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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

60's and overcast today. Clouds seemed to be darkening towards morning, but no rain yet. Some photos we took yesterday on Keller Lake:

Photos from the Weekend




Frost on Columbine, taken Saturday morning



Frost on Brown-eyed Susan, taken Saturday morning




Honey bee overnighting on Showy Goldenrod. Taken Saturday morning.



Fall colors in Nisswa, Minnesota. Taken Sunday afternoon.

Overcast this morning. Temperatures climbing into the 70's as the fall colors begin to emerge.

The maples are already turning this year, and the Goldenrods, Blazing Stars, and Asters are in full bloom. Saturday saw 1/4" of rain after sunset, and Sunday was dry and cool, making for a very productive weekend finishing off the retaining wall and working on the patio beside the pond. A flock of Cedar Waxwings paused among our cherry trees and grape vines, and a chipmunk has excavated his burrow beside our waterfall, already stowing acorns for the winter.

Some general photos from the garden:

I just read a passage in Weird Minnesota (Mark Moran et all) about a plague of locusts averted when a strong frost wiped out the eggs. It got me wondering if the rising temperatures over the weekend were the spark in the boxelder bug powder keg that's left many Twin Cities houses and business fronts coated in a teeming skin of the small black and red-striped beetles. Fortunately, unlike locusts, these native insects are unlikely to wipe out our crops or cause blood poisoning in livestock. The only real damage involved is the nuisance of cleaning up the thousands of brittle insects carcasses.


Finally polished off the patio blocks. Had to add a bit of color to the first set I poured out over three weeks ago, as the rain was already fading the red and turning the surface fo the brown stones to salt-and-pepper. Also added a coat of sealer to cure and weatherproof. Hope to get the sand packed in by Wednesday.

The other weekend big project, replacing the West pond basin, is at least half finished in that the pond has been drained, the plants, frogs and fish fry relocated to the East Basin, and holes punched in the bottom. Over the week I'm planning to take out some righteous IT-related rage ("you did WHAT to your work computer?") on the unsuspecting rigid liner with an axe and sledge hammer. But not tonight. Tonight's' my anniversary, which I PROBABLY would have remembered on my own, even if my beautiful Irish wife hadn't taken it upon herself to casually remind me for the last month and a half.

Her: Isn't it amazing we'll have been married for two years?
Me: It sure is.
Her: Two years as of five weeks and three days.
Me: Wow, I didn't know you had it down that far.
Her: Has it felt like two years?
Me: It sure has.
Her:
Me: Uh, I mean, NO, it hasn't.
Her:
Me: I mean --

At any rate, here's some fall color from our jaunt out to the Forest Lake/Wyoming side of the Carlos Avery WMA.

Click the thumbnails to see larger versions.