insects are largely vegetarian, feeding on the foliage of grasses and Forbes. They are a vital food source for various predators, including birds, skunks, snakes, and toads. Finally, at the car, I pause to acknowledge the sun at the Autumnal Equinox and look forward, in gratitude to a new season of fall.

Orb of the sky

Light of the day

Predictable path

Found your way

Summer’s high

To winter’s low

Reached the mid

Then down you go

Seasonal sign

Of nature’s law

Sun of the heavens

Welcome to fall

 

D. DeGraaf

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