December 28

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was sunny with spotty ice fog, a temperature of 23 degrees and no wind. With a foot of snow on the ground, I put on my snowshoes and proceeded west down the hill to a lifeless Mallard Marsh. I continued slowly through Bobolink Meadow with the dog following behind hopping along in the footprints made by the snowshoes. Near the entrance to North Woods, I noticed an interesting pattern in the snow made by pieces of ice that had fallen from the trees. Entering the woods, I followed the trail where I saw a freshly dug hole in the snow made by a hungry squirrel looking for a cache of nuts. An occasional dead Oak and Beech leaf on the snow reminded me of the previous season when the trees were full of colorful leaves. Exiting the woods, I followed some fresh deer tracks on the trail around Succession Field. Next, I paused to watch a Downy Woodpecker feeding in a leafless Oak tree. Entering South Woods, I watched the sun peak through the trees as I proceeded along the edge of Swanson Swamp. I exited the woods and followed the trail past Artist Overlook around Sora Swale. On the trail east toward Frog Fen, I spotted some mouse tracks as well as feather patterns made by a pheasant. I turned south and came to Brady Cemetery where I saw a few Turkey tracks on the road. Turning north, I continued through Native Grassland to Grebe Pond where I could see only one muskrat lodge compared to maybe a half dozen that were there last winter. I continued toward the barn and was reminded that this was my last Saturday saunter of the year. Arriving at the car, I was grateful to have completed another year of hiking adventures.

Winter day unfolds

Sun at my back

Mother nature beckons

I’ll follow her track

Before I commence

I pause at the crest

A white landscape

Is seen to the west

I descend the hill

Past a marsh below

I continue my hike

On a blanket of snow

D. DeGraaf

December 21

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. Today, being the winter solstice, I paused to face the sun as it was shrouded by clouds and recognize that it had reached the end of its descent into the southern hemisphere. The mid-day weather was foggy, misty with a temperature of 28 degrees and a light wind out of the northeast. Standing at the crest of the hill facing west, I was surrounded by a landscape of ice-coated vegetation from the freezing mist. I proceeded down the hill to Mallard Marsh noisily breaking through a thick crust of ice on top of about five inches of snow. Continuing through Bobolink Meadow, I spotted the first of many dark specks on the trail that turned out to be alive. This one was a Soldier Beetle larva that was slowly crawling over the snow. Also, I noticed a patch of fresh blood and entrails where a rabbit had been eaten by a predator. Near the entrance to North Woods, I leaned over to see a Winter Crane Fly resting on the snow. I turned south and headed toward Willow Wallow where I saw another speck on the snow that turned out to be Snow Scorpion Fly or Snow Flea. Turning west at the pond, I entered Succession Field where I spotted a newly dug entrance to a snow tunnel made by a rabbit. Also, I found a tiny Pirate Spider on the ground. Looking south across the field, I marveled at the silhouettes of ice-covered Birch trees on the edge of South Woods. I circled around the field where ice formed jewel-like clusters on Dogwood branches. Also, I saw a Heleomyzid Fly on the snow. Next, I came to Artist Overlook where I paused to observe Sora Swale. Continuing along south trail, I was again surprised to see an ant and some kind of caterpillar crawling on the snow. I turned north at Frog Fen and climbed to the top of Reflection Hill where I gazed down on Grebe Pond. I descended the hill and arrived at the Classroom Building to check out the bird feeders. Among the usual visitors was a colorful Purple Finch. Up in a tree next to the feeders sat a Mourning Dove waiting for me to go away so it could fly down to eat. Finally, I walked gingerly on the icy parking lot to the car and headed home.

Late in December

I now remember

Sun shines low

Bouncing off snow

Shadows are long

Wind blows strong

Trees undressed

Nature at rest

No time to fritter

Solstice of winter

D. DeGraaf

December 15

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 18 degrees and a stiff northeasterly wind blowing moderate snow flurries. I stood at the crest of the hill and gazed at a wintery landscape as the blustery wind whipped the snow. Descending the hill to Mallard Marsh, I scared up four deer from the swale north of the trail. I continued though Bobolink Meadow past the entrance to North Woods and turned south toward Willow Wallow. I came to the pond where I noticed a tunnel entrance into the cattails made by a Cottontail Rabbit. I turned west and proceeded around a barren, wind-swept Succession Field. Hiking along the far west path, I turned east past the entrance to South Woods and paused at Artist Overlook to view Sora Swale. I continued on the trail, turned east and headed toward Frog Fen. Next, I turned north and climbed up Reflection Hill where I felt the full affect of the wind and snow. I looked down on a desolate Grebe Pond and descended the hill toward the Classroom where I spotted a dozen Mourning Doves fluttering in the trees next to the pond. Arriving at the Classroom, the bird feeders were very busy with a variety of visitors. On one house feeder was a mixture of Goldfinches and Snow Buntings. On another were a Goldfinch and Cardinal. On one tube feeder were two Goldfinches. On another was a Chickadee. On the ground under a feeder were a mixture of Sparrows, Buntings and Juncos. Finally, we made to the car to find shelter and head for home.

The outer edge of autumn

Reveals a layer of snow

Creatures hunker down

Meadow ceases to grow

Farewell sun of summer

Cold winds from the north

Sweep the ice-covered pond

Reeds sway back and forth

Gone are the flowers of May

Gone are the birds of June

Nature takes a break

Winter has come too soon

D. DeGraaf

December 7

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, today we hiked part of the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail starting from Riverdale. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 16 degrees and a steady breeze from the west. We left the car and headed west against a frigid headwind where light snow flurries dusted the paved path. I followed the trail through a grove of young Aspens where I noticed a buck rub on one of the trees. Temporarily turning around, I watched the rising sun peak through the clouds. Continuing due west, I spotted a fresh carcass of a buck just off the trail that was partially eaten by scavengers. Based on its proximity to a nearby road, I surmised it was a road-kill. Further along, on one side of the path, I saw a mud-lined robin’s nest in a leafless Autumn Olive shrub and on the other side I saw a Staghorn Sumac with a solitary fruit cluster that forms reddish drupes called bobs. I walked another hundred yards and came to a small, partially frozen creek that ran under the trail. Continuing west through a grove of scraggly Box Elder trees, I noticed a few decayed Walnut husks on the trail and looked around to find the source tree. Walking along, I gazed to the north at a lone Red Pine and then stopped to observe a young sprout of Autumn Olive-one of the few deciduous plants that still had green leaves. After about a mile, I turned around and was relieved to have the wind at my back. Heading east, I noticed several young Eastern Red Cedar trees showed no evidence of deer browsing that I’ve seen elsewhere. Apparently, there were enough other food sources in the area to keep deer from trimming off the lower branches. Approaching the car, I was surprised to see a few Yucca plants along the trail. Finally, we got back to the car, turned on the heater and headed home.

It whispers to me in the wind

Beckons with calls of the wild

It displays a profound beauty

Makes me curious as a child

It surrounds me with life

With death and life anew

It shows a certain balance

Harmony thru and thru

It teaches me lasting truths

Joins me to the cosmic whole

Food for my body and mind

Nourishment for my soul

D. DeGraaf

December 1

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, we waited until Sunday when deer-hunting season was over to return to the Nature Area. The midday weather was cloudy with a temperature of 36 degrees and a steady breeze out of the north. Before descending the hill, I gazed west at a typical brown, beige and black landscape of late autumn. I proceeded down to Mallard Marsh where I spooked up a nice buck as it took off and headed west across Bobolink Meadow. Continuing through the meadow, I came to the entrance of North Woods where it was easy to spot a squirrel’s nest high in a leafless tree. I entered the woods and turned west where I saw a couple of more Ash trees ravaged by the effects of the Emerald Ash borer. Next, I paused at the boardwalk where I was surprised to see no new fallen trees from the windstorm of a few weeks ago. Exiting the woods, I circled Succession Field where then green and red colors of a wild rosebush got me in the Christmas spirit. Also, I noticed some dead oak leaves left on a tree and a few patches of snow on the trail after most of it melted earlier in the week. I entered South Woods and walked along the edge of snow-covered Swanson Swamp where I was amazed to watch a small, beige moth fluttering over the leaf litter. Also, I paused in the quiet woods to hear the faint drumming of a woodpecker only to look up and see a Downy Woodpecker pecking away on a tree trunk. Near the exit to the woods, I spotted a few decomposing mushrooms on the ground. I turned east and then south where I stopped at Artist Overlook to look down on ice-covered Sora Swale. Continuing on the south trail, I watched a half dozen Juncos flying from tree to tree. I arrived at Frog Fen and turned south toward Brady Cemetery. When I got to the cemetery I noticed a large tree had blown down during the recent windstorm. I turned north into Native Grassland and paused at a lifeless Grebe Pond. I continued north toward the barn looking in vain for any signs of bird life. Finally, we came to the car to warm up and head for home.

Wildlife throughout the year

For example, consider the deer

I see this creature around a lot

Sometimes alone, sometimes not

It leaps high across the field

It will not stop. Will not yield

It races fast from tree to tree

Seldom it stops to look at me

A doe in winter is often in view

Feeding on cedar and acorns too

Its tracks are seen in fallen snows

It moves around, comes and goes

A buck in autumn is quite a sight

A fawn in spring is shear delight

I’m glad we have a place here

For the graceful whitetail deer

D. DeGraaf

November 23

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, due to the continuing deer-hunting season, we stayed away from the Nature Area and drove up to Mt. Pleasant to hike along the Chippewa River in Chipp-a-Waters Park. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 23 degrees and a blustery northwest wind. A light overnight snow covered the ground while a gibbous moon was easy to see in a clear blue sky. I left the car and headed straight to the riverbank where I noticed a group of Canada Geese swimming down stream and a pair of Mallards along the far shore. Next, I began hiking along the edge of the river on a paved path of the Access Adventure Trail that is one of many impressive features of the Mt. Pleasant parks system. The first thing I spotted were my first deer tracks in the snow of the season. I paused on the bank to enjoy the sight and sound of rushing water. Further along, I noticed some Old Man’s Beard seeds were covered with snow. Following the path, I was amazed to see a huge trunk of a very old Cottonwood tree. I proceeded over a boardwalk where I could see a small frozen pond. Turning around, I retraced my steps where I observed a Beech tree still retained its leaves. Next, I crossed a bridge and paused to admire the view of this beautiful river. Continuing along the trail, I spotted the bright red fruit of Winterberry. Also, I noticed a solitary Hemlock tree. On both sides of the trail, I was saddened to notice several large Ash trees being killed by the Emerald Ash borer. Looking down, I could tell from the tracks that someone else and their dog had recently walked this way. Finally, we came to the car for our trip home.

Come, run the hidden pine trails of the forest

Come, taste the sun-sweet berries of the earth

Come, roll in all the riches all around you

And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers

The heron and the otter are my friends

And we are all connected to each other

In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

Stephen Schwartz

November 16

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. However, due to the potential danger of hiking at the Nature Area during rifle deer hunting season, we hiked in Pine River Park in Alma. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 37 degrees and no wind. I exited the car and followed a paved trail west along the river where I noticed a few crab apples still clinging to a tree. The vegetation along the shore was alive with fluttering birds including: a Blue Jay, a Cardinal, a Downy Woodpecker, a few Nuthatches, several Juncos and even a Starling. Next, I paused to listen to a noisy female Mallard swimming near shore. Continuing west, I noticed a Weeping Willow tree still had lots of leaves. Further ahead, I spotted an abandoned nest of Bald-faced Hornets. I turned south away from the river and followed a path through a dense woods . The leaf litter at my feet first indicated Big Tooth Aspen and then Red Oak. I continued on a dirt path into an area called Conservation Park where huge Red Oak, White Oak and Sugar Maple trees towered over me. Passing the Girl Scout cabin, I followed a trail south where I saw some delicate British Soldier Lichens growing on top of a wooden fence post. Turning east, I spotted a few colorful blossoms of a Spindle tree. I followed a trail into a dense forest of evergreen trees including Spruce and Pine. The trail first meandered through a grove of White Spruce and then Red Pine where the ground was littered with cones and needles. Continuing to follow the path, I spotted a Scotch pine branch on the ground that had fallen from a nearby tree. Approaching the exit to the woods, the leaf litter showed a mixture of oak, maple, pine and aspen. I exited the woods and returned to the path along the river where I spotted a few bright red fruit of High bush Cranberry. I continued east and finally came to the car for our trip 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

Keeping you clean is priority one

Run, river run

Ice flows have not yet begun

Run, river run

Walking beside you is lots of fun

Run, river run

D. DeGraaf