Virginia A. Spiegel

Milkweed

You know I have a love affair with milkweed, as an interesting plant and as inspiration for art (see third row of photos). This is the first time I have ever seen the sap at the tips of a green milkweed.  This year I have seen fewer Monarch butterflies than in any previous year.  

Nature report:  The last two resident female hummingbirds left last Tuesday.  I have had migrators at the feeder almost every day since.

Haiku count since July 14:  360
BJ Parady alerted me to this unusual topic for a haiku contest:  economics. 

A patriotic salute today in The Garbage Day Project.

Chevron

Good news, bad news.  My old (can you believe 2005?), but trusty, Coolpix camera survived all the rigors of the Boundary Waters, but then I stepped on it changing clothes in the public parking lot.  So I am using our Nikon D50 until I can research and buy another carry-everywhere camera.

The good news is that it’s a great camera for details, including the chevrons and red coloring on this grasshopper’s legs.

Nature report:  One female hummingbird has left; two remain.  I found a shed snake skin in my garden.

Haiku count since July 14:  345

And, of course, there is a new post in The Garbage Day Project today. Those crazy garbage guys are already zooming by in the dark.