Michigan Forest Life - February 15, 2026

Greetings!

Where did this Michigan sunshine and radiant warmth come from? It is mighty pleasant, but not a lasting thing. I will take a few days of it – whatever we can get. This is a great time to be in the woods. Find a state park close by and walk the trails! 

Because I am in Salem this week, I trekked several miles in Maybury State Park. The hardwood forest of tall trees is lovely, even in the winter when the trees are without leaves (Photo 1). What I like about a winter forest is the detail in tree structure that is hard to see when summer leaves hide the imperfections (Photo 2). Broken parts of trees still living. Hollow areas of decay where something major was taken by the wind decades ago. Sometimes the appendage lays on the ground, covered with moss and mushrooms and is slowly being digested by the forest. Other times the appendage is already gone and its rich earth remains make receptive condition for another round of forest growth.

A forest’s diversity should not only be thought of in terms of the species that live together, but also as the age of the trees. A healthy natural forest is made up of trees of many ages. Diverse ages. Mature trees that are hundreds of years old live with their offspring and their ancestors, and continue to give birth to new possibilities each year (Photo 3). When a tree dies, it makes sunlight room for its children and grandchildren. Mother Nature’s mechanisms automatically makes this possible.  Each living thing in the forest benefits from being there and also gives back to make another round possible. There is a beauty in it.

Enjoy another teaser from FOREST LEGEND: THE TALE OF OL’ SPLIT TOE. Preview snippet 21 of 27 (Photo 4).

I wish you a day with nature. Take some time with the trees around you. Don't take them for

granted. They are simple and complex at the same time. 

Until next time,

Dan

Excerpt from Chapter 26

AD 1974 - 1974 was the year that Split Toe first saw the boy. It was the last day of November—the last day of the deer hunting season—and two weeks after his injury. Split Toe watched from the tree line as a man carrying an old bolt-action .30-06 rifle—a WWI surplus Springfield—slipped through a barbed wire fence and walked cautiously across the field with an eight-year-old boy in tow. The boy wore a corduroy winter coat, cotton mittens, and an orange cap.

The man rarely found time to hunt with his brothers on opening day, but he tried to work in a day or two late in the season. He liked to walk slowly as he hunted. Looking. But his brothers along with their children liked to hunt while sitting still. Waiting. It was least disruptive for the man to hunt at the end of the season when his relatives were already done for the year. But after nearly two weeks of intense hunting pressure, the deer had learned to hole up and wait out the danger.

Copyright @ 2026 by Daniel S. Ellens

Publication Date: March 31, 2026

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Praise for FOREST LEGEND:

“Forest Legend: The Tale of Ol’ Split Toe provides a unique perspective on the natural world and humanity’s place in it. Through charming storytelling and deep reverence for Mother Nature, the book both entertains and inspires a fresh look at the world that surrounds us.”

– Mary Radcliffe, Self-described forest enjoyer and frequent hiker, Chairperson of Data Science at State Navigate.