After a stormy weekend, I always wonder how the oriole nest manages to stay attached to the branches with extreme swaying and wonder how the poor eggs aren’t scrambled. But I suppose since the female spends a lot of time incubating the eggs and builds the nest, she doesn’t take shortcuts nor scrimp on the number of the fibers as it takes a week to build or longer if the weather is bad.
Female Baltimore Oriole in Her Nest
The rainy day might prevent some of the normal Father’s Day outdoor activities but hopefully there will be some dry moments to enjoy the day.
Sunday Sunset
In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Any date can have many events or memories associated with it, since also on June 14 in 1775, the U.S. Army was founded and in 1900, Hawaii becomes a United States territory. And for those who like Bourbon, on June 14, 1789, whiskey distilled from maize is first produced by American clergyman the Rev Elijah Craig. It is named Bourbon because Rev Craig lived in Bourbon County, Kentucky.
Each date also has notable (and not so famous) births, deaths, and anniversaries. For June 14, Harriet Beecher Stowe, American author and activist was born in 1811 and Burl Ives, American actor and singer was born in 1909 and I have sung many of his songs over the years. In 1926, Mary Cassatt, American painter, died at the age of 82 and is remembered for Impressionist paintings of women and intimate bonds between mothers and children. Other deaths on June 14 are remembered, but the name might not be remembered fondly, like Benedict Arnold, who died in 1801 and his name is associated with a traitor.
And besides being Flag Day for the United States flag, another flag was first raised on June 14, 1846 in the birthplace of American California, since a group of U.S. settlers in Sonoma proclaimed the Republic of California where the Bear Flag Revolt took place and a Bear Flag was first raised, proclaiming independence from Mexican rule. Sonoma served as the capital of the short-lived California Republic until the United States Stars and Stripes flag was raised during the Mexican-American war.
So June 14, like any day, holds many memories; past, present and future ones for everyone. For me, June 14 is the anniversary of my grandfather’s death, the wedding anniversary of dear friends, and a wedding ceremony today for my cousin.
Flag Day
New birth is one sign of spring and early summer, from baby lambs, calves, piglets, kittens, birds and even foals, like this young one staying close to mommy’s side in the pasture.
Cute Foal
A late spring flower is often missed since it is not a large, showy flower but instead a small, white blob near the ground. Resembling cat’s feet, Field Pussytoes are a member of the Aster family and found in the eastern half of the United States. Found in rocky areas with sandy poor soils and grazed pastures in areas where Hawkweeds are found (and the Hawkweeds are blooming now).
Field Pussytoes
When I was mowing yesterday, I scared up a little bunny and it was cute. Course those cute bunny rabbits grow up and eat my garden so it was a good thing I wasn’t mowing at my place, especially since I later scared up a little black kitten a few mowing passes later and then a mommy cat. And again, good thing not at my place! But I did chase up a deer when mowing my yard and they do eat my garden.
Besides the four legged critters which I kept interrupting with my mowing, I also bothered the feathered kind too and scared various mothers off their nest including a bluebird. The Eastern Bluebird female makes a nest by loosely weaving together grasses and pine needles, then lining it with fine grasses. After the female lays her pale blue eggs, only the female incubates the eggs (when I wasn’t scaring her off the nest that is).
Bluebird Nest and Eggs
Generally you might see barns of a similar style in an area, especially if built in the same era, but then you might notice one with a different design and it jumps out at you. I like the peaked arch doorway on the side door like a Gothic arch on ancient buildings.
Gothic Arch Doorway
This past weekend was the free state park day for Wisconsin and so I visited a nearby state park. Standing on a high overlook above a river bed near a waterfall, I spotted the Wild Columbine below me on the cliff. And of course there was no way to get to the flowers on the side of the cliff to take a picture since even a billy goat wouldn’t be able to get a foothold on the cliff. And two years ago at another state park, I also spotted the Wild Columbine on a cliff below me and like this weekend, I could only try to zoom in for a picture so no closeup of the flower. The Aquilegia canadensis has many common names besides Wild Columbine such as American Columbine, Cluckies, Culverwort, Dancing Fairies, Granny’s Bonnets, Honeysuckle, Jack-In-Trousers, Meetinghouses, Rock Bells, Rock Lily but I think I am going to call it ‘Hang on Harvey’ after the 1969 game we played as kids since I spot it hanging on cliffs.
Besides the limestone cliffs that I seem to find them lately, other areas you can find the flower in the eastern North American are woodlands, wooded slopes, sandy savannas, thinly wooded bluffs, shaded areas of limestone cliffs, limestone glades, fens and bogs, and areas along railroad tracks. It is reported that Native Americans rubbed the crushed seeds on the hands of men as a love charm.
Wild Columbine
On a bright, sunny Sunday morning you might stumble upon a church at the bottom of a hill with a bright roof. The statement “It’s the little church with the copper top” describes this church very well.
Spring Lake Lutheran Church
The rain interrupted my mowing but it does water the plants and flowers, as well as leave rain drops on the flowers which sparkle when the sun appears the next morning like on this iris.
Sparkling Rain Drop
