Some of the road ditches in upper Wisconsin are lined with colorful lupines, although most of them are not the native Wild Lupine, but are instead the Large-leaved Lupine which is native to the western states. The wild lupine, native to eastern North America, has leaves that are divided into 7 to 11 leaflets, where as the large-leaved lupine are grouped 9 to 17.
Lupines in Bloom
With today being a holiday for some people, they may have enjoyed a three day weekend and could take a ferry ride over to Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands, and doing a little exploring.
Ferry Ride
There may have been some outdoor activities with families today to celebrate Father’s Day and enjoying splashing in the water on a hot Sunday afternoon sounds like a fun day.
Wading in the River
With people out vacationing this weekend, I wonder if the “Now and Then” waterfall at Amnicon State Park is flowing or not, if it is as dry up there as around my place. I have seen it where the whole cliff is covered and one year with these two little streams of water falling.
Almost Not Flowing
The roses have been blooming for a few weeks now and with no rain to give them a soggy look so the blossoms are lasting longer than some years.
Rose Blooming
The famers have been busy putting up hay since it hasn’t rained to delay the haying process. Now we just have to hope some rain will come so there is a second crop of hay.
Baling Hay
Today is Flag Day, which honors this date in 1777 when the Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag. I have a different flag on the edge of my pond – the Northern Blue Flag, a native iris found is marshes and other wetlands.
A Flag for Flag Day
Today I heard a bluebird and then spotted a pair in a tree. It was a treat to see them after two years of not nesting at my place. Hopefully there is an empty birdhouse that the wrens and tree swallows (or mice) haven’t taken over so the bluebirds can raise their second batch of the season and stick around as I love hearing and seeing them.
Hopefully Back
These small blue damselflies (probably in the bluets family) better not fall off the blade of grass, otherwise the hungry tadpoles might nibble on them. Tadpoles are mostly herbivores when young but switch more to a carnivorous diet as they mature.
Bluets and Tadpoles
Because I didn’t want to scare my recently hatched wood ducklings, I skipped mowing close to my pond. And by not mowing, a section of over 100 feet turned white and orange from daisies and the non-native orange hawkweed.
White and Orange
