How Deer Cool Off

It was another hot day in the neighborhood and these three yearing bucks were cooling off in our pond.

Staying in the water reduces bug bites (sometimes).

"Tag ... Your It."

This deer was cooling off in the shade of the gas pipeline. Since the gas in the pipeline is around 55F this is a cooler place to hang out.

Mushrooms

After temperatures in the 50's with 2 inches of rain last week, today's 90°F temperature has brought out some mushrooms. I found these mushrooms while doing battle with an invasion of weeds.

The Baby Geese Have Grown

This year's young geese have grown a lot and come running at the sight of my truck (and an easy meal of corn).

Mama goose stands guard as the little ones gobble up some corn on the ground.

Mama goose telling a curious yearing buck to "BACK OFF".

Wildflowers - Siberian iris

Siberian iris are native to Europe and Central Asia. It is considered a fast-spreading invasive plant that has naturalized in some parts of North America.

Siberian iris is most often violet-blue but we also have a white variety. Our Siberian iris grow in rocky/hard soil such as the edge of the township road.

Wildflowers- Fringed Polygala

We have a couple of patches of Fringed Polygala on our property but the hot, dry weather this spring has reduced the number of blooms. The Fringed Polygala is a small, elusive spring wildflower that is unlike most other flowers. This curious-looking pinkish- magenta flower has a unique shape that features a fringed crest at the center.

Young Bucks

It's time for the yearling bucks to grow their first pair of antlers. This young buck and the other deer in the neighborhood are still shedding their winter coats and looking for a cool spot in today's 90F heat.

Wildflowers - Columbine

The wild Columbine is starting to bloom at the edge of our lawn.

Wildflowers - Wild Geranium

I start out mowing our lawn and the next thing I know, I'm taking pictures of wildflowers. The Wild Geraniums are starting to bloom next to our lawn.

The Baby Geese Are Growing

The geese are still making their daily commute to our pond. The baby geese are growing rapidly (or maybe it's just their leg muscles from the walking).

The Daily Commute

Last evening around 7:30 I found the goose family making their commute from our pond to the neighboring pond 1/3 mile away ...

This morning the goose family was back at our pond.

"I'll jump in if you go first"

"All right kids, swimming lessons this morning and a wildlife hike this afternoon"

Another Warm Day

It's another warm day and the neighborhood deer are looking for shade at our cabin.

Baby Geese

The Canada Geese on our neighbor's pond hatched this weekend and as the geese have done for the past years, they walked the couple day old goslings to our pond, 1/3 mile away.

It looked like the geese were having a party at our pond to show off the new arrivals.

It was hard to keep track of all the goslings, but there's a little but of yellow just under Mama's wing...

Mama Goose showing me where she hide some of the goslings.

Seeking Shade

Yesterday was warm/sunny and the local deer were looking for a cool spot in the shade.

New Garden Gnome

Drove up to our cabin this morning and found a new garden gnome in the shrubbery.

Found in the Garden

Mary was doing some weeding in her flower garden this morning when she realized there were a pair of beady little eyes watching her.