After a few frosty morning, plants and critters will appreciate some warmer and sunny days like these calves taking a nap in the pasture (or they were napping until I interrupted their slumber).
Calves Enjoying Sunshine
Picture of the Day for May 20, 2015
The name Marsh Marigold gives a clue where you might find this wildflower since they are often found in marshy areas and in wet ditches nestled within the cattails, but they are not related to marigolds of the Aster family but are instead part of the buttercup family. In the UK, Caltha palustris is also known as kingcup, mayflower, May blobs, mollyblobs, pollyblobs, horse blob, water blobs, water bubbles, and gollins. I’m not sure if any of those names are any more fitting since a blob doesn’t sound so pretty and at least the name of marigold refers back to medieval churches as a tribute to the Virgin Mary, as in Mary gold. And they look more golden to me in the ditches and marshes than a horse blob!
Marsh Marigolds in the Ditch
Picture of the Day for May 19, 2015
A year ago my longtime cat Dutch died, an orphan I brought over from the farm. About two months ago, two more kittens from the farm found their way to my place. I’m not sure if Trouble and Stripe will take over the chipmunk duty like Dutch did (since there was a chipmunk digging in my flower pot yesterday), especially since Trouble was rather skittish about meeting my other resident “cat”.
Cat Meeting Cat
Picture of the Day for May 18, 2015
The solitary flower of a Nodding Trillium hangs underneath the leaves so it isn’t spotted very easily (and maybe why the deer don’t eat as many of these trilliums as the other type) but it also makes it difficult to take a picture of them as the camera has to be on the ground shooting upward. With the probably frost tonight, the Nodding Trillium probably will want to keep its head covered under the leaves.
Finding the Nodding Trillium
Picture of the Day for May 17, 2015
The contrail from an airplane almost looks like a funnel coming out of the cloud like a tornado or an alien spaceship vacuuming up samples from Earth. With the threat of storms today, there might not be a visible sunset tonight but hopefully no tornadoes today like there was yesterday in Minnesota.
Contrail at Sunset
Picture of the Day for May 16, 2015
I interrupted a pair of bluebirds while I was taking apple blossom pictures when I got too close to the birdhouse where they were feeding their young. But the splash of blue color looked pretty among the white and pink blossoms and new green leaves while they waited for me to leave the area.
Bluebirds Amidst the Blossoms
Picture of the Day for May 15, 2015
As I was finishing mowing when the sun was setting, the pink blossoms of the Wild Geranium in the ditch were catching the last rays of the sun before it slipped away for the night.
Catching the Last Rays
Picture of the Day for May 14, 2015
I think this horse was happier yesterday in the sunshine eating the new spring grass than today in the damp, drizzly wet weather.
Grazing on New Spring Grass
Picture of the Day for May 13, 2015
On a cold spring night, where cranberry growers where out running sprinklers to protect the vines and farmers were making trips to the barn checking on the cows calving, the skies to the north provided an array of colors to entertain them during their work.
Colorful Northern Sky
Picture of the Day for May 12, 2015
With the mention of snowflakes in the air, other wildflowers besides the Jack-in-the-pulpit might want a hood to keep the snow off their heads. The name comes from the fascinating structure of its flower resembling a old-fashioned raised pulpit with a like a tiny man inside.
Jack Hiding Inside
