The rain today on saturated ground will cause more runoff and dry creek beds will be filled again with flowing water.
Flowing Again
Picture of the Day for June 3, 2019
This warm, sunny day in June is showing off more color from the irises starting to bloom this season.
Iris in June
Picture of the Day for June 2, 2019
In addition to the free fishing weekend, it is also the free state park this weekend so many of the parks had an increase in the number of visitors on this nice June day enjoying the scenery like this waterfall on the Willow River.
Falling for the Falls
Picture of the Day for June 1, 2019
This weekend in Wisconsin, it is the free fishing event which allows everyone to enjoy the sport of fishing without the need of a license. Although there is no cost, that doesn’t mean you have to catch only the teeny, tiny fish which are barely bigger than the bobber.
Tiny Fish
Picture of the Day for May 31, 2019
There was an air quality alert out today, due to the smoke from Canada and so sensitive people were warned to reduce heavy exertion outdoors. But work has to continue, especially on farms, and even critters and creatures carried on with their tasks. The bees were busy collecting pollen on this very warm day.
Busy Bee
Picture of the Day for May 30, 2019
The Bleeding Heart is not a native flower, but it blossoms say spring to me. As a kid, I would pull the outer pink petals off to reveal the inner heart. But one of its other common names is “lady-in-a-bath”, which comes from the shape when held upside down and the outer petals are only pull at a 90 degree angle and the two halves form the tub with the lady sitting in the middle. But since I never pulled them partway, it was not a name I associated with the flowers.
The Bleeding Heart
Picture of the Day for May 29, 2019
Birds and bees were active in the apple blossoms when the sun peaked out for a while today. Although some blossoms have started to fall already, creating a white layer on the ground but at least it wasn’t snow. Although it looked like it was snowing today with the fuzz from the poplar trees flying thick in the air.
Sunny Apple Blossoms
Picture of the Day for May 28, 2019
During the cold, wet raining day yesterday, my porch railing was filled with orioles trying to get out of the rain as they kept visiting the feeders. But among all the orange color of the orioles, there was a brilliant red bird too. He was a soggy but colorful bird and at times would look at me like it was my fault it was raining. The Scarlet Tanager forages mostly in tall trees for insects as well as nesting 20-30 feet above ground, so normally you only catch a glimpse of color high in the trees so it was unusual to see one perched on my porch.
Soggy Scarlet Tanager
Picture of the Day for May 27, 2019
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
Picture of the Day for May 26, 2019
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
