August 26

Here I am, 3700 miles from Alma, hiking near Flam, a small village in southwestern Norway, surrounded by steep mountains, waterfalls and narrow valleys. The weather is foggy and misty with a temperature of 48 degrees. My goal is to walk about 1½ miles to the edge of Brekkefossen Falls, one of the larger falls in the area. From the hotel, I start out hiking north on a paved road along the fast flowing Flamselvi River as it empties into the nearby Aurlands Fjord, a steep, water-filled canyon carved out by glaciers. Along the riverbank, I spot a patch of Yellow Hawkweed as well as clusters of bright red berries from a Mountain Ash tree. Continuing down the road, I notice the familiar blossoms of Moth Mullein in addition to the unfamiliar blossoms of Melancholy Thistle. Blossoms of Bellflower and Buttercup also catch my eye. Up ahead on the road, I see a Robin-size, bird called a White Wagtail while nearby I notice some colorful Fireweed blossoms. Turning east onto a narrow earthen trail, I begin my climb up the mountain toward Brekkefossen Falls. These falls drop about 1,790 feet, but because of the narrow, twisting shape of the gully it descends, only a very small veiling plunge of 377 feet can be seen near the bottom of the rock formation. Continuing my ascent, the trail takes me along a fast moving stream where I notice some Wavy Cap Mushrooms as well as the mottled tree trunks of Downy Birch. As the path becomes too steep and slippery for me, I pause, take one last look at the falls before turning around. Back on the paved road, I begin retracing my steps where I spot a gathering of Hooded Crows. Beside the road, I spot blossoms of Alfalfa and Aster. On a fence post ahead, I catch a glimpse of a perching Willow Warbler. As I return to the riverbank and make my way back to the hotel, I’m amazed once again by what nature has to offer here in Scandinavia.

Why do I walk distant lands

Doing hikes 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 meadow, river and hill

What draws me to the wild

There’re needs I must fulfill

My spirit connects to nature

Feelings for her are strong

Another place on earth

A place I truly belong

D. DeGraaf

August 19

My adventures down the Chippewa River continue as I arrive at Midland County’s 150-acre, Manitou Park, located 10 miles west of Midland. After an overnight rain, the midday weather is cool and clear as I make my way south from the parking lot through a corridor of lush vegetation. Along the way, I spot a patch of Water Hemlock with a few colorful Cardinal flowers mixed in. Straight ahead, I reach the top of a 50 ft. wooded bluff overlooking the river. Descending the steep slope to the water’s edge, I look and listen as the subtle sound of the current breaks the quietude of this scenic landscape. Walking upstream along the bank, I spot a few flowers of the invasive, Purple Loosestrife as well as a towering dead Ash tree on the far shore. Turning my attention to the bank, I notice Jerusalem artichoke, Agrimony and Queen Anne’s lace. Climbing back up the slope, I continue west on the bluff where my attention is drawn to the blue sky beyond the dense canopy in addition to a few “Chicken of the Woods” shelf fungi growing on a decaying log. Back down the slope again to the river’s edge, I’m in awe how noontime sunlight bounces off the babbling water. Exploring the flood plain, I get a close up look at the colorful abdomen of an Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonfly as well as colorful blossoms of Virginia Knotweed. Early signs of the next season that come to my attention include: Red Maple leaves on the ground and Asters in bloom. While returning to the car, I come across some Witch Hazel leaves with cone shape galls. These growths are produced by aphids that emerged from eggs laid last fall. As new leaves grew this spring, the aphids sucked the sap from them resulting in the growth of these galls, referred to as “witches hats”. Nearing the car, the bright red stems and unripe green berries of Gray Dogwood shrubs catch my eye. Finally, homeward bound, I’m pleased again to have reconnected to such a valuable natural resource.

Water in motion

West to east

Splash of the fish

Heron’s feast

Bullfrogs moan

Just because

Mallards quack

Cicadas buzz

Rocky rapids

All daylong

Riparian rhapsody

Chippewa’s song

D. DeGraaf

August 12

It’s midday at Gratiot County’s Reed Park, a 100-acre, multi-recreational facility located near the small village of North Star. I’m at the entrance to a ¾ mile rectangular loop called the Beech-Maple Trail. Close to the ground, I spot a few stickseed plants. It is doubtful anyone has taken many walks in the woods without ending up with a several of these sticky seeds on their legs or socks as well as their dog’s hair. I continue on the trail through this shaded landscape noting the closed canopy above me. Also, I observe the contrasting color and texture of bark on a nearby beech and maple tree. Further ahead, I pause and listen to a faint Cicada buzzing sound. These insects have a special organ called a tymbal that produces sound. The tymbal contains a series of ribs that buckle one after the other when the cicada flexes its muscles. Every time a rib buckles, the rib produces a click. Many clicks produce a buzzing sound. Noticing the leaf litter, I’m surprised to see unripe acorns, since they usually fall to the ground after turning brown later in the season. Continuing around the Beech-Maple Trail, I focus on nature’s decomposers including: mushrooms and slime mold. Also, I notice an interesting combination of decomposers on a tree trunk; fungi along with a shredded hole made by a Pileated Woodpecker. Just ahead, movement on the ground catches my attention. Scanning the landscape, I see minimal growth in the understory except in some clearings, where Elderberry bushes are growing. While perusing the leaf litter, I come upon a few Beech Drops sticking up. This herbaceous plant, lacking chlorophyll, makes its living parasitizing the roots of beech trees. A growing plant inserts a root-like structure into a beech root, absorbing enough nutrition to sustain itself. After perking my ears to birdcalls, I make my way past a patch of Sensitive Ferns to the trail exit and the end of another great hike.

Let me stand firm

In the forest deep

In a special place

I long to keep

Let me spread shade

To the earth below

Feed the squirrel

Shelter the crow

If only a hour

Wish I could be

Pride of the woods

A stately oak tree

D. DeGraaf

August 5

I’m gingerly making my way down a steep, muddy slope toward the edge of the Chippewa River. Since my last river rendezvous, 3 weeks ago at Indian Pines Park, it has meandered about 5 miles east to this location. In the cool of the early morning with no mosquitoes bothering me, I’m exploring the 3½-acre, Szok Riverbend Preserve, a new acquisition of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. Located 6 miles east of Mt. Pleasant near the corner of E. River and Wise Rds., this densely forested property protects about a thousand feet of unspoiled riparian habitat. Pausing on the bank, I renew my acquaintance with the sight and sound of the river. According to the river monitoring station in Mt. Pleasant, today’s flow rate is quite slow at 215 cubic ft./sec compared to 431cfs on July 1. Not surprisingly, the water level has gone down about 1 ft. during that same period. Hiking upstream near the water’s edge, I spot Mussel shells as well as tracks of the Raccoon that likely feasted on them. Mussels are important to the river ecosystem because they remove contaminants from water as they filter it for food. The more mussels there are, the better the water quality. Large trees leaning over the water include Elm and Basswood. Continuing upstream, I notice blossoms of Bergamot, Water Parsnips and Daisy Fleabane. Trudging through a patch of Tick Trefoil, several of their small sticky seedpods cling to my pants. Suddenly, I hear the raucous call (stock video) of a Great Blue Heron as it takes off from the far side. Turning around, I retrace my steps downstream and take one last look at the river as it continues its journey toward Midland. Finally, I climb up the steep slope past a patch of Maidenhair Ferns to the car. So ends another close encounter with the “Chip”.

Chippewa River

Lo and behold

Your many secrets

Yet to unfold

Your journey I follow

Your banks to walk

Flora to find

Fauna to stalk

Mile after mile

Straight or veer

Your waters speak

Your call I hear

D. DeGraaf

July 29

The song of a Vireo catches my attention as I begin hiking on the Buffalo Camp Trail in Beaver Island’s 12,000-acre, Mackinaw State Forest with my wife, Caroline and our good friends, Buzz & Linda Wynbeek. The weather is sunny and cool as we enter a mature forest of mostly Beech and Sugar Maple punctuated with Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Striped Maple. Nearby, one of only a few Monarch caterpillars is spotted, as their reproductive cycle seems to be lagging behind last year’s. With the warming sun activating the Lepidopterons, I get good looks at resting American Lady and Wood Satyr butterflies as well as a Golden dragonfly. Following the trail northwest, yellow-colored blossoms seem to, once again, outnumber others including: Buttercup, Cinquefoil, Woodland Agrimony and the stunning, Shrubby St John’s wort. Wildflowers of other colors that catch my eye include: Bunchberry, Heal-All and European Swamp Thistle. Next, I pause to watch a beautiful, Chestnut-sided Warbler fluttering through the dense understory. However, its sudden movements make it impossible to take a photo (stock photo). With a refreshing breeze keeping me comfortable and the sun penetrating the canopy, I proceed ahead, turning my focus back to the forest floor. First, I notice nature’s decomposers at work including: Orange Mycena and Oyster Mushrooms breaking down logs and feathery Fruticose Lichens breaking up downed branches. Also, I spot parasitic Indian Pipe sprouting from the ground. Continuing down the trail, I come across patches of Club Moss including: Stag’s horn and Ground Pine. After about two miles, we turn around to retrace our steps where I see evidence of Raccoon activity including tracks and scat as well as peeling bark on the trunk of an aging Yellow Birch tree. Finally, we reach the car to hydrate and share observations as we head back to our island abode.

First light of day

Finale of July

Above the meadow floor

Neath the azure sky

Flight of a Swallowtail

Scent of fragrant flowers

Red-eyed Vireo sings

In the morning hours

Thistle seeds burst white

Finch pads its nest

Celebration of life

Nature at her best

D. DeGraaf

July 22

For the last 18 summers, I’ve had the privilege of spending a week or two on Beaver Island. This sparsely populated landmass in northern Lake Michigan has been a great place for our family to “get away from it all” and encounter wildlife in a rich variety of natural habitats including: sandy beaches, lush wetlands, inland lakes and dense forests. On this sunny, warm afternoon, I’m strolling along a remote beach near our summer rental on the western shore of the island. While enjoying a gentle breeze, I gaze afar at the glistening water and nearby at the gentle waves washing ashore. After passing Canada goose tracks as well as a mixture of tiny shells and pebbles, I pause to watch a 3-ft. Northern Water snake slithering ahead of me. Also, I notice the record high lake level floods sections of the beach, killing and drowning trees. The water has risen a staggering 5 feet in the last 6 years. Nearby, I get a close-up view of a Maine Snaketail dragonfly and a patch of Huron Tansy blossoms before spooking a flock of gulls. Turning around, I move a short distance inland to the foredune area, where yellow wildflowers are in abundance including: St. Johns wort, Silverweed, Stonecrop and Hoary Paccoon, being visited by a Yellow Swallowtail butterfly. Just ahead, Wild Rose and Oxeye Daisy flowers show their colors while a Monarch butterfly rests on a pile of woody debris. Approaching a large patch of Bearberry, I spot some ripening fruit that is edible. Tucked in the shade at the tree line, I discover tiny Fairy Thimble Bellflowers growing on a bed of Sphagnum Moss as well as a few patches of Reindeer Moss. Returning to the water’s edge, I approach our lake house where a few blossoms of Beach Pea catch my eye. While climbing up the steps, I’m grateful once again for my annual reunion with this unique lacustrine landscape.

Wandering tracks

Goose and gull

Shells of a clam

Bones of a skull

Sizes and shapes

Beach of stones

Iron and quartz

Colors and tones

Painting the shore

The artist’s hand

Image of summer

Canvas of sand

D. DeGraaf

July 15

Another Chippewa River rendezvous awaits as I follow a narrow trail south through Indian Pines Park, an 80-acre, secluded forest off Valley Rd., northeast of Mt. Pleasant. The ½ mile hike through a dense woods from the trailhead to the river, allows me to hear the song of the Yellowthroat (stock photo), taste some wild Raspberries and spot a ¼ inch land snail crawling slowly over a Poison Ivy leaf. Also, I notice the tiny blossoms of White Avens vine and the artistic design on the wings of a resting Wood Satyr butterfly. After passing through a stand of aging White Pine trees, I arrive at the river’s edge and pause to observe the water flow gently to the east. Along the bank, a variety of wildflowers are in bloom including: St. John’s wort, Black-eyed Susan and Milkweed. While following the trail downstream, I also see a mixed patch of Deptford Pink and Oxeye Daisy. Also catching my eye is a ¾ inch Soldier Beetle on daisy petals and a ¾ inch Two-striped grasshopper on a Motherwort stalk. Continuing along the bank, I discover blossoms of a Sweet Pea vine as well as a Basswood tree. Barely able to see its transparent wings, I locate a colorful 1½ inch Common Green Darner dragonfly resting on a twig. Like Monarch butterflies, multiple generations of these insects migrate annually. The first generation emerges in the southern United States and Mexico and flies north. Here, they lay eggs and die, giving rise to a second generation that migrates south. A third generation, hatched in the south, overwinters there before laying eggs that start the process over again. On a nearby Catalpa tree, I estimate the size of one of its leaves to be about 12 inches from petiole to tip. After taking one last look at the river, I turn around and make my way back toward the car passing a Goat’s Beard flower that has gone to seed. Retracing my steps through the woods back to the car, I reflect on my ninth encounter with the river and look forward to those yet to come.

Its journey begins

Far to the west

A precious load

No time to rest

Thru farms and fields

Woods and lakes

Parks and towns

Its way it makes

Living waters

For man and beast

Greening the ground

Flowing east

D. DeGraaf