The very cold wet day reduced the number of the people attending Memorial Day services in which we remember those who lost their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice for their country to give us the freedom that we enjoy today.
Remembering the Ultimate Sacrifice
The name of this wildflower, Jack-in-the-pulpit, comes from looking like a preacher in a pulpit, although in this case, the preacher probably isn’t Jack as the plant is female. The double set of compound leaves indicates that the plant is female although the plants can change gender from year to year.
The male plants tend to be smaller and also allow pollinators, like the fungus gnat, to escape more easily due to a small hole at the bottom of the slippery spathe after coming into contact with pollen. Females flowers, without the hole, are more likely to trap the pollinators that may be carrying the male pollen, giving it a better chance of successful pollination.
No Jack in the Pulpit
The first sunny day in a while had the bees buzzing in the dandelions as well as the apple blossoms. And while the female orioles were busy building theirs nests, I spotted a male oriole in the apple blossoms as he was hunting insects. But as I was watching the oriole, I scared the wood ducks from the pond so I quickly took some photos and left the area so the ducks could return to their nest boxes.
Holiday Weekend at the Pond
The barns at the farm are filled with multiple batches of kittens, but it sounded like I had kittens in my yard too with the arrival of Gray Catbirds. One of their common call is a like a lost kitten mewing, but their long song may last for up to 10 minutes which may mimic other birds as well as mechanical and musical notes and phrases. The catbird singing by my porch this evening almost sounded like it was saying “pretty bird” even though not a colorful bird.
Noisy Gray Catbird
The chilly, cloud day didn’t seem to spring like but I spotted a lonely Wild Geranium blooming in the ditch. So maybe after a sunny weekend, more blossoms will open up and fill the area with pink color.
Wild Geraniums
The critters, besides myself, may have been feeling a little blue this morning since it started out wet, cold and gray, but some birds really show the blue like these Indigo Buntings. The males actually lack blue pigment and their color comes from microscopic structures in the feathers that reflect blue light. I had three males at the feeder at one time but I didn’t see any females (who are probably sitting on the nest) and aren’t as noticeable in their brown color. An interesting fact is that they migrate at night using the stars as navigation.
Male Indigo Buntings
This newborn calf is wet from amniotic fluids, but this evening the calves would be soggy from the rain if they are outside in the pasture.
Newborn Calf
Hopefully the frost this morning is the last of the cold white stuff this spring and the white color will be provided by blossoms, flowers and puffy clouds instead.
Wild Plum Blossoms
The weather does not feel like the late spring, but had a cold sharp bite since the wind chill is below freezing. And with a frost advisory for tonight, the newly potted flowers and plants have to be covered or hauled back inside.
Cold Sharp Bite
Ducks might like water but I’m not too sure they liked this cold, damp day and they might be wishing for sunny warm days especially when their eggs hatch and the little ducklings are scooting around on the water.
Cold Duck
