The leaves are already starting to turn due to the recent cold snap that has temps overnight in the 50s. Mostly it's just the sugar maples turning; Sumac are already almost gone.

Two monarchs, first of the year, spotted in the garden. Likely hatched nearby, as their wings are extremely fresh and they seemed a bit awkward at flight. Odd to have it so late; wondering if there is some sort of correlation between the recent streak of warm temps (80's with high humdity).

Warm lately, highs in the low 80's. Leaves already starting to turn. Has been a horrible year for Bergamot, but a bumper year for Purple Coneflower and Joe Pye Weed.

Brulle River as seen from Judge CR Magney State park, just East of Devil's Kettle.


Sorry about the lapse. Besides organizing the photos from our trip to the North Shore, I've also been busy with a new job, which in this economy is a positive thing.

First snow today! Just flurries, which melt on contact as temps are holding in the 40's and the ground is still warm. All the flowers are gone, as are the tropical plants in my pond garden; inside for the year. Fish will be coming in soon.

Planning to move the sumac tree today. Will be building a small rain garden down at the edge of the property line.

And the Bellflower bloomed on.
Amazing to see the same Bellflowers from late Spring still blooming as the Joe Pye Weed turns to balls of fluff and the Purple Coneflower become prickly black balls of seed. Very cold lately, with highs in the low 60s and lows in the 30s.

Rainbow in Linwood Township

Bursts of heavy rain throughout the day and evening, followed by spots of sun (shown above). The recent warm temperatures and damp weather seem to have postponed the onset of fall, and the colors haven't changed much in the past week. Saw a Monarch butterfly Saturday. Rather surprised as I thought they were gone for the season, but a friend in Canada told me there's hordes of them near Toronto, and have heard about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in the Brainerd.

Garden Report

Wildlife Spotted

• Red Admiral


• American Toad


• Black-capped Chickadee


• Blue Jay


• Chorus Frog


• Cottontail Rabbit


• Crow, Common


• Goldfinch


• Gray Squirrel


• Green Frog


• Hairy Woodpecker


• Leopard Frog


• Monarch Butterfly


• Mourning Dove


• Northern Cardinal


• Nuthatch


• Pileated Woodpecker


• Red Squirrel


• Red-bellied Woodpecker


• Robin, American


• Turkey Vulture


• Virginia Opossum

In Bloom:

• Brown-eyed Susan


• Elm-leafed Goldenrod


• Harebell


• Purple Coneflower


• Showy Goldenrod


• Sweet Joe Pye Weed


• Woodland Sunflower

Have seen more European honeybees on the Showy Goldenrod than I have all year! Have counted over fifty on the stand at any one time, with individuals coming and going constantly, have even seen them resting on the undersides of the flowers through storms and at night. Weather is inconstant. 70's throughout the week, with 80's and some light rain today. Nothing but the calls of crickets and toads in the evening.

Saw a Turkey Vulture flying over the house today, and heard the call of the Pileated Woodpecker.

First Fall colors! Precipitated by the drought, the sumac are a rich burgundy, while the tops of the maples are tinged with the lightest tinge of rust. Showy Goldenrod, one of the surest signs of fall, are just starting to bloom.

Grand Marais Recap: Day 2 (Oct 9, 2007)

Sun peaked out over Superior in the morning. The air was still cold, but the wind was calmer than the night before. Saw the fall colors over the hills surrounding Grand Marais and a flock of ring-billed gulls picking their way along the shore.



Cloudier when we got to the Anderson's, but bright enough to do a quick photo shoot down by the beach.



Devil's Kettle was like a waterfall on crack this year. There areas we used to climb around by the top of the falls were under five feet of white water.

Grand Marais Diary Recap: Day 1


Left in rain, travelled in rain. A bank of fog over Superior and the surrounding hills.



Fed by the wettest fall on season, gullies of water shot from the stone cliffs, pooling in the ditches, overrunning the road in spots, and staining the fringe of Superior a root beer brown. Spurred by runoff, the French River was like a river on steroids.



Spent the night in town at the East Bay Suites. Took a walk through the town and along the harbor as the sunset behind the Sawtooth Mountains.

Sorry for the gap; just returned from our trip Grand Marais last week. To recap, nothing's blooming anymore, and the only colors left in peak are the Oaks. Goldfinch are passing through in droves (some moving South I suppose), and the frogs are starting to get comfortable on the bottom of the pond.

1.5" of rain the week we were gone.

Cloudy today with temperatures down in the mid 50s and 2.5" of rain in the gauge. The oaks are turning a rich golden colour as we get further into the season.

1.5" of rain early Friday morning, drizzles this morning, but not enough to register in the gauge. Sun appeared later in the day, pitching temps into the upper 80's in the late afternoon with high humidity.

Several roads were closed off in Carlos Avery WMA. Spotted a Heron and Egret in Pond 6. Not much left in bloom in Carlos Avery, but the Oaks are finally starting to turn.

Steady rain yesterday afternoon, heavy in spots. Sunny and pleasant this morning with 1" of rain in the garden gauge and temps holding in the 50's. Rose into the 70's in the afternoon. Took a few shots at Roseville's Central Park during my lunch break, unfortunately didn't bring the telephoto lens with, and missed some Mallards in the pond and a hawk wheeling over the boardwalk in Harriet Alexander Nature Center.


Grasshopper at Harriet Alexander Nature Center


Harriet Alexander Nature Center, shot from boardwalk


Restored Prairie at Harriet Alexander Nature Center


Fountain at Muriel Sahlin Arboretum


Muriel Sahlin Arboretum

Overcast with sporadic drizzle; temps holding in the upper 60's. Goldfinch seem more active than usual, crowding the thistle feeder and bathing in the pond and waterlogged annuals pots.

Some photos from the weekend:




Fish in Pond Garden


Gull Lake


Round Lake


Pierz, MN


Pierz, MN



"Woolly Bear" Caterpillar


Wildlife Spotted in Garden this Week:

• American Toad
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Blue Jay
• Cedar Waxwing
• Eastern Chipmunk
• Goldfinch
• Green Frog
• Grey Squirrel
• Northern Cardinal
• Nuthatch
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Robin

Natives Blooming in Garden:

• Black-eyed Susan
• Daisy Fleabane
• Frost Aster
• Harebell
• Purple Coneflower
• Showy Goldenrod

Fall Color -- Forest Lake Area:

• American Elm
• Boxelder
• Cottonwood
• Paper Birch
• Quaking Aspen
• Smooth Sumac
• Sugar Maple

The boxelder beetles are back, but not in the usual swarms. Must have something to do with the particularly wet weeks that followed their hatching.

Rained most of this morning and afternoon, leavng about an inch and 3/4 in the garden gauge. Passed by the Mississippi in Brainerd; where there were bare sandbars and leaning buoys not four weeks ago, there is now free flowing water and grass-covered islands.

Total Rainfall Recorded in September: 8.25"

Last night's thunderstorms left 1" of rain in the garden gauge. Our goldfish appear to have spawned several weeks back, missed the fry as they blend in with the dark bottom of the pond. It will be time to take them in soon.

Clouds darkened in the afternoon, and it was pouring sheets of rain for all of fifteen minutes -- not enough to register on the gauge.

The sky turned black last night around 7, pelting us with thick sheets of rain before fading to a pale, moody green a half an hour later. Garden gauge registered just over 2" of rain this morning. Temperatures are hanging in the upper 50's this AM with cold drizzle falling from an overcast sky.

Monthly Rain Totals: 5.25"

Wildlife Spotted in Garden this Week:

• American Toad
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Blue Jay
• Cedar Waxwing
• Eastern Chipmunk
• Goldfinch
• Green Frog
• Grey Squirrel
• Grey Tree Frog
• House Finch
• Mourning Dove
• Northern Cardinal
• Nuthatch
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Robin

Natives Blooming in Garden as of 9/25:

• Black-eyed Susan
• Daisy Fleabane
• Elm-leafed Goldenrod
• Frost Aster
• Purple Coneflower
• Rough Blazing Star
• Showy Goldenrod

Fall Color as of 9/25 (Forest Lake Area):

• American Elm
• Boxelder
• Paper Birch
• Smooth Sumac
• Sugar Maple

Temps have been crisp and cool in the morning, climbing into the 80's around midday and dropping like a rock after sunset. Headed out to Kinninatives this Saturday to pick up some clematis for the trellis. Took some photos along the way.

Showy Goldenrod in Garden



New England Aster, River Falls, WI



Common Milkweed, River Falls, WI


Kinnikinnick River, River Falls, WI



Kinnikinnick River, River Falls, WI




Wyoming, MN



Wyoming, MN




94 Bridge, Lakeland, MN




Stillwater, MN




Wild Turkey, Lakeland, MN

Some fairly severe electrical storms between last night and this morning, with some ear-splitting thunder and 1.75" of rain in the garden gauge as of 8 AM. Morning was rather humid, with temps hanging in the mid-70's.