Steve`s Country

Summer Wildflowers.

Posted on July 17, 2019 by stevescountry

Hello everyone on this rather cool and cloudy day in July. We seem to be getting a lot of cooler than normal weather this summer, especially this month. And this is normally our hottest month of the summer. Doesn’t look like it this year though. I think we had more warm days in June than we are getting this month. Maybe August will be better? I don’t think I will hold out much hope for that idea.

Large flowered beardtongue, a new one for me after identifying nearly 300 wildflowers in this area.

But since the weather is not cooperating much I thought maybe it’s time for another walk by the river. However, this is not a recent walk, but one from before. I wanted to take pictures of all the wildflowers I could find that day along this beautiful path. And there was a lot too. So, some nice bright flowers are a good thing to help brighten the cool weather around here today.

forest flower1 — A hard one to capture, the pipsissewa, about 8 inches (20cm) tall.

We actually have somewhere around 300 or more wildflowers in this area, including many different orchids, though most of the orchids are small except for the lady slippers. But even the small ones are still very beautiful, but some are quite plain looking and easy to overlook. And some of the flowers have odd additions to their name such as the words weed or bane, even though they are very nice wildflowers.

Daisy fleabane, a mini daisy, flowers are about 1 to 1.3 cm across.

Aside from the river path itself, there are other paths along the way to the river that split from the main path. One path just goes in a circle and ends up at the beginning. Unfortunately that path goes through some low lying areas that right now are very wet because of all the rain we have had recently. But even with all the rain and water lying around now, there are no mosquitoes, at least not yet, and it usually doesn’t take long for them to come out.

Narrow-leaved white topped aster, another new one for me.

I haven’t actually been down to the river for a while now, so all these pictures were taken about 10 days ago or so. Oddly I haven’t seen any chipmunks anywhere along that path, but there are squirrels living the old fashioned way by eating the seeds from pine and balsam cones. A lot of work for little food. But they don’t complain about it. They just gather the cones and eat. And those pine cones are not easy to open. Just try using a hammer and chisel. They use their little teeth. And they go fast.

clintonia2 — Clintonia, pale yellow and very waxy looking.

However, today is about wildflowers. Such as the fireweed. It is so named because it is one of the first plants to grow after a forest fire and can often turn a blackened area into a sea of pink or purple flowers and that helps to attract pollinating insects back to the devastated area as well as providing the nectar needed for surviving insects such as bees. They are a favorite flower for bees and butterflies.

Fireweed, can get up to 3 or 4 feet tall.

I did discover some other interesting things the last time I was down at the river, but that will have to wait for another day. Well, that is all for now everyone, I hope you all have a wonderful remainder to your week and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

Sunshine Blogger Award Time!

Posted on July 17, 2019 by stevescountry

81 Comments

Hello once again on this fine day everyone! Well, it started off very cool but it turned out not too bad, though still kind of on the cool side for July that’s for sure. Well, we are back with yet another Sunshine Blogger Award and this time it comes via Red from some warm place all the way down in Texas land. Not sure why he would want to live in a warm place when he could live in a freezing cold place like me. Very odd. You can find Red over at https://rjs.social and just let him know I sent you. No, wait, better not let him know that, he might tell you to leave.😂 Just so you know, Red and I like giving each other a hard time, but it’s all in fun. Anyway, thanks so much Red for this nomination, much appreciated!

Sunshine Blogger Award Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you.

Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.

Nominate new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.

List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award in your post/or on your blog.

Notify the nominees about it by commenting on one of their blog posts.

Questions for the nominees:

Why did you start blogging? Sometimes I wonder. I mean, because some friends suggested I should due to the fact I enjoy writing. Okay, I’m keeping it short this time.😀
Is there a story behind the name of your blog? Yes. I love easy questions.😄😸
What is your favorite vacation spot? A Nice warm place!😎 Hey, I was asked, people keep asking, I have to answer, right? But at least I’m specific now.😂🌞
What is your favorite movie? I’m running out of answers to this one. Even Muffin has answered this one twice. Um, hmm, here’s one I haven’t used before, ‘The Big Noise’.🤔😃
What is your life’s greatest accomplishment? As soon as I able to, I will let you know.😁
If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Hmm, I have answered this one a few times too, amazing. Here goes, french fries, strawberries, coffee, oatmeal, got any grapes?, water, crepes, mangoes, blueberries. I know it said one, so one of each.😂
What is the title of the last book you have read? ‘All About Cats’ required reading by my owner.😹😸
What is one way you relieve stress at the end of the day? Talking, reading, cuddling with Muffin, sleeping.😀🙄
What cities or towns have you lived in? This is a new one.🤔 Portage la Prairie (I was born there), Selkirk, Winnipeg (largest, 750,000), Vermilion Bay (smallest 800), then here.🤪🙄
Where do you find inspiration for your blog posts? Meow, meow, meow!😹I’m not sure I want to translate this one. BUT I WILL!!! Muffin said, from the crazy things her owner does. This applies to her blog posts of course.
Do you own any pets? Meow, meow!!😸 NO! Absolutely not this time. Meow!!! And looking at my feet will not help. Not a chance. No way! WAIT!!!! Muffin said, yes, his name is Steve. Sigh.😹😹