The shape of a white-tailed deer surrounded by tall grass and trees was faintly cast in the fog.
Dense fog enveloped the land. Orangey grasses, seed pods, and twigs dazzled with waterdrop embellishments. Where plant material was sparse, sand, a common component of the land’s makeup, filled the gaps. A sprawling green patch of eastern prickly pear cactus grew in one sandy area. It was neighbored by some oak trees that cast tall, brooding figures. Some trees maintained a canopy of curled, red leaves while others were completely bare.
Among these trees and against the gray backdrop, a white-tailed deer stood. And then another. And another. They had gotten up from resting on the ground, their attention having been caught by the sound of footsteps on damp gravel. After having paused with large ears directed at the new sounds, they hurried away with white tails wagging in the air, quietly disappearing into the fog.
Foliage was hopping with small birds. American tree sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, and black-capped chickadees flew about from bush to bush and tree to tree. All sang their signature vibrant melodies. In the wetland that spread out alongside the river, where fish created spontaneous ripples on the water’s surface, the shapes of distant ducks and geese could barely be made out, but their honks and quacks were clear.
The plants throughout the preserve were embellished with beads of water that gave the foggy, gray land a natural sparkle.
This pocket of land is a preserve known as Seidner Dune and Swale. It consists of a lovely mixture of prairie, wetlands, and oak savanna and is situated a distance under the southern tip of Lake Michigan. Surrounded by industry and a highway that runs along one of its edges, this preserve is a natural oasis accessible by a discreet road. The fog blocked most of the industrial background. Highway noise diminished as one continued down the trail, which is just over a mile long, further transporting one into this hidden gem.
The fog that was present during this walk through the preserve offered a new light in which this unique land was experienced. Eerie and beautiful, subjects of interest came into focus gradually, inspiring one to spend more time examining a plant or watching a bird. The land and its inhabitants were showcased in another shade of beauty that the fog so generously provided.