The winds knocked out power in the morning and made it hard to take a photo of flowers as they waved in the strong breeze, but bleeding hearts had a blue backdrop with the sun shining. But the month of May had some very dark times with other hearts bleeding over the loss of family, friends and neighbors from tragic violence.
Bleeding Hearts
The rain held off so that the local American Legion did not get wet today as they presented the Memorial Day services at area cemeteries.
Remembering the Sacrifice
An empty beach midweek, except for the seagulls that took to flight, probably had more visitors this holiday weekend to enjoy some fishing and beachcombing where the Brule River meets Lake Superior.
Brule Meets Superior
Some people are headed north for the holiday weekend and the Eastern Kingbird headed north also, all the way from South America. The kingbird likes to hang out around my pond as it catches insects during the summer.
Eastern Kingbird
The sun may be shining on the apple blossoms today, but with the rainy days and the the temperature getting down to freezing the other night, it will interesting to see how many apples there will be on the trees this season.
Sunny Apple Blossom
I have made numerous bluebird houses over the years and have enjoyed the sights and sounds of the blue colored birds so it was a disappointment not having any bluebirds around last year other than a brief sighting of a pair at my family’s farm. This year appeared to be the same without the normal spring arrival time of the bluebirds and past the normal first nesting period, so I was surprised to hear a bluebird this evening in my backyard. Although I didn’t see the bird so I don’t know if it was like this less colorful female or a blue male, but hopefully it is a pair that will stay for the summer.
Hopefully a Bluebird Stays
The odd shape flower has the right equipment on this rainy day with a built-in umbrella so that Jack in the Jack-in-the-Pulpit keeps his head dry.
A Dry Jack
When I ran across this chipmunk when I was taking pictures of the wildflower, he gave me a look that made me wonder if he was thinking about climbing up my leg. And with those sharp claws, that would not be a pleasant thing.
Chipmunk Claws
A year ago this week, there were little baby great blue herons at several different ages, but this year with the very late spring, the parents were still sitting on the eggs. They would stand up and stretch before doing a little grooming, before settling back on the eggs. They hunkered down in the large nest high up in the trees so you almost didn’t see them in the nest.
No Baby Herons
Next weekend, the holiday vacationers may head to the beach, but today with the temperatures in the 50s and Lake Superior water temp at 39, the beaches are not crowded and there are not too many brave souls taking a swim in the lake.
Empty Beach
