October 26

Sunday, Remi & I hiked at Camp Cutler, located 11 miles west of Alma off from Douglas Rd. in Montcalm County. The early morning weather was clear, sunny with a temperature of 40 degrees and no wind. This 160-acre scout camp along the Pine River consists of woods, fields, streams, wetlands, and two small lakes. Leaving the car, I headed east into a woods toward the rising sun. Crossing over the Pine River, I noticed the leaf litter on the trail was dominated by brown oak leaves including Red Oak, Bur Oak and White Oak. Nearby, a few leaves of Swamp White Oak had not yet changed colors and still clung to their branches. Despite the noise I made hiking through the dry litter, I still was able to see a dozen Whitetail deer, a half dozen gray squirrels and a family of Wild Turkey. Continuing east toward the rising sun, I noticed the distinctive scaly bark of a Black Cherry tree. I came to a large clearing where I saw patches of Sphagnum Peat Moss growing close to the ground as well as Reindeer Moss which is really a lichen. Following the trail back into the woods, I noticed the leaf litter was now dominated by maples including Sugar and Red. As the trail crossed the river again, I was startled by two dozen noisy Wood ducks as they took off while making their distinctive squeaking calls. Arriving at the riverbank, I stopped to observe a mixture if British Soldier and Goblet Lichens growing on a decaying log. I followed the trail into another clearing where I noticed leaves of Poison Ivy and Wild Strawberry had turned colors. Heading back to the car, I stopped to admire a male Cardinal and a stand of Aspen trees against a clear, blue sky. Finally, we arrived back to the car for our trip home.

Treading neath trees

Close to clinging leaves

Just a few to be found

Most blanket the ground

A quilt of many colors

Yellow, brown and others

Bare branches debut

An autumn sky in view

October in the forest

Nature at her best

D. DeGraaf

October 18

Early Saturday morning, Remi & I hiked at the Florence Maxwell Audubon Woods Preserve, a 40-acre, natural area located 7 miles west of Mt. Pleasant off from Wing and Gilmore Rds. Exiting the car, I was greeted by a dense cloud cover, a fine mist, a temperature of 41 degrees and a brisk north wind. I followed a trail north, descending a slope through a mature hardwood forest. While many of the surrounding Beech trees retained their leaves, the colorful leaf litter at my feet indicated that many of the nearby trees of Red Oak, Sugar Maple and Big Tooth Aspen were dropping their leaves. Examining the leaves more closely, I noticed a variety of color patterns as Chlorophyll disappeared revealing other pigments. Continuing down grade, I spotted an Aspen log with a fresh growth of shelf fungi. Approaching the Chippewa River, the trail leveled off on a narrow flood plain where I saw several large logs covered with lush, green moss. A closer look revealed it was Delicate Fern Moss. Scattered about were patches of Maiden Hair ferns loosing their color. On the riverbank, I spotted a rarely seen form of Brown Jelly Fungi. This form often has the shape of a human ear, so it is called by common names such as Jelly Ear, Tree Ear, or Wood Ear. Its shape and color also is similar to that of a large prune. When dry, it is a thin brownish-black growth not easily seen until it becomes saturated with water after rains and “blossoms”. Next, I paused near an overhanging White Cedar to watch and listen to the fast flowing river heading east toward Mt. Pleasant. Turning around, I retraced my steps south up the slope where the leaf litter occasionally revealed bright yellow Sassafras and red Quaking Aspen. Overhead, the strong wind rustled through a less-dense canopy. Finally, we got back to the car and headed south for home.

Leaves of fall or flowers of spring

Bird’s feather or butterfly’s wing

Skin of a snake or hide of a deer

Snow that’s fresh or sky that’s clear

Grass in a field or dirt on the ground

Seeds that fly or fruit that’s round

Lichens on trunks or needles of pine

Dark clouds or bright sunshine

A favorite color is hard to decide

Nature displays each with pride.

D. DeGraaf

October 12

Sunday, Remi, me and my guest, Harold Brock of Alma hiked at Forest Hill Nature Area. The early afternoon weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 55 degrees and a steady south wind. Under a clear blue sky, I headed west down the hill, past Mallard Marsh and into Bobolink Meadow where the yellow blanket of Goldenrod from a few weeks ago had been replaced by the beige and browns of fall. The entrance to North Woods was surrounded by colorful Silver Maple leaves. On the path through the woods, I noticed the afternoon sun had penetrated the ever-thinning canopy while on the ground a decaying Beech log was covered with fresh mushrooms. I exited the woods, turned west and circled Succession Field where my feet made a crunching sound as I stepped on remnants of the large Red Oaks nearby. Entering South Woods and hiking along the edge of Swanson Swamp, I was pleased to see the new boardwalk that had been completed yesterday by a group of scouts from Breckenridge. After leaving the wood and turning east, I paused at Artist Overlook where I could easily spot patches of maroon-colored Dogwood bushes against the fading colors of the field. Following south trail, I turned south at Frog Fen, passed Brady Cemetery and turned north into Native Grassland where the pleasing sight of colorful summer wildflowers was now only a memory. At Grebe Pond, I stopped to enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful autumn day. Approaching the barn, the brief sighting of a Monarch on an Aster blossom reminded me how once again this year I had seen very few adults and no caterpillars. Finally, we continued north past the barn to the cars, exchanged farewells and left for home.

An aura of autumn

Before snows come

From sunny glades

Colors and shades

Of scarlet and gold

Trees, young & old

Where frost of fall

Envelops it all

In crystalline white

From a longer night

Mother Nature’s glow

Her October show

D. DeGraaf

October 6

Monday, Remi & I traveled north to Mt. Pleasant where we hiked in the scenic, 60-acre, Mission Creek-Woodland Park. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 46 degrees and a light wind from all directions as it bounced around us in the sheltering forest. I headed north on the Creek Trail through a dense stand of Beech, Maple, Oak and Hickory where I also noticed several Witch Hazel trees in the understory including some with yellowing leaves and others beginning to flower. After descending a steep bank, I paused to take in the tranquil beauty of Mission Creek. This 2-mile long, narrow stream runs west to east where it empties into the Chippewa River at the Mt. Pleasant Country Club. I headed west along the creek where the trail passed through a grove of Canadian Hemlock and Eastern White Cedar. Close to the edge, it was easy to spot some bright red, toxic fruit of Woody Nightshade still hanging on. A short distance ahead, I glanced up at a sure sign of the season as some unknown deciduous trees had dropped their leaves to open up the canopy and reveal a partially blue sky. I turned around, climbed back up the bank and followed the upper trail where the leaf litter revealed an unusually large number of acorns as well as colorful leaves of Bigtooth Aspen, Red Maple and White Pine. I crossed the creek again where I was startled by a Great Blue Heron that took off from a nearby fishing spot. As the trail curved back to the south, more red colors of autumn including Sumac leaves and ripe apples caught my eye. Finally, after finding the car and admiring the surrounding fall foliage one more time, we were homeward bound.

Below the canopy

On leaf-colored ground

Over lying logs

Gray squirrels bound

In barren branches

Chickadees perch

Ants climb up trunks

Raccoons still search

Preparing for winter

Is now the cause

Tis the season

For nature to pause

D. DeGraaf

September 30

Tuesday, Remi & I returned to Forest Hill Nature Area where I planned to take my annual saunter around the top of Reflection Hill and pause as I face different directions to take in nature’s sights & sounds. The early afternoon weather was overcast with a temperature of 55 degrees and a chilly breeze from the northwest. Arriving at the top of the hill, I first noticed a Honeysuckle bush with several Honeysuckle Witches Broom Galls that had turned pale purple. Looking north, I was not surprised that the dense cattail growth surrounding Mallard Marsh made it impossible to see the water surface and the trees of North Woods were showing some color change. Following the trail counterclockwise, I noticed that most Goldenrod flowers had gone to seed while a few Milkweed leaves were turning yellow and dropping off. Further along, the bird box that the cub scouts put up last spring was empty as the Tree Swallows who nested there had left and were gathering for their fall migration. Nearby, I saw that a Velvetleaf plant had dropped all of its leaves and only the dried up fruit capsules remained. Following the trail as it turned south, I could hear all around me the constant, low background noise of grasshoppers and crickets while in the distance I could see the tall White Pine trees of Brady Cemetery sticking up behind the Willow thicket of Frog Fen. Just off the trail I spotted another sign of the season as a Goldenrod stem gall had turned from green to red. Turning back toward the north, I hopped on top of a bench and did a 360-degree scan of the surrounding landscape including Grebe Pond where over the past week I had been watching with amazement a resident Great Blue Heron share a fishing spot with a transient Great Egret. After doing some research on this behavior, I discovered it’s not that unusual in other parts of the country. Continuing north, I could barely make out dozens of tiny, black Ground Crickets hopping through the grass along the edge of the trail. After completing the loop, I descended the hill back toward the classroom where I observed my first Spotted Tussocks Moth caterpillar of the season on a willow leaf. Finally, we made it to the car and left for home.

As September ceases

The heron still wades

Colder winds blow

Goldenrod fades

Whining Cicadas

Crawling Wooly Bear

Turtles are gone

Logs are now bare

Tree Swallows gather

South they will go

Cattails explode

Nature’s autumn show

D. DeGraaf

September 23

Tuesday, Remi & I traveled 12 miles north to Isabella County so we could hike in Meridian Park. The early afternoon weather was sunny with a temperature of 68 degrees and no wind. Before starting out, I paused to face the sun and celebrate its crossing of the celestial equator as well as the commencing of autumn. I followed a mowed trail south where I immediately noticed a sign of the season as pods of a Milkweed plant had dried out and opened to expose the silky seeds. After passing a small pond, I proceeded along the edge of a dirt road where I came upon a plant I had never seen before called Viper’s bugloss. Its name derives from folklore as an “expellent” of poisons and venom, and to cure the bites of a viper. Specifically, its seeds were thought to resemble snakeheads, thus specifying it as a cure for the bites of serpents. I came to the edge of the fast-flowing Chippewa River where I paused to listen to the chirping crickets. Hiking close to the river’s edge on a little-used path through thick vegetation, several sticky fruit from the Bur Cucumber stuck to Remi’s thick hair. Also, he got wet and muddy as he enjoyed a swim in the river. After turning around and retracing my steps toward the car, I came across another plant I had not seen before called Closed Gentian. Its name derives from the fact that its petals never open. Looking like large blue buds, these flowers produce a rich source of pollen and nectar. However, most insect pollinators are not able to access it. Only large bumblebees are strong enough to force the petals open and crawl inside. This is an example of a mutualism-- the bees benefit by having exclusive access to a bountiful nectar supply, and the plants benefit by attracting "loyal" pollinators that improve the chances for cross pollination. Nearing the end of my hike, I stopped to observe and feel the 5 inch-long, stiff needles from a tall Austrian Pine tree. Finally, we made it back to the car and headed home to Alma.

I welcome these days

When the Egret flies thru

Creeper leaves glow red

Their berries shine blue

I welcome the sun

On its annual descent

Geese are gathering

The meadow is spent

I welcome the morning

Frosty and clear

Greetings autumn!

Glad you’re here

D. DeGraaf

September 16

Tuesday, after traveling 13 miles due west of Alma into Montcalm County, Remi & I hiked on fellow nature guide, Ron Patton’s 102-acre property next to Marl Lake. The early morning weather included a bright sun burning off patchy fog, a temperature of 43 degrees and no wind. Started down a wide path into a wooded area, I soon came to a small pond whose smooth surface reflected a stand of large spruce and pine trees on the far shore. On the ground were a few blue blossoms of Beardstongue. Following the trail, I spotted some colorful blossoms of New York Aster while picking up the familiar call of a Pileated Woodpecker. Walking along the edge of a small stream, I noticed some Nodding Bur Marigold. Next, I saw a few small patches of Maidenhair fern and a large patch of Bracken fern. As the trail curved to the east, I entered a mature forest of tall Maple and Beech just as the sun broke through the canopy. Also, I observed a some yellow Waxy Cap mushrooms growing on the leaf litter. Veering off the trail, I came to the edge of 17-acre Marl Lake where I alarmed a few Canada Geese. After briefly exploring a small stream that fed into the lake, I began retracing my steps and spotted a fresh Coral fungus as well as lots of Beech Drops poking up through the soil. Nearing the end of the hike, I caught a glimpse of a couple of large maples beginning to change colors, a sign of things to come. Finally, we made it back to the car and headed home.

Waning days of summer

Nature’s colors revealed

Purple aster blossoms

Dot the golden field

Maples of the forest edge

Those in between

Still hold their leaves

Still show their green

Rose hips of red

Berries of blue and white

New food for the finch

New season in sight

D. DeGraaf