bluff creek is fed by hardwater springs and seepages from a morainal ridge. the surroundings contain mound fens, dry-mesic woods, wet-mesic prairie, and sedge meadow. it’s a watery and grassy melange! one of the season’s first sticking snowfalls decorated the terrain for the morning’s hike.

a.

wild thrushes over the spring run

and snow-capped goldenrod bowing

the fen-world opens its cold, wet arms

b.

waxwings in the birch grove, a crest

flexes and relaxes—to the branch,

buckthorn berry in beak

thanks to wisconsin’s dnr for tending this land and its many water features.