The days are growing shorter, and the storms of fall roll in, accenting cooler nights and pleasantly warm days. As you wander into the woods, the forest seems spent from summer’s abundance. Songbirds are molting into their more subdued winter plumage, leaves and stems are riddled with holes and galls, and scavenging detritivores are growing fat on the season’s harvest.
We often think of spring as mushroom season, but autumn offers its own remarkable fungal bounty. As the forest begins to slow, fungi emerge to play a vital role in recycling nutrients, decomposing fallen leaves and wood, and preparing the ecosystem for another cycle of growth. Hidden beneath the forest floor, vast networks of fungal threads are hard at work linking plants, breaking down organic matter, and returning nutrients to the soil. While flowers fade and many animals begin preparing for winter, fungi come into their own, transforming the forest into a showcase of strange colors, shapes, and textures.
This time of year, as children return to school and stores seem to set out Halloween decorations earlier every year, nature joins in the seasonal celebration. Walking through the woods, the eerie Dead Man’s Fingers fungus can often be found emerging from decaying wood, while the bright yellow slime mold commonly called Witch’s Butter adds unexpected splashes of color to the forest floor. Both organisms are unique in appearance and never fail to bring me immense joy during autumn explorations.
Slime molds, funny enough, are neither molds nor slimes. Instead, they belong to a group of organisms all their own. Capable of movement, responding to their environment, and even solving surprisingly complex problems such as finding efficient pathways to food, these remarkable organisms have long challenged taxonomists and fascinated scientists. To encounter one on a woodland walk is to be reminded that nature does not always fit neatly into the categories we create.
Fall is also a season of migration and preparation. The woods are filled with subtle signs that another season is coming. Warblers and other songbirds gather in mixed flocks as they fuel up for journeys that may carry them hundreds or even thousands of miles south. Insects take advantage of the last warm days, while chipmunks and squirrels busily collect and store food. Goldenrods and asters provide one final burst of color and nectar for pollinators. Everywhere you look, the natural world is balancing the abundance of summer with the demands of the coming winter.
At 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2, Crossroads naturalists will lead participants on a Wandering Wednesday hike through the trails of the main campus, searching for signs of the season. These walks explore relatively easy terrain and aim to foster both skills and curiosity in understanding the natural world. Every hike is different. We may be fortunate enough to encounter a flock of migrating songbirds moving through the canopy, discover an unusual slime mold along a rotting log, or stumble across one of the many fascinating mushroom species that thrive in Door County’s forests. Participants may also observe insects and birds gathering energy reserves and preparing for the long seasonal journeys ahead.
At Crossroads, the first week of September is also a season of transition. We are excited to welcome our new Naturalist, Jess Poppie, to the Crossroads community. Jess joins us at a time when the preserve itself is shifting from the energy of summer programming to the quieter rhythms of fall exploration and stewardship.
Much like the forest’s detritivores, which tirelessly recycle the remains of summer into resources for the future, Crossroads staff and volunteers will be cleaning up and tidying the abundance of the season with our annual Trail Spruce Up on September 4. Volunteers will help clean signs, trim branches, and perform light trail maintenance to ensure that the preserve remains welcoming and accessible throughout the fall and winter months. Stewardship is an essential part of our mission, and community workdays provide a wonderful opportunity to care for the places that connect us with nature.
Whether you join us for a hike, lend a hand on the trails, or simply take time to wander through the woods on your own, early autumn offers an invitation to slow down and pay attention. The forest is changing. Mushrooms emerge from hidden places, birds gather for migration, and the first hints of fall color begin to appear. It is a season rich with discovery, and one of the most rewarding times of the year to experience the natural wonders of Crossroads at Big Creek.
Upcoming Programs
Wednesday, September 2
1:30 p.m. | Wandering Wednesday
Join a naturalist-led hike through the preserve. Enjoy easy walking and seasonal discoveries during this approximately one-hour outing. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leash.
Registration is not required. This program is free and open to the public.
Meet at: Collins Learning Center Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Friday, September 4
9:00-11:00 a.m. | Trail Spruce Up
Join Crossroads staff for an outdoor cleanup project including sign cleaning, branch trimming, and trail maintenance. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Please dress for outdoor work and changing weather conditions.
Meet at: The Shop (across the parking lot from the Collins Learning Center), Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI
ALL CONTENT © 2026 BY DOOR GUIDE PUBLISHING
