It's been a long winter but things (for a while at least) were looking like rather Spring again. Thunderstorms, 50's, even 60's across middle Minnesota, blades of grass popping through the damp sod, and, just as quickly, snow and 30's again.

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.

Nodding Beggar's Tick on the Linwood Trail


Was working around the pond this morning when I saw a frog leap out of the water, nab a grasshopper sitting on a leaf near the pond's surface, and dive back down. Though it's warm these days, with temps in the 80's, it is feeling a lot more like Autumn.

Saw a Turkey Vulture picking at road kill on the Stacy side of Carlos Avery today. Thought it was a crow from a distance, until we came up close and noticed that it was larger than even a hawk.

Linwood Trail's majorly overgrown. They must only tend it during the school year. Saw quite a few frogs and toads, as well as grasshoppers, cicadas, and a Pileated Woodpecker. Rough Blazing Star was in bloom, as were Nodding Beggar's Tick. Sneezeweed was reduced to a yellow puffball, as it is at home.

Still a few Monarch Caterpillars and Butterflies in the garden.

Garden Report:

Wildlife Spotted:

• American Toad
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Blue Jay
• Chorus Frog
• Cottontail Rabbit
• Crow, Common
• Goldfinch
• Gray Catbird
• Gray Squirrel
• Green Frog
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Leopard Frog
• Mourning Dove
• Northern Cardinal
• Nuthatch
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red Squirrel
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Robin, American
• Turkey Vulture
• Virginia Opossum
• Wood Frog

In Bloom:

• Brown-eyed Susan
• Butterfly weed
• Elm-leafed Goldenrod
• Harebell
• Leadplant
• Prairie Onion
• Purple Coneflower
• Sweet Joe Pye Weed
• Turtlehead
• Woodland Sunflower