As I drove around, thinking about making my annual southbound
trip, I couldn’t help but notice how many things in our
area’s environment have changed. Odd things that many
people may not even notice.
When
I am down at the lake and look toward the lighthouse, the
reef appears to have risen from the water’s bottom.
Some of us remember the reef with full-grown trees on it
while most people just recall an appearance of a small island
of
rocks sticking out of the water. Today, as you look toward
the reef on a bright, sunny day you can discern where the
entire structure lies, from the shoreline to the lighthouse
and beyond.
As I look in another direction, straight out from the new waterfront
park, I see the old, slanted rock sticking way out of the water
just offshore. I recall wearing out the seat of many bathing
trunks, using that rock as a slide. The reef beyond that rock
is also more definable than in the past.
Among the many changes I observe are the trees. What sad changes
indeed. Most of the ash still standing were bare all summer.
This past week I observed the removal of two such trees, both
giants that had stood for years, one by ring count 132. I saw
that the center of the tree at its base was eaten away by root
rot, most likely having occurred after a borer attack.
The Emerald Ash Borer is native to Asia, Russia, Northern China,
Japan and Korea. They were first discovered in the U.S. and
confirmed in Canton, Mich., in June of 2002. The little green
borers have killed millions of trees in 14 states around the
country. The Ash Borers are killing trees in our area that
are over 90 feet tall and leaving many wooded areas a mass
of tangled dying trees. For detailed information look for Emerald
Ash Borer, Wikipedia, the computer encyclopedia. I know I have
mentioned the devastation afflicting our wooded areas in past
columns but as I traveled throughout the state, the damage
is difficult to ignore.
Ash
trees are not the only trees I noticed having an unusual
appearance. Maples, which provide such grand
color variety
during Huron County’s fall season, have what
looks like a mold-type fungus in the center of the
leaves.
The mighty
oaks, many 200 to 300 years old, have small holes
or black dots apparent on their leaves as they flutter
to the ground
to cover the acorns which seem to be a smaller crop
this year.
Our
local animals know it’s that time of year again.
Squirrels are storing up spare food and they are wearing very
heavy coats — or they are the fattest squirrels
I have ever seen. The deer are also changing coats
and their
winter
coats look much darker and heavier than in past
years at this time.
I saw fast moving clouds over the lake that sure looked like
winter snow clouds, and as the temperature dropped, a few flurries
did fall. As I see it, Brrrrrrrrr... I better get back to packing.