Friday, 20 June 2025
We took a wee side trip to stare into Tahquamenon River, way in the upper reaches…I estimate only some 15% of the catchment is upstream of this spot—for whatever it’s worth. 😉
We found four of these spell-binding swallowtails (if you can tolerate butterflies) flitting about on the boat launch apron next to the bridge.
The Guru calls it Take-Home-A-Sac (sarcastic harhar).
Thursday, 19 June 2025
We found the darkest purple lilacs I remember ever seeing, which we found on the Seul Choix lighthouse grounds.
There’s the light, with the keeper’s home to the left. [Apologies for the exaggerated keystoning.]
It’s on a point that projects out in the M of HOMES.
Contrast that with “our” lake. That’s a round rock (perhaps/probably rounded by humans, and thus an artifact) atop a binnacle. Because of this weighty binnacle that was on/near our beach, that word was part of the vocabulary of the kids who grew up in my generation on this property, and probably would not otherwise have been familiar with the term. Now, why there was a binnacle of this scale here, I do not know, because it’s way too large for a ship/boat on this lake, but not for one a HOMES lake.
Wednesday, 18 June 2025
My eyes are loving the lupin these days. Meet pink-top.
Here’s a range of purple-blues, all with white accents.
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
On my post-coffee beach walk, I saw wee rollers coming in, not feverishly, but unmistakably.
I had to post this photo with the colorful lupins and serendipitous OOF* seagull.
Back in the garden, I flipped open a discarded rhubarb leaf, and discovered a pair of slugs. Yup, they’re gross. But, still: nature data.
* OOF = out of focus
Monday, 16 June 2025
During my morning beach stroll, I spotted these offspring freeloading on mom’s back as she cruised away from a potential threat—meeeee.
Then, up in the field, I spotted ears above the lupin (just right of center in this shot), which resolved into a doe watching me. She never moved beyond keeping her focus on me as I walked here and there, then departed. I figured she didn’t move because she was by her fawn. [Just a few minutes ago, we saw a doe-(very young) fawn combo in the orchard, which could have been this postulated pair.]
Tired of mom-stories? Here’s one of my oft-repeated water barrel reflection shots…illustrating our overcast, yet pleasant day..
Sunday, 15 June 2025
Proof of bridge crossing. Also proof that traffic flowed at 45 mph in two lanes each way, as normal. [Ignore bug smears on windshield and assistant photographer’s quirky focus.]
Ah, we’ve returned to the land of rhubarb. I was taught to pull the stem gently yet forcefully (no tugging) away from the crown (the direction varies from “up”), and I didn’t intend to select a leaf that was nurturing a wee leafette—oops. BTW, the sauce was the strongest pink of the year, almost luminous.
Proof that the lupin remain gorgeous, although somewhat disguised since the grass has shot up to full height, sometimes higher than the lupin.
Saturday, 14 June 2025
Look! Mountains are above the trees.
This was taken in the flatlands of old lake-bed northern Ohio, but flatlands are tough to take interesting shots of, so here’s a delicate flower, probably/perhaps a geranium of some sort.
Friday, 13 June 2025
I’m not a major Jimmy Buffett fan, but this evening I’ve been thinking about changes in latitudes and attitudes.
BTW, no change needed in this lovely pottery, made by Gail-the-potter for guests use to toast the new couple at her wedding.
Thursday, 12 June 2025
Of course, the tightly closed bud of the magnolia is also eye-catching.
I’m guessing I’ve used a version of that title before; apologies.
Wednesday, 11 June 2025
I assume this is Magnolia grandiflora, which is native to an east-west strip south of here, from east Texas east into northern Florida, and just barely into North Carolina. Truth be told, it is tolerant of slightly cooler climes, like here in ATL.
OTOH, it may be Magnolia virginiana, which is native to a similar strip that extends a bit more to the north, plus northeast into New Jersey. Of all things.
However, thinking about the leaves, I lean toward M. grandiflora.