Nature Notes: May 2 through May 8

I don't think I can remember a greener spring.

Although we had some very hot days before cooling off again, the amount of rain we've been having has kept everything looking good.

The photos are going backwards starting with today (May 8) and ending with May 2. Below the male cardinal is flamboyant against the trees.

I'm starting with a wooded trail in my neighborhood where I walked before voting today.

My voting place is at the Optimist Community Center a short distance from my house and there is a park, swimming pool and trail.

 

I'm glad the machine took my ballot because I dripped sweat on it.

It was a cool pleasant morning, even so, by the time I finished my walk I was sweating and know I looked rather red faced and scary when I went into the building to vote.

I guess that would qualify as too much information, but sweat is a tool nature provides us with so heat can escape our body.

It's nice seeing water in this creek as it is often the first to dry up.

I heard ducks quacking but didn't spot them.

The rest of the shots are at my house starting with the money plant (Lunaria annua). For more information about this plant you can click here. When I found the link I thought it was interesting that wikipedia said it's called money plant in Asia but called honesty in English and in the U.S. they say it's called silver dollars or Chinese money or coins. I've never heard it called anything but money plant and I've always lived in the U.S.

I posted shots of its purple flowers but now the part that will dry and turn white is maturing as you can see in the shot above, although it's still green. Below are the leaves of the money plant (the large ones) since the shot above has it mixed with other plants so its hard to see its leaves.

Below you can see my blueberries in the early stages.

The Queen Anne's Lace is getting closer to full blooms.

The red-bellied woodpecker is beating on my drain pipes.

It is amazing how much noise they can make.

My bathing beauties continue to delight me. Below is an American Robin all puffed out.

The bluejay is showing off it's checked tail.

Next the bluejay is splashing up a storm.

The female cardinal seems to be giving me a warning look.

The catbird is taking its turn.

The mockingbird chased off the catbird.

The female cardinal below looks rather dashing in profile.

Next is a full face shot of the mockingbird.

Below is a house finch in profile.

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