Nelumbo lutea

 

Rising from the wetlands,

a prized living trophy

glowing on the stage,

anthers bowing down

in adoration,

surrounded by

a supporting audience

of soft, pastel petals.

American Lotus.

Nelumbo lutea.

© 2026 Richard Havenga

Photo Location:

Grand River - Spring Lake, Michigan

Last Light

 

Dark silhouettes of Canada Geese

hurry past, on their way

to the shallow wetlands

of Saul Lake Bog;

gliding in low,

arriving at dusk,

as calm water

catches the day's last light,

and the soft breasts

of settling geese.

© 2024 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Saul Lake Bog Nature Preserve

mangroves

 

ever-expanding

their slow walk through the wetlands

mangroves will survive

© 2022 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

Ten Thousand Islands NWR - Naples, Florida

The White Fire of Ice

The morning fog is a silk shawl

sliding over this November wetland.

Hanging upon dark silhouettes

of dying willow trunks.

Beneath the willows, ghost-like geese

swim slowly on still water.

Water that will soon transform

into the white fire of ice.

Ice that triggers departure

for this small, local flock.

A flock that will join

a larger formation.

A formation flying

farther south

in the efficient

V-shape.

A shape that has

served their lives

for all time.

They know when it's time.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 3. Grattan Township Kent County - Michigan

2. Home Wetland - Cannonsburg, Michigan

4. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - SanAntonio, New Mexico

 

 

Yesterday's Sky

 

This afternoon's air is stagnant,

and the sky is milky white,

rather indifferent to change.

Yesterday's sky was brilliant blue,

and great cumulus flourished

with distinct definition,

exuberant in their growth.

Yesterday, golden drops of sunlight

penetrated layers of leaves

aging with autumn.

Tomorrow, I will welcome

the forecast of rain.

Although it will strip

more color from the woods,

it will also saturate the soil,

replenish the wetlands,

restore my soul.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. Home Sky - Cannonsburg, Michigan

2. Pickerel Lake Park / Fred Meijer Nature Preserve - Kent County - Michigan

3. & 4. Silverton, Colorado

5. Home Wetland - Cannonsburg, Michigan

wetland ornaments

 

buttonbush blossoms

spherical inflorescence

wetland ornaments

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

Grattan Township - Kent County - Michigan

Water Ceiling

 

Under the dark silk

of water in this wetland,

fat-headed tadpoles are

wriggling in their aquatic jungle.

Pushing with broad, slippery tails

through layers of old, wet leaves.

Watching with tiny black eyes.

Settling into the soft silt.

Are they vegetarian;

do they like to eat that 

bright green duckweed?

Or do they prefer the

more meaty

aquatic invertebrates?

I hold you briefly in the air;

can see you are stunned in

this foreign atmosphere.

Waiting for four legs

to sprout and grow;

for lungs to breathe

the free air 

above the 

ceiling of water.

© 2021 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. 2. 3. & 4. Home Woods Wetland - Cannonsburg, Michigan

 

blue eye

blue eye to the sky

high elevation wetland

Colorado green

© 2018 Richard Havenga

Photo Location: Molas Pass - Hwy 550 - Colorado 

Warrior

Wading and walking
with slow stealth,
dark feet slip
into dark water;
barely a ripple,
graceful as a ballerina,

yet ready as a warrior
to thrust its spear,
to plunge with precision
at a silver minnow,
to pierce its silver scales;
or miss.

Now waiting again;
yellow eyes
intensely focused,
prepared for prey,
patient as a monk,
still as stone,
wading the wetlands,
stalking in silence,
this master of the marsh,
this fierce, feathered warrior.

© 2016 Richard Havenga

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Rogue River - Rockford, Michigan 

3. & 4. Eagle Lakes Park - Naples, Florida 

Blue Flag

a blue flag unfurls

thriving in this lush wetland

popping out of green

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Wild Iris / Blue Flag - Iris versicolor

Photo Location:  Kent County,  Michigan 

May You Walk

May you walk through woodlands white with Trillium. 

May you walk through fields purple with vetch.

May you walk in the under-story green with Mayapple.

May you walk in the dunes tan with sand. 

May you walk in wetlands cinnamon with fern.

May you walk through the seasons of your life attentive and alert, with a joyful sense of gratitude. 





Photo Locations:

1 - 3  Ada Township,  Kent County,  Michigan (Michigan)

4 - 5  Home Field,  Kent County,  Michigan

6 - 8  Home Woods,  Kent County,  Michigan

9 -  Great Sand Dunes National Monument,  (Dunes)  Colorado  (Colorado)

10 - Whitefish Point,  (Whitefish)  Paradise, (U.P.)  Michigan

The Promise

uncurling

 

 

 



unfurling

unrolling
the scroll

ready to receive

the promise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sensitive Fern - Onoclea sensibilis

 

Photo Location: Cannonsburg State Game Area,  (Cannonsburg SGA) Kent County,  Michigan

Great Egret

This is white. Pure white. On a dark day over gray water. This Great Egret is alert; spotting the target, and ready to strike.

Notice the lores, they are slightly greenish near the eyes.

The relatively thin bill is very slightly downcurved.

This is a tall, stately, slender white heron with a yellow bill, and a long neck.

Foraging birds stand tall and walk slowly.

Size:  35 - 41 " (89-104cm) tall.  Wingspan = 51 - 55 " (1.4-1.5 m)  Weight = 1.9 lbs. ((870g)

When feeding, it assumes an eager, forward-leaning pose, with its neck extended.

The Great Egret has black legs and feet. Whereas the Snowy Egret has black legs and yellow feet, (it's quite a sight) and is much smaller.

I love this action shot. It's so sure-footed, climbing its way up this submerged limb. See its toes wrapped around the branch for better balance? The right foot  is ready for the next step and grip. He displays excellent dexterity. Could you climb up a wet log, without looking at your feet? Can you even wrap your toes around a thick branch?

Food:

Small fish, frogs, and crayfish in shallow water. Occasionally snakes, salamanders, lizards, and large insects like grasshoppers.

He has a small fish clamped in his bill up there.

Here, he works to subdue the fish, and toss it down his throat.




Habitat:  Freshwater and saltwater marshes, marshy ponds and tidal flats.

Nesting: 

Nests in colonies, often with other species of herons. Lays 3-5 pale, blue-green eggs on a platform of sticks in trees and bushes. 

Range:

Pink =  Summer     Light Blue =  Winter     Dark Blue/Purple =  Year-round



Voice:

A very deep, low, gravelly "kroow",  or a grating, unmusical,  "karrrr".   Also a low, hoarse croak,  or  a  "cuk, cuk, cuk".

Click on  Cornell Labs to hear several calls.

Other:

Formerly known as the American Egret, Common Egret, Large Egret, White Egret, Great White Egret, and Great White Heron. This bird's official name is now: "Great Egret".

It has recovered from historic persecution by plume hunters of previous centuries.



Look for them in a place like this. Once you see one, you will never forget your time spent with the Great Egret.

(Click on photos to enlarge)



Great Egret:  (Ardea alba)

Photo Location:   Cascade Township,  (Cascade)   Kent County,  Michigan







Resources:

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America  (Peterson)   c 2008

Sibley Guide to Birds - David Allen Sibley  (Sibley)   c 2000

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds  (Audubon) c 1994

Blue Flags in Wetlands

This Wild Iris is such a stunning specimen, that I'm going to leave out most of the Botanizing this time. The Blue Flag is native to our area. Some of these photos were taken in our own wetland, some are from the Lowell area.

It's tall and erect with sword-like leaves.

They like to have their "feet wet" as you can see in this clump growing out of 5"-deep water.



Did You Know?

• The distinctive shape of the iris has been recognized since ancient Egyptian times when stylized irises appeared as symbols. This symbol has survived to the present where it is used to indicate North on a compass.
• Blue Flag is the official flower of Tennessee (Tennessee) and Quebec (Quebec)
• The flower's sexual parts lie just beneath the curled-up style roofing the sepals.
• The seeds can float on water which aids in dispersal.

This cultivated species called "Caesar's Brother" grows in our perennial garden on the sunny side of the house. One day last week I counted 90 blooms open within three circular clumps. I am fascinated by the intricate, purple-yellow-white pattern called the "nectar guide".

This exquisite beauty has a very short life. Enjoy it while you can.




Now, "Walk With Father Nature" introduces a new contest:

"Write With Father Nature"

Instructions:

Write a Haiku

• Indicate photo number you are writing Haiku for: 1,2,3,4 only from this post "Blue Flags in the Wetlands"
• Haiku may be with or without a title.
• 1st line = 5 syllables
• 2nd line = 7 syllables
• 3rd line = 5 syllables
• rhyming is not necessary, in fact, it's rarely used in Haiku
• submit your Haiku in the "comments" section at the bottom of this post
• Winning Haiku and author's name will be added as an update to this post.
• One entry per person, please.
• Oh yes, submissions must be in English; the only language the judge has mastered.

good luck and good skill
enjoy the writing process
your words may play here...