November on Lake Michigan

Powerful waves hit the Foghorn on Lake Michigan where the Grand River flows into it.  November is the month of huge waves and surfer dudes seem to like it but these waves can be dangerous.  The breakwater takes a beating and needs to be fixed.

Since most people have other navigation instruments on their boats, we don't hear the foghorn on foggy days any more unless someone sets it off.

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.