Purple Coneflower

Unseasonably cool again. Temps peaking in the 80s this week, with regular bouts of rain last week into early this week. Wild Bergamot is exploding, but the plants themselves seem to be growing much lower to the ground than usual. Also far fewer bees than last year, and I haven't seen a single Monarch on our milkweed (no caterpillars either!)

Wildlife Spotted:

• Baltimore Oriole


• Black-capped Chickadee


• Blue Jay


• Canadian Goose


• Chipmunk, Eastern


• Cottontail Rabbit


• Goldfinch


• Grey Squirrel


• Nuthatch


• Red-shouldered Hawk


• Ruby-throated Hummingbird


• Sandhill Crane


• Squirrel, Grey


• Turkey Vulture
  
  

In Bloom:

• Butterfly weed


• Compass Plant


• Harebell


• Spiderwort


• Swamp Milkweed


• Wild Bergamot

A Shot of Pelican Lake



Loon on Pelican Lake

Spent the weekend out on Pelican Lake, aboard a sailboat we bought for a song. Saw loads of wildlife including a congregation of six loons, several cormorants, what appeared to be a merganser, great blue and green heron.

Sailing has to be one of the most rewarding (and economical, and eco-friendly) modes of transportation; you only use your motor to tool around in harbors, and easily 80% of your time is spent utilizing one of the most renewable resources the planet has.

Bluebirds gone from the nest; so far we've put at least four back into the ecosystem this year. No sign of Monarch yet. Glade Mallow is almost out, while the Wild Bergamot is just starting to pop.

Cold this week with highs occasionaly only broaching the upper 60's; they say the coldest comparable week on record.

Young Eastern Bluebirds in bluebird house Saturday

Well, the Early Meadowrue is fading, the Glade Mallow is quickly going out, the Swamp Milkweed is in its prime, and the Butterfly weed is just starting to burst. Sad to say we haven't seen any Monarch caterpillars on our milkweed yet this year. Usually they hang around for weeks.

Also, save for the single Tree Frog, no frogs in the pond, though we weren't technically filled with water until mid-June. While we're getting a little rain, it's been extremely dry lately; White Bear Lake is said to be down over six feet.

Wildlife Spotted:

• Baltimore Oriole
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Blue Jay
• Canadian Goose
• Chipmunk, Eastern
• Chorus Frog
• Cottontail Rabbit
• Eastern Bluebird
• Goldfinch
• Grey Squirrel
• Northern Cardinal
• Nuthatch
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red-shouldered Hawk
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Ruby-throated Hummingbird
• Sandhill Crane
• Squirrel, Grey
• Turkey Vulture

Wildflowers in Bloom:

• Butterfly weed
• Glade Mallow
• Harebell
• Spiderwort
• Swamp Milkweed