Some of the road ditches and fields are showing balls of color as the common milkweed begin to bloom. More than 450 insects species feed on the milkweed, including the ant at the top of the flower. The decline in milkweed plants plays a significant part in the monarch butterfly population decline.
Common Milkweed Blooming
Without hills or trees blocking the view, you can see far across the lake and watching the approaching storm clouds.
Clouds Across Lake
For many, the weekend means a day off from work, but for farmers there is no day off if there is hay to bale. The watchful yellow smiley face is waiting for the raked field in front of it to be baled up.
Waiting to be Baled
Queen Anne’s Lace, is a common sight in roadside ditches this time of year and is considered an invasive weed. Although not native flower, the eastern black swallowtail caterpillars as well as many other bees, butterflies and insects utilize this flower’s nectar. Because of the flower’s dark red center, one legend of how the flower got its name is because Queen Anne II pricked her finger while tatting lace, causing a drop of blood to fall on the lace.
Queen Anne’s Lace
The turkey little chicks were out on an adventure after leaving their nest, but they were young enough that they didn’t wander too far from mom.
Adventurous Baby Turkeys
Sometimes when the dew is heavy in the morning and after the sun peeks out, you can find some interesting things coated with dewdrops like spiderwebs and even the spider legs collected drops.
Dewdrop Spiderweb
As the swamp milkweed begin to blossom, butterflies and bees gather on the pink blooms to collect nectar as this bumble bee is doing.
Bee on Swamp Milkweed
The neighborhood fireworks weren’t as numerous as last night, which sounded like a battlefield causing my cat to hide. There were some professional firework events tonight for people to celebrate the 4th of July.
Fireworks for the Fourth
Outdoor activities are a common occurrence on a long holiday weekend, including sailing. And this sailboat was out for an adventure around the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior.
Sailing Superior Waters
Although a bit on the chilly side to wade in the Lake Superior water, the beach draws people for an afternoon of fun in the sun on the sand on this holiday weekend.
Little Sand Bay Beach
