We're excited to feature a guest post by Braden Quesenberry, a township resident whose favorite park is Watershed Ridge Park. Check out the post below for reflections on summer, and great observations of the things we can find in the parks when we take time to slow down. Thanks for contributing a guest post, Braden!

-Ben

Hi! My name is Braden Quesenberry, and I am an early college student planning to study computer science. Despite this focus on technology, I absolutely love being out in nature and have since I was little. I also really enjoy photography, so I find myself spending lots of time in Oakland Township’s parks taking pictures of our beautiful natural areas.

I’ve lived in Oakland Township for a couple of years now. Since I moved here, I have explored most of the amazing local parks, taking photos and enjoying being out in nature. Of the parks I have visited, my favorite is by far Watershed Ridge Park, located on the northeast corner of Lake George Road and Buell Road. Despite it being one of the township’s larger parks, I find that it is often overlooked because a sizable area is dedicated to farming and the trail system only extends to the southwestern corner of the park. However, this underratedness is exactly why Watershed Ridge is my favorite. Since it is less busy than some of the other local parks, it is perfect for observing wildlife and taking pictures without being disturbed, two of my favorite ways to spend time outside.

Whether the temperature agrees or not, it is officially autumn now. Before we move fully into spooky season, changing leaves, and chillier weather, I thought I’d share my thoughts and photographs from a hike I took through Watershed Ridge Park during the summer. With a length of just over a mile, this was by no means an all-day excursion, but rather a perfect outing for a summer afternoon. And who knows, maybe after reading this, you’ll be inspired to visit one of our township’s less-appreciated parks!

Once I arrived at Watershed Ridge’s parking lot (at 1880 West Buell Road), I headed west on the trail through a field that was once farmland but is now being converted to a meadow to restore natural habitats. Though few things were blooming when I was there, many of the park’s native plants have lately been adding splashes of color to the landscape. Since much of this restoration work was done recently, the native plants that were seeded are still somewhat young and small, but they will soon grow into an impressive habitat that provides food and shelter for all sorts of wildlife.

I followed the trail through fields of crops and wild grasses, passing ponds that are frequented by red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), which you can hear almost anytime you visit Watershed Ridge Park throughout the spring and summer. I then made my way toward the woods on the northeastern part of the trail. While I was looking for somewhere relatively free of undergrowth where I could go further into the park, I saw this common whitetail dragonfly (Plathemis lydia) sitting on a plant near the ground. These dragonflies are among the most common in the area—which is perfect since mosquitos are one of their main food sources. This particular dragonfly was a female, as she lacked the distinct bluish-white abdomen that males have. She remained perched at the edge of the woods until I walked by, and she flew away.

I then entered the forest near the center of the park. I love how cool it is in the woods on a summer day. It’s so refreshing. On this day, I remember it being rather quiet since I was visiting in the middle of the afternoon, when most wildlife is less likely to be active. If your goal is to go birdwatching or look for other creatures, it is best to go in the morning or at dusk. However, there are no time constraints on simply spending time outside, so I was happy to just enjoy the fresh air.

Not long after I entered the woods, I came across this adorable oak seedling, which I am guessing is a red oak (Quercus rubra) like many of the trees at Watershed Ridge. Though it may be small now, with enough time and luck it will grow to reach the same size as the other trees that form the forest canopy, which will then decompose to provide resources and habitat for new generations of forest creatures.

I am always amazed by how intricate and well-balanced the connections between different species are: as trees grow, they provide food and shelter for mammals and birds, who then spread their seeds and allow more trees to flourish. And none of this would be possible without the help of insects, who visit the flower of many trees and simultaneously pollinate them, allowing their seeds and fruit to grow in the first place. There’s so much more I could talk about, such as the role that fungi play in helping trees communicate and later decompose, but going much further would be beyond the scope of a single hike.

As I continued walking, I found this wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) feather, which was in quite good condition, leading me to believe that it had been dropped only recently. Though I didn’t pick it up, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to photograph its amazing detail. I love how the feather is slightly iridescent up close. To me, this feather is a reminder of just how many wonderful things we can find if we only look a little more closely.

A short distance from the turkey feather, I found this fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata) sitting on what I believe to be a common blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis). Though it may not look like much in the picture, this nymph has now grown to its adult size and is contributing to the nightly chorus of insect calls as it attempts to find a mate. The blackberry plant provided the perfect habitat for this katydid, as the genus Scudderia is well-known for hiding in bushes and shrubs. By now, the plant is done flowering and has produced some edible blackberries that local animals and we humans can enjoy. After taking a few moments to admire the katydid nymph and the blackberry flowers, I continued hiking further into the woods.

I soon passed the charred remains of an oak tree that died long ago. The tall stump that remains has been scarred by recent prescribed burns. Though it is sad that this tree is dead, its dead wood continues to provide habitat and resources for other organisms, such as the fungi growing near the base of the stump. Additionally, it makes for a very distinct landmark for visitors such as me—I see this tree almost every time I visit Watershed Ridge Park.

I then came across this little patch of moss growing at the base of a tree. Though many people believe moss grows on the north side of trees, rocks, and other objects, this is a common misconception. Mosses generally prefer shady and moist conditions, which often occur on the north sides of things since the sun spends nearly all its time in the southern portion of the sky in the northern hemisphere. However, there are many exceptions to this rule: for example, this patch of moss is closer to the south side of the tree, but since nearby trees provide plenty of shade and there is lots of water nearby, it doesn’t have to be picky and can grow wherever it likes. In this spot the wind regularly sweeps leaves off the small mound, creating nice moss habitat. So, if you ever find yourself lost in one of Oakland Township’s parks, it probably isn’t the best idea to rely on moss to find your way out. It would be easier to walk in one direction until you find a trail or the edge of the park. (Or you could, you know, just pull up Google Maps. But where’s the fun in that?)

It was around this time that I decided to head back the way I came, having reached an area that was too thick with undergrowth for me to go much further. On my way toward the exit, I kept stumbling across the remnants of wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) flower petals scattered amongst the leaves next to the plants they came from. Wild geraniums are a common sight during late spring in the Midwest: visit Watershed Ridge in May and you’ll find these beautiful lilac flowers everywhere, adding little pops of color to the surroundings. Though they are now long gone, these flowers are sure to return next spring. It is a well-known expression that the only constant is change, a phrase that certainly applies to nature. Every time you visit a park, you’ll see something you hadn’t noticed before.

And that just about wraps up my hike through Watershed Ridge! Since fall is now here, it’s nice to reminisce about summer for a bit before the weather gets really cold again as we approach winter. But don’t let a chilly day stop you from getting outside and enjoying nature—some of my favorite visits to Oakland Township’s parks have been in the autumn and winter months. There’s always something happening outside, so keep your eyes and ears open and see what you can find!