I was watching a hummingbird in the blossoming phlox and right after it flew away, I spotted the hummingbird clearwing. It isn’t a bird but a moth in the Sphingidae family. While it is not a big pollinator, it is the primary pollinator for some orchid species.
Hummingbird Clearwing
Once in a while when reaching for that odd shape or old patterned rock, it turns out not to be a rock at all. This little turtle was caught in the waves and it took it a while to get past the water and rocks before finally making its way towards shore across the sandy beach.
Not a Rock
While the dogs were enjoying the water while playing fetch, I waded into the water looking for that perfect “pretty” rock. The rocks look more colorful when wet but sometimes when I reached into the water for a rock, a wave moved it before I could grab it. And the rock may never been seen again by me.
Pretty Rocks Under Water
While some dogs don’t enjoy water, especially baths, other dogs love the water and a dip in Lake Superior is a refreshing way to cool off on a summer day while playing fetch. I just don’t want to be near a long haired dog when it shakes the water from its fur.
Water Fetch
Daylilies and daisies are images of summer, but unlike the daisies, the daylily blossom only gets to enjoy summer for about a day.
A Day for the Daylily
It is always interesting to see the different staircases inside lighthouse towers. The metal tight spiral is common and I rather have them inside than on the outside of the tower. As I was coming back down this staircase, a tour schooner was passing by the lighthouse and fired off a cannon. It was a good thing that I didn’t jump too high and fall down the spiral stairs.
Lighthouse Spiral Staircase
Even though the barn door looks rather worn, it still sheltered the livestock inside from storms. Today was a family reunion on my mom’s side and this barn was on her parent’s farm. My family has been working on a book with stories about the barn and life on the farm, but the barn is no longer standing as it was torn down in the last year so now it exists only in pictures and memories.
Old Barn Door
On August 7, 1789, that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouse, beacons, buoys and public piers so today is National Lighthouse Day. Situated on a 76-foot bluff that overlooks the Strawberry Channel of Green Bay, Eagle Bluff Light was built in 1866 and automated in 1926.
Eagle Bluff Light
On open water, you can see storms off in a distance as well as the ones about ready to rain on your head. The sun rays are poking through around the individual thunderheads.
Storm Clouds Across the Lake
This time of the year some bright pink color can been seen in road ditches and along beach. An important plant for honey producers, the native plant fireweed earned its name because this plant is the first colonizer in the soil after forest fires.
Bright Fireweed
