Beech Trees: Life and Transformation in the Forested Dunes.

The trees in Duncan's Woods are beautiful.  I took this photo yesterday of a beech tree.  But I was sad to see so many fallen trees and large trees that had been cut down.  In the background of the beech you can see many young trees.  Nature has a way of renewing itself.

The wooded park in the center of Grand Haven is not the way it used to be.  I know that nothing stays the same.  I used to take Girl Scouts for nature walks in these woods so they might learn to appreciate them.  They took great delight in stomping on  mushrooms they called earth stars.  A puff of spores would escape into the air and then the leathery star shaped fungus would appear. I gave them lists of things to find such as acorns, pine needles etc.

 Some of these trees attract wildlife.  I have seen owls, pileated woodpeckers, warblers and other beautiful birds here and heard their haunting songs.