Vernal: A Spring Photo Project (Day 31 through Day 40)

As of yesterday (28 April 2019) I'm forty days into my Spring photography project.  My plan is to photograph something in nature every single day.  This means that I have to go outdoors every single day no matter how busy I am. Sometimes I only have ten minutes available, on other days I may spend a couple of hours.  No matter how much time I have it's always worth it.  You can check out the first three sets of images at the following links:

Day 1 through Day 10

Day 11 through Day 20

Day 21 through Day 30


Over the last ten days spring has finally begun to look like spring.  There are so many more things to photograph now - insects, birds, gardens, wildflowers, unfurling leaves, and more!  The challenge now become choosing which photograph will be used to represent each day.  Tough choices need to be made, some photographs that I really loved just didn't make the cut... Here are the next ten images that did.

Day 31 (19 April 2019) - Bud Burst

This photograph was taken at Chipp-A-Waters Park in Mt. Pleasant.  Much of the park is in the floodplain of the Chippewa River.  Boxelder (Acer negundo) is one of the common trees found in the floodplain.  It is also one of the first trees species in the area to develop leaves.  I love the pale green of this stage as well as the overall "fuzziness" of the newly forming leaves.

Day 32 (20 April 2019) - Mission Point Beach

Over the weekend of April 19th - 21st, we took a trip to Traverse City to celebrate Shara's birthday.  One of our favorite locations in the area is Lighthouse Park at the tip of the Old Mission Peninsula.  We visit this park almost every time we are in Traverse City love photographing the lighthouse and the lake.  The lake looks appealing right now, but the water is still COLD...

Day 33 (21 April 2019) - Bloodroot

This photograph was taken in our home (mostly) native pollinator garden.  Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is one of the earliest woodland wildflowers in mid-Michigan.  We have it planted along the porch on the east side of our house - it gets lots of morning sun, but it shaded by midday.  This clump started as a single plant.  Our early native bees are very successful at pollinating and then ants help disperse the seeds.  The ants consume a fleshy coating on the seed (known as an eliasome) and then discard the seed itself in their garbage heaps.

I tried several formats for this picture, but I think the square crop looks the best.  I did adjust the brightness on this image to tone down the whites a little bit.  The same adjustment allows the greens to become more prominent.

Day 34 (22 April 2019) - Sleepy bee

This photograph was taken during a walk at Mission Creek Woodland Park.  This queen common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) had only recently emerged from hibernation.  She was busy foraging for nectar on wildflowers and searching for the perfect site to establish her nesting colony.  All that work is tiring on a cool spring day.  Sometimes the best thing to do is to nap in the sun and recharge.  That's what this lady is doing in the picture, snuggling up to that downed branch and waiting for the annoying human to go away so she could sleep in peace.

Day 35 (23 April 2019) - The Boys' Club

I noticed this trio of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) drakes cavorting together on the Chippewa River at Chipp-A-Waters Park.  Either these three drakes have not paired up with hens or their hens were sitting on nests somewhere nearby as these enjoyed some time male bonding time.  As I watched them they repeated splashed themselves with water, groomed their feathers and scratched themselves.  I took about a dozen photos of the group with this being my favorite.  I did crop this down to a widescreen (16:9) format to remove the far riverbank at the top of the picture and some open water at the bottom.

Day 36 (24 April 2019) - Gooseberry

I photographed this gooseberry plant (Ribes sp.) at the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy's Sylvan Solace preserve.  Without flowers or fruit I can't be exactly sure which species it is, but my guess is prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati).  I like this image because of the way the backlighting shows off the hairs on the leaves and the overall simplicity of the image.  I do wish the background  had been all dark.  Again this image seemed to work best as a square crop.

Day 37 (25 April 2019) - Spring Beauty

These spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) flowers were photographed at Mission Creek Woodland Park.  From a distance the overall impression of spring beauty is that the flowers are white or pale pink.  Up close you can make out the pink or purple stripes on the petals (nectar guides) and the pink tipped stamen. 

Day 38 (26 April 2019) - Flying Dutchmen

I photographed these Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) flowers at Chipp-A-Waters Park.  This park has long been my favorite location for spring woodland wildflowers.  It's name comes from the shape of the flowers - they look like little pairs of pants hanging upside down from the ankles.

Day 39 (27 April 2019) - Norway Maple Flowers

Norway maples (Acer platanoides) is not native to Michigan, but it has naturalized across the state.  It is currently flowering throughout mid-Michigan.  I photographed these flowers at Mill Pond Park.  Yesterday I noticed a flock of cedar waxwings feeding on the flowers in the to Norway maples in my front yard - amazingly that picture didn't make the list.

Day 40 (28 April 2019) - Beetles are pollinators too!

Picking a photograph for yesterday was tough.  I had a photo of cedar waxwings feeding on maple flowers.  I also photographed a bronzed tiger beetle on the trail at Chipp-A-Waters Park and a closeup of a bloodroot flower.  Any of these could have been selected, but my favorite image of the day was this one of a beetle on a yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum).

Michigan Species to Know - Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum)

The next Michigan species card is here.  This time it's for the Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum).  This species is pretty easy to identify when fruit is present, but it can be a challenge early in the year before flowers and fruit are present.  In May 2013 I wrote a post about how to tell the difference between Silky Dogwood and the similar Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea).

The Days of Summer - Day Thirty-one through Day Thirty-seven

This is installment five of my Days of Summer photography project.  (Click here to view the photos from part four.)  The intent of this project is to get outdoors everyday to photograph something in nature and to pick a single image to represent each day of the summer from the Summer Solstice (21 June 2018) to the Fall Equinox (22 September 2018).  Five weeks into summer, this has been a very rewarding project.  It takes time, but I think I am producing some of my best photography ever.  I am definitely learning more about my camera and lenses.

Enjoy.

Day 31 (21 July 2018) - Raindrops on Rosinweed

This image a raindrops on a Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium) was photographed at home in our native pollinator garden during a lull between rain showers.

Day 32 (22 July 2018) - Monarch on Purple Coneflower

This photograph was taken at Forest Hill Nature Area during a very windy afternoon.  At one point this Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) nearly blew off the top of this Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purperea).  Despite the wind, this was a great day for pollinator photography.  I was able to photograph five butterfly species, a couple moths, numerous bees, and several wasp species.  Picking a single image for the day was difficult, but I like the position of the butterfly facing into the wind and the grass blades blowing in from the left of the picture.

Day 33 (23 July 2018) -Early Fall Colors

This picture of Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) berries and leaves was also taken at Forest Hill Nature Area.  Many of the dogwood leaves were already changing color.  This is not necessarily a sign of fall, but a sign of stress such as too little rain.

Day 34 (24 July 2018) - Green Frog

This picture was taken at Chipp-A-Waters Park in Mt. Pleasant.  I heard several Green Frogs (Lithobates clamitans) calling from a small wetland area near the back of the park.  Most of the frogs dove into the pond when I approached but this one let me approach to about five or six feet.  This image has been cropped from a horizontal to a vertical image.

Day 35 - Yeah, Here Come the Rooster

This image and the next one were actually taken indoors.  I spent much of last week at the Isabella County Fair.  County fairs are an integral part of summer across much of the United States.  This rooster was one of the many animals entered in the fair by 4H members.

If you understand the title of this image, bonus points for you!  If you don't...

Day 36 (26 July 2018) - Charolais Steer

Another image from the Isabella County Fair.  Raising beef cattle is one of the most popular projects for 4H members in the area.  It quite something to watch a nine or ten year old kid weighing maybe 100 pounds walk a full grown steer around the arena and present it for judging.  I photographed the Charolais steer  in the beef cattle barn as it stared at me from its stall.

Day 37 (27 July 2018) - Stormcloud

The final picture of the week was photographed in southern Isabella County on my way home from work.  I watched this storm approached from the west and raced to try to intersect it in a place where I could get a good image.  Don't worry, I never went above the speed limit - the gravel road that I was traveling on would not allow for speeds much above 30 mph in most sections.  I like this picture because of the contrast between the dark water laden bottom of the cloud and the sun shining through the top.

Layers of a forest

I spend a lot of time drawing during some of my classroom programs.  I draw to illustrate key concepts such as food chains and trophic levels.  I draw to show the parts of plants and animals.  I draw to show students what they are expected to do on activity sheets.   I draw to explain things in a way that I cannot with words alone.

I especially draw during my program on forest habitats.  During this program I usually end up drawing an entire forest from the tops of the trees on down to the soil beneath our feet.  Sometimes these drawings are done on whiteboards with dry-erase markers.  Other times those drawings are done on paper and projected via a document camera to an interactive whiteboard.  I never take these drawings with me.

Last Wednesday (13 DEC) I didn't have any school programs;  I decided to draw the layers of a forest and scan the drawings so I can access them any time I want.  Here are the drawings.

First up is the canopy.  The canopy is made up of the tallest mature trees in the forest.  Here in Mid-Michigan the canopy begins 20 to 30 feet off the ground and extends upwards to a height of 50 - 100 feet (or more) above the ground.  Some canopy trees include Red, Silver and Sugar Maples; Red and White Oaks; Green, White, and Black Ash; some Willows; Basswood; White and Red Pines;  Balsam Fir; Paper Birch; Hickories; etc..

Forest Canopy

Beneath the canopy is a second layer of trees known as the understory.  The understory is composed of two groups of trees.  Some trees in the understory are immature canopy trees - these trees are waiting for a space to open up in the canopy when a mature tree dies or falls over.  Other understory trees will never take a place in the canopy.  Instead, they have evolved to live in the shade provided by the canopy - making due with less sunlight.  Some trees in this category include Nannyberry, Hornbeams, Striped Maple, Speckled Alder, Redbud, etc..  Most of these trees top out at a maximum height of 15 to 30 feet.

Forest Canopy and Understory

Below the understory is a third layer of woody plants known as shrubs.  Unlike trees that have a single dominant trunk, shrubs typically branch out right at ground level.  Sometimes these branches droop enough to make contact with the ground and develop new roots.  Shrubs are often wider than they are tall.  Shrubs range in height from a few inches to about 15 feet.  Native shrubs in Mid-Michigan include Dogwoods, American Fly Honeysuckle, Witch Hazel, Winterberry, Spicebush, and more.

Forest Canopy, Understory, and Shrubs

Beneath the shrub layer we come to a layer of herbaceous plants.  Herbaceous plants are those plants that lack a woody stem such as ferns, grasses, wildflowers, and moss.  These plants range in height from less than an inch in height to about 10 feet - without a woody stem, it is very difficult for these plants to support their own weight above a certain height.  The majority of these species are below our eye-level.  Some of the more well-known herbaceous plants include Trilliums, Lilies, Sunflowers, Asters, and many more.  There are hundreds of species that fit in this category.

Lack of sunlight is a major challenger for herbaceous plants in a forest ecosystem.  The trees and shrubs above them my block as much as ninety-five percent of available light during the growing season.  To overcome this shortage, many herbaceous plants have developed strategies to ensure that they receive adequate sunlight to meet their energy needs.  Some species have evolved to make due with less sunlight.  A few species have developed into parasites that meet their energy needs by stealing sugars from other plants.  Many species have evolved to complete their annual cycle of growth and reproduction in early spring before the canopy leaves have fully developed, ensuring that their own energy needs are met while sunlight is readily available.

Forest Canopy, Understory, Shrubs, and Herbaceous Plants

We have finally come to the forest floor.  In a healthy forest, the forest floor is covered with a layer of organic debris including leaves, small branches (fine woody debris), and large branches and logs (coarse woody debris).  This layer of debris is filled with trillions of organisms working to break down all of this organic matter.  This includes invertebrate animals feeding on the debris and fungi and bacteria decomposing everything that is left.  Without the work of these decomposers the nutrients trapped in the organic debris would be unavailable for uptake by the layers of plants.

Forest Canopy, Understory, Shrubs, Herbaceous Plants, and Floor

Finally we come to a layer that we think very little of and know even less about - the subterranean layer.  This layer is composed of organic (the decomposed remains of living organisms) and mineral soils (rock that has broken down to the size of sand particles or smaller) with larger pieces of rock included in the mix.  This layer of soil may be only a few centimeters deep or may extend hundreds of feet deep before reaching the underlying bedrock.  The top couple of feet of soil are usually criss-crossed with an interlocking web of roots from trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.  The mycelium of fungi add their own root-like structures.  In addition to roots, this hidden world is home to untold numbers of invertebrate animals and bacteria.

Forest Canopy, Understory, Shrubs, Herbaceous Plants, Floor, and Subterranean Layers

The old saying "can't see the forest for the trees" is used to describe someone who gets so involved in details that they cannot see the big picture.  In a forest it is easy to look at the trees and fail to see that they are part of a much larger complex system.  Hopefully this article has helped you learn to "see the forest".

Native Species Profile - Witch Hazel

While most wildflowers in Mid-Michigan are either done blooming or close to the end, one species has just begun to bloom and will continue to do so for another four to six weeks.  Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is an understory shrub that reaches heights of 10 to 20 feet.  This species is found in deciduous and evergreen forests and savannas throughout the eastern United States and Canada.  In Michigan it is found throughout the Lower Peninsula, but is less common in the UP.

Witch Hazel flowers - note long, narrow petals

Witch Hazel flowers are yellow and have four narrow petals, four short sepals, four stamen, and a pair of pistils.  The petals measure about 3/4 inch long and are typically curved or twisted.  These flowers are one of the last nectar sources of the year and are pollinated by a number of insect species including moths, bees, flies, and wasps.  After pollination, the tree develops small brown seed pods that measure roughly 2/3 to 3/4 inch long.  These pods are roughly shaped like acorns and are divided into four sections.  These seed pods often remain on a tree for a year or more.

A wasp-mimic fly pollinating Witch Hazel flowers

Witch Hazel flowers - note four-part seed capsule at lower right of image

Witch hazel leaves are roughly oval, ovate (egg-shaped with a wider base than tip), or obovate (egg-shaped with a wider tip than base) in shape with wavy margins.  The leaves can measure up to five inches long and three inches wide.  They are arranged alternately on the plant's branches.

Oval-shaped leaves of Witch Hazel - note wavy margins of leaf.

Yellow fall leaves and flowers of Witch Hazel appear at approximately the same time.

Witch Hazel leaf - note obovate shape and wavy margins

While Witch Hazel can have a single trunk, it typically branches out right at ground level.  The branches are rarely straight.  Instead they undulate back and forth giving the Witch Hazel a wavy appearance.

A stand of Witch Hazel can be mistaken for no other species.

Undulating branches of Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel is a host plant for approximately twenty species of moths.  Most of the caterpillars are small and inconspicuous.  Exceptions to this are the caterpillars of the Pyreferra genus - these caterpillars are usually lemon yellow and white striped.

Pyreferra caterpillar on Witch Hazel leaf

Basic Information

Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana 

Height:  10-20'

Habitat:  deciduous and evergreen forests, oak and pine savannas

Flower Color:  yellow

Bloom Time:  late September - November

An Evening Walk at Forest Hill Nature Area (15 August 2016)

Yesterday, for the third time in a week, Shara and I went walking at Forest Hill Nature Area.  Although the sky was grey and the light was poor, I brought my camera along.  Here are a dozen photos from our walk.

Milkweed in a restored grassland area

Dueling Monarchs

Mountain Mint

Queen Anne's Lace

Honeybee on Mountain Mint

Grey-headed Coneflower

Sparrow in the restored grassland

Queen Anne's Lace

Early color change

Lack of rain means small berries

Black and Yellow Argiope

Red-osier Dogwood berries

Wildflowers of 2016 - #9 through #21

The wildflower season is rolling now.  Last Wednesday (20 April 2016) I had a few short minutes to sneak into the woods at Mill Pond Park.  In that time I was able to find two new species to add to my 2016 list.

Wildflowers of 2016 - #9 Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) was the first species that I found.  This species was not on my 2014 list.  I have seen it in several parks in Mt. Pleasant, but until now have not noticed the flowers.

A Spicebush growing in the floodplain at Mill Pond Park

Spicebush is a 5 to 15 foot tall shrub that commonly grows in floodplains and swamps.  In Michigan,  it can be found in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.  This is the northern edge of its range.  Overall it can be found east of a line running from Illinois and Iowa southwest into Missouri, Oklahoma, and parts of Texas.

Spicebush - branches are covered with hundreds of small yellow or yellow-green flowers in spring

The flowers of Spicebush are yellow to yellow-green and are about 1/4 inch across.  Flowers are either male or female.  Later the female flowers will be replaced by bright red fruit.  The flowers, leaves, and branches all smell spicy when crushed. 

Spicebush - note yellow green flowers and dark bark

Wildflowers of 2016 - #10 Black Willow (Salix nigra)

While leaving the park I stopped to take photos of a Black Willow (Salix nigra).  This is my fourth species of tree and my second Salix species.

A tangle of Black Willow branches

Black Willow is another tree species that is dioecious - meaning individual trees are either male or female.  The tree that I photographed was a male, with yellow-green flowers arranged in elongated catkins.

Black Willow - male catkins

Throughout most of its range, Black Willow is considered an obligate wetland species.  This means that it is almost always found in wetlands.  It ranges across eastern North America, west to the edge of the Great Plains.

Black Willow commonly grows in low, wet habitats such as this floodplain forest