This year I gave up having potted flowers on my porch or any vegetables because the chipmunks would uproot and dig out my plants. Even without having any potted plants all summer, it didn’t take them long to discover a couple of potted trees that I received recently but haven’t planted yet. The chipmunks have been digging already and burrowed tunnels down around the roots.
Troublesome Chipmunk
I think there are a few young orioles that tried to get a few more fun summer days in and didn’t leave when the rest of the orioles headed south as I had a group of three at the feeder a few days ago and a single oriole this morning. With the cooler temperatures, these youngsters passing through better get headed to their warmer winter home.
Stray Oriole
The sunflower soaked up the last sun rays of August as the month comes to an end as well as meteorological summer. And if the temperature drops into the forties overnight, it will feel like the start of meteorological autumn tomorrow.
August Sunflower
The weather for the last weekend of August was great for outdoor activities, like a boat ride on Lake Superior near the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Boating Near Pictured Rocks
The bright yellow blossoms of goldenrod attracted a variety of insects to its flowers on this sunny summer day.
The Yellow of Goldenrod
Normally I spot the butterflies flying through the air or on flower blossoms, but after the rain, the wet sand drew this Tiger Swallowtail for drink.
Tiger Swallowtail
These flowers look flaming hot, much like the weather felt like today with the humidity and warm temperatures.
Flaming Red
Although the month of August isn’t over yet, some of the birds have already left for the season which signals the approach of autumn and then winter. The oriole, grosbeak and wrens sounds have vanished from nature’s orchestra but the chips and fast buzzing of wings are still present for the moment. Although the ruby-throated hummingbird males seem to have headed south already too and they can fly over 1,200 miles without stopping. The juveniles and females leave a little later but soon they will disappear too until next spring.
Waiting for Departure
The tree frog has been serenading me for several days as I been painting my porch. I wonder if it related to the frog that hitched a ride into my house and lived inside over winter.
Singing Tree Frog
Today is my two furry kids birthday but neither of them quite as slim as they were five years ago on their first birthday when this picture was taken.
Birthday Cats
