brittle

 

brittle leaves hang down

wall of cornstalks stand rigid

ready for harvest

© 2025 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

Fields

 

An old pickup truck

clatters down the gravel road

pulling an elongated 

dust trail behind its load. 

The farmer slows down now

to inspect his crop fields;

corn on the north, soybeans south.

Wondering about future yields.

Dark green leaves

stretch for the skies,

reach for the sun,

photosynthesize. 

© 2024 Richard Havenga

harvest

 

October harvest

flags of gold and tubes of red

a wall of cornstalks

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

Fields

 

An old black pickup truck

clatters down a gravel road

pulling an elongated

dust trail behind its load.

The farmer slows down now

to inspect his crop fields;

corn on the north, soybeans south

worrying about future yields.

Dark green leaves

stretch for the skies,

reach for the sun,

photosynthesize. 

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

3. Cannon Township - Kent County - Michigan

Hopeful Harvest

"Thus you have prepared the land: drenching its furrows, softening it with showers, 
blessing its yield." ~ Psalm 65: 9 & 10 

Yesterday,
the leaves of field corn
had begun to curl inward,
from the long drought and heat.

Today,
after a long, soaking rain, 
nearly two inches,
the soil has darkened with moisture,
and the long leaves on cornstalks
expanded again, opening their
dark green palms to the sky.

The fields sigh with relief.
The farmers whisper with gratitude;
hopeful for another harvest.

© 2020 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

Cradle the Clouds

Rolling fields of ripened corn
cradle the clouds of autumn.

A brief burst of morning sunshine
illuminates the horizon of trees.

A dark gray cloud ceiling
contrasts this ripening season.

Long leaves of field corn
wave their brittle arms.

The cold present blows
away the warm past.

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

1. On the Kent County / Ionia County line - Michigan

2. Lowell Township - Kent County, Michigan

Cornstalks

late October field

a solid wall of cornstalks

before the combine

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

The Ripening

The wind rattles long rows of corn.
Deep green flags flailing in the fields. 

Bobolinks appear,
disappear in deep grass.

Roadside wildflowers stretch for the sun;
measure the ripening of summer. 

Great mounds of cumulus
shifting shape and size.

Wind leaves its tracks
on the surface of the lake.

My schedule is based on
what's going on outside;

and my creativity has the
entire sky to fly through,

whether blue or gray,
sunshine or rain, 

combing the fields and woods,
scanning the lakes and streams.

I am out here.
Please join me.

© 2017 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations: 

1. Grattan Township - Kent County, Michigan 

2. Luton Park - Kent County, Michigan

3. Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County, Michigan

4. Reeds Lake - East Grand Rapids, Michigan

5. Grand River - Knapp Street bridge - Ada, Michigan 

Father Nature's Neighborhood

I am blessed to live out here in the country. I want to share some of the views I found on a recent drive through my neighborhood:

Egypt Valley State Game Area



Wood Ducks

Pickerel Lake Park

Silver Maple

Wittenbach Farm

 

 

Drying Corn

 

 

Belted Kingfisher

 

 

Townsend Park

Blok Orchards

Pickerel Lake Park

Did you enjoy your visit?

Isn't Autumn awesome?

Which photographs are your favorites?

Thank you for coming to "Father Nature's" Neighborhood.


Click on photos to enlarge.