If the farmers didn’t get their crops planted before the heavy rains this week, they might have to wait a few days to get back into the muddy fields.
Planting Corn
Watch corn planting with smaller equipment.
https://youtu.be/e3GEcK67tug&w=640&h=430&rel=0
I normally spot Cedar Waxwings in the trees with berries, which they seem to strip in no time, but occasionally I see them hidden in the leaves. They feed mainly on fruits and because they eat so much fruit, they occasionally die or become intoxicated when they consume overripe fermenting berries. Due to more than 2,500 trips to build a nest, the female may take nesting materials from other birds to save time.
Cedar Waxwings
The some of the road ditches right now are filled with pink color from the native Wild Geranium which are attracting honeybees and bumblebees to the blossoms. The native plant is easily cultivated and can be grown as an ornamental plant in gardens.
Ditches in Pink
Today might have been filled with picnics, camping and parties to celebrate the long holiday weekend but others visited cemeteries or special events which honored the fallen military personnel who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The American Legion conducted services at all the cemeteries in my area with prayers, gun salute and the echo taps.
Honoring the Fallen
The woods at the farm were filled with the great white trillium which is easily spotted, but this year none of my had blossoms as they have been eaten off by the deer too many years in a row and I only some leaves which emerged but no blossoms. The only variety of trilliums I have blooming this year are the Nodding Trilliums, which hide from the deer as they ‘nod’ or hang underneath the large three leaves. The way they hide also makes it hard to photo since you have to be on the ground looking up at it (or cheat and tip the stem over to see the blossom better).
Hiding Blossoms
When I was trying to photograph the rainbow last evening, I scared off three ducks on my pond but I didn’t realize one of the females was still in the nest box until I got too close to her. She flew out of the nesting box and waited on the edge of the pond until I left the area. I wonder if I will spot when the babies leave the nest.
Waiting Female Wood Duck
Storms woke me in the middle of the night and then later more storms rolled through the evening. The rumble from the approaching thunderstorm could be heard miles away but then afterward the storm, a rainbow appeared.
Storm Cloud Passing By
I don’t live in Virginia, but these pretty flowers are called Virginia Bluebells so I wonder if I can rename them Wisconsin Bluebells. But when they first open up, they are a pink color before the trumpet-like blossom turns to the pretty shade of blue.
Pretty Virginia Bluebells
Some birds are less noticeable than others, and may look like another species, until something sets it apart. At first glimpse, the White-throated Sparrow may be mistaken for the common house sparrow but the whistle song of the White-throated Sparrow tells a different story. They also hop when on the ground, instead of walking, so hard to photograph when they bounce around so much.
White-throated Sparrow
With the grass growing and the trees as well as other plants leafing out, this green color wildflower is easily overlooked. Maybe it will blend in better so the deer won’t spot them and eat the Jack-in-the-Pulpit like they have with many of my other flowers.
Camouflaged Flower
