Almost ripe

Yesterday we found enough barren strawberries to almost fill a cup. It was sad to discover that they are not very good to eat.

Today we found something that IS good to eat : blackberries. They are not quite ripe yet.

Also, they have prickles and aren't as much fun to pick as the poor barren strawberries. But someone has been nibbling on them already.

(photo credit to Jacob, who helped feed the birds this morning)

In the tall, tall grass

The rain has made the grass grow really high. I saw the top of the grass moving and went to see what was there. It was a BIG turtle - almost as big as my foot! I think I scared it. Just watch it running to the shelter of the spruce tree.

Go, Turtle, Go!

Wet Weather

It has really been raining and storming here. Water is making ponds where it shouldn't - like in the road. Some people enjoy splashing in the water but most people are unhappy. People can't drive their cars in the water. Our pond is full of water too. The pond is a good place for water.
The pond creatures like the wet.
Dragonflies grow up in water. Now this larva has crawled out of the water and is changing into a dragonfly.
Of course the frogs love this weather. They are calling to each other, ga-gunk! ba-bunk!
The wetter the better for frogs - they don't have to drive cars!

A Tree of Beans and Hearts

It's very green and very wet out after the storms. I spotted something growing in this tree.
Does it look like beans? Will we have beans to eat?

Wait - I don't think beans grow in trees.

Granddad has planted beans for eating in his garden. We'll have to look when it gets dry to see how they have come up (it is too muddy to go up to the garden today).

I don't think he would grow trees in the garden, do you?

The leaves on this tree look like hearts.

Remember when it had purple flowers? The purple flowers turned into these bean-like seed pods.

This tree is Redbud. We can't eat those beans!

Hide-and-seek, Part 3

I spy something up in the Sumac tree - is it a bird? A little brown bird? Usually I see birds in this tree. No! It's Chipmunk.
Chipmunks live in the ground. What is this one doing up a tree?

Playing hide-and-seek, I guess.
Time to go back down.I expect to see Squirrel and Raccoon and Possum up a tree. I didn't expect to see Groundhog or Chipmunk. I suppose you too will want to climb a tree when you visit me!

Lizard Finds Some Mushrooms

Dear Old Wren,

Today I found some mushrooms, but I won't eat them for breakfast. They are not the kind of mushrooms that you can eat. They are the kind of mushrooms that are just beautiful to look at.

Also, lizards don't eat mushrooms.

Love,
Lizard

HIde-and-seek, Part 2

Peek-a-boo, little Bunny - I see you!

The grass is tall and the bunny is small, but you can't hide those big ears!