June has not been the kindest on record. Torrential rain with damaging winds followed by drought followed by more torrential rain and damaging wind. Smoke intensities from wildfires are now part of the weather report. The smoke is affecting the U.S.A. and even reaching Europe. Can't remember this being an issue before this summer.
At a grocery checkout last week the cashier asked me if I'd like to donate to the local Canada Day fireworks display. I told her no, the air was polluted enough. She simply smiled back at my candor.
On a happier note, earlier this month I had a special treat. Biologist Erik Pohanka volunteered to do a bird count in my region for eBird, a citizen science project managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Erik spent a couple of hours searching my property and found thirty-three bird species. He sent this link to list them:
https://ebird.org/canada/checklist/S141246419
Here are a few snaps I took this month.
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| The window pane blurred this Brown Thrasher's feet. |
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| Barn swallow admiring her hatchlings. |
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| A house wren attending her brood. |
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| This summer's orioles are on their third jar of grape jelly. |
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| Mama robin is laying eggs for batch number three. |
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| A peony bouquet. Short lived but showy and fragrant. |
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My sister is a proficient gardener and partial to miniature roses. I can't remember not seeing an arrangement of dainty specimens of flowers and/or cuttings for rooting on her kitchen table. She emailed me these photos and agreed to share. Nothing cheers a room like a fresh bouquet!
