What's Happening In The Woods?

Written By Ruth Walker

July 2025

We’ve found two organisms you might want to visit. First, a patch of milkweed is supporting a healthy population of Monarch caterpillars. Second, we found an unusual plant growing adjacent to one of our trails.

Monarch Caterpillars
Last week we spotted ~10 large caterpillars feeding on milkweed. On 20 July we found ~8 very small caterpillars. They'll be large soon. To find the caterpillars look for plants with caterpillar damage, that is, holes in the leaves, or u-shaped divots on a leaf edge. Then, search the leaves of the milkweed on both the top and underside of the leaves. Warning: Watch out for poison ivy!  

The patch of milkweed is adjacent to Mougey’s Lake Trail, in an open area located immediately before the trail reenters the woods and descends to the lake edge.

Ghost Pipes
On the 20th of July we also discovered some ghost pipes. Ghost pipes are stark-white plants with a pipe-bowl-like nodding flower on the end of each stem. The plants are white, not green, because they lack the chlorophyll most plants use for photosynthesis.

Rather than making food through photosynthesis, the ghost pipes plant lives underground and hijacks nutrients from soil fungi. And the plot thickens. The soil fungi are closely associated with tree roots. The fungi exchange minerals for nutrients from the tree. So, ultimately, the non-photosynthetic ghost pipes get their nutrition from the photosynthetic trees.

The ghost pipes’ flowers have nectar and pollen, and frequently are pollinated by bumble bees. After pollination the flowers turn to face upward and their seeds are wind-dispersed. You may want to return later this summer to see the upturned flowers. 

Some ghost pipes are currently putting on a show at the gravel pit entrance. The ghost pipes are on the right, 1-2 yards past the chain crossing the trail entrance. 

References

  1.  Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month for October 2002. http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct2002.html

  2. The Ghosts of the forest Floor: Ghost Pipes. https://www.allianceforthebay.org/2023/10/the-ghosts-of-the-forest-floor-ghost-pipes/

Ruth Walker

Creative and targeted programs that make an impact are the hallmark of experienced marketing professional Ruth Steele Walker. Focusing on results that improve the bottom line, she accelerates projects from conception to implementation with a mastery of writing, production, placement, budgeting and coordination.

During more than 25 years with Foremost Corporation of America, the nation's leading insurer of manufactured housing and recreational vehicles, Walker consistently produced effective communications programs that resulted in increased net written premium. Her expertise in crisis communications was a vital part of Foremost's exemplary customer service in the wake of hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Walker specializes in communications targeting the 50+ demographic, with an emphasis in communications for the 65+ segment.

Among other achievements, Walker developed communications for the merger of Foremost and Farmers Insurance, addressing audiences including customers, employees, trade and consumer media. For Foremost's 50th anniversary, she created a celebration program of internal and external promotions, special events, recognition and a 162-page commemorative book.

Earlier in her career, Walker was a newspaper reporter, a TV and radio producer, and worked in national sales and traffic at network TV affiliates. Walker earned a BA in journalism from Michigan State University and an MS in communications from Grand Valley State University.

She and her husband Scott operate a small vineyard in Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula, producing premium vinifera wine grapes. The vineyard has been the largest local supplier for Suttons Bay wine label L. Mawby, recently named one of the world's top producers of sparkling wines.

https://www.duenorthmarketing.net
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In the Woods … Acorns