Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Fantastical Friday #17.
Good morning everyone! Right now the sun is shining, though according to the forecast that’s not supposed to last much longer. It’s quite windy out there this morning as well. No gulls showed up again today, but the crows were happy to take away the food. They will likely get the remainder of the gulls food now, there isn’t much left anyway, then the crows will be on their own. I don’t want to encourage them to stay for the winter or they will scare away all my other birds. Crows are supposed to go south for the winter, but more and more are staying here for the winter instead. And crows are supposed to be intelligent birds, but staying here for the winter shows the opposite. Oh well.
The chipmunks are still busy this morning, plus 6 blue jays. The blue jay numbers are increasing, that’s good, I’m hoping we get back to 10 or more for the winter this year. We were down a bit last winter. Well, I see we have lost our sunshine already and it seems to have gotten windier now too. It doesn’t feel too bad out there though. I just went out to put more food out there for the chipmunks and blue jays, and I stayed to talk with the chipmunks for a bit. They sure pick up those seeds fast. This time I put seeds in five different spots and peanuts in three spots to help out so there’s not as much fighting between those chipmunks.
Pocket and Frisky got into quite a fight while I was out there just now until I got down and told them to stop. It’s amazing how they suddenly stopped and starting picking up those seeds, side by side, like nothing had happened. Sometimes it’s necessary to be firm with these little critters. I think Frisky, one of the new adult chipmunks that showed up this summer, is now next in size to Pocket. It’s hard to tell Scooter and Choco apart now too, they are now the same size, but smaller than the adult chipmunks. But Choco has a mark on his forehead now so that helps.
The end of summer and the beginning of fall. It is definitely fall now, not much left for flowers or insects, though there is still a few bees around. Most of the flowers have gone to seed now, only a few of the late blooming wildflowers like goldenrod and asters. There are others too but they are not looking very good this time of year. Leaves are changing color and falling to the ground. It’s a beautiful fall day. Have a great Friday everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve And Muffin’s Weekly Wildflower #1.
Hello everyone! Today we begin our continuing look at some wildflowers which will be every Friday morning from now on. The picture above is an old one from several years ago. Today’s wildflower is the “spotted joe-pye-weed”, also known as the “purple boneset”. This is one of our native wildflowers, in the aster family, that likes wet soil conditions, such as peat bogs, and along shores of lakes and rivers. It prefers sunny locations and will grow from 2 to 10 feet in height, blooming from July to September. The flat flower clusters are made up of dozens to hundreds of pink or purple flower heads that don’t have petals. They can be found across most of Canada and much of the U.S., missing a few states such as Oregon, Nevada, California and Texas across to Florida. These flowers are enjoyed by butterflies and bees. Have a wonderful day and God bless! Steve and Muffin. ©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 