I arrived at the beach mid-afternoon, in a desperate attempt to hold onto the dwindling hours of a weekend—their passing even faster, now, as the time change steals an hour of light from the end each day’s due.The night has suddenly grown long.American Lotus seed headAt the water’s edge, a withered leaf and seed head of the Lotus remind me of their great fields in the distance. The tall, creamy blossoms and broad, flat leaves of late summer, now faded and furled, have turne... Read Full Story

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Summer came to play for just one day--her blue eyes flashing,flaxen hair lifted in the breeze,as she skipped the trail where Autumn patiently waits.Then, ran off to another place,white petticoats flashing behind her.Her calico dress is laid out across my field.Autumn Meadowhawk, Sympetrum vicinum,male above, female belowkatydidGoldenrod of summer pastRose hips, multiflora roseEastern Bluebird Read Full Story

Little Beaver LakeWe pushed off in Red Canoe with barely a glance over our shoulder, hurriedly strapping seatbacks into place, and grabbing day packs and paddles--anxious to make up for what had been a late morning’s start followed by several detours down the invitingly shaded, sandy paths on Michigan’s UP. This spot on the map, Little Beaver Lake, looked to be an easy paddle. A 39-acre lake, adjacent to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, bound by dense, piney woods and ringed w... Read Full Story

Eastern Bluebird at nestboxI love the golden woods,where, even on the dimmest days,what little light there is seems more.And boughs barely seen under splendid array,stretch long and lean toward the sky.Eastern box turtleNow, are summer’s secrets revealed.American beech leavesTurkeytail fungiWhite-crowned SparrowThe falls on Avey's RunCincinnati Nature Center Read Full Story

American Marram grass on the dunes of Lake SuperiorI pause, wandering the dimly lit aisles of a small, densely packed general store coupled with one of the few gas stations sparsely scattered across the northernmost shore of the U.P. of Michigan. Bread and milk, canned goods, a few frozen confections and assorted toiletries share shelf space beside a broad selection of fishing lures, beef jerky and t-shirts.Sea Rocket, Cakile edentula,on the beach at Grand MaraisWe arrived here the day befo... Read Full Story

sunrise on northern shore of Lake MichiganI could spend hours just walking the shoreline—exploring that space where two worlds converge.While one foot skims the cool water of this great lake that extends to beyond the horizon, the other stands upon the finest grains of sand, their own sea of sorts, in dunes windswept to the tree line.vegetation on the dunes spreads by underground rhizomeswhich anchor sand in placeLake Huron Tansy (?)state-listed as threatenedAnd, though many would plac... Read Full Story

The hickory tree in the backyardI am caught in the scramble of what is autumn--days filled with lovely leaves and decorated by bits and pieces of warmth. While inside, winter chores peek out from behind dingy glass and closet doors—a reminder of all that has been set aside as I do so many things I would rather.I look away.If our eyes do not meet, it is as if I they cannot see me.Outdoors, a garden begs to be tucked in before the worst of weather,piles of pumpkins to turn into pies smi... Read Full Story

We paused with uncertainty as the paved road abruptly ended.Our journey north across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan would continue now across a sand drive, plowed and left in loose piles on either shoulder.Well-worn and rutted—top speed 20 mph.The dark, deciduous woodswere punctuated by bright stands of birch,and gradually yieldedto pine woods,where bushy bracken ferngrew elbow to elbow between them.Until a glimpse of sky hinted of the approaching shore,where the line of trees stepped... Read Full Story

The shore of the Manistique was a welcome sight.A steep descent over a narrow, one-lane drive, deeply furrowed and piled high with loose sand, that would happily swallow an axle of a less-than-confident-driver’s vehicle, committed us to spending some time here—at least until we could locate another way out. But, we were pleased to have found it, the public access point for the river running through the southeastern quadrant of the refuge (Seney NWR) buried at what seemed to be t... Read Full Story