Well, well, well…we’ve reached another Friday and are that much closer to our favorite season, autumn…which for those seeking a smattering of hope is 68 days. Happy Friday peeps. Wilson here. There are no words to describe what we’ve endured so for the benefit of Tom of Reiko’s Journey, who’s clearly exhausted about our whinging about the hot temps we shan’t say another word about it and just let the screenshot speak for itself. And because it’s Friday, we’re joining Rosy and Sunny from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Be sure to check their blog hop  to see what other have shared from Nature.

We’ve had a hectic week which will continue through the weekend but we managed to find a few slices of nature on our early morning walks.

Wilson: Imagine my shock while I’m walking along nicely with Mum in the early morning houses, totally in the zone as we crossed one of four bridges along the Ralston Creek Trail and out of the corner of my eye, a creature much larger than me stotted from under the bridge and bounced off like Tigger. I was stunned, the deer was stunned and Mum was stunned. Luckily she managed to actually put aside her surprise and wonder and quickly pulled out her cell phone to capture a few shots.

The Mum: Wasn’t that encounter something else? I’m not sure which of us jumped higher with surprise.

Wilson:  You’re not wrong about that. That’s a Mule Deer, an indigenous breed of deer found in the Western United States and particularly in the Great Plains. They received their name based on the size of those large ears. Although more than capable of running away from perceived predators, mule deer most often are seen “stotting” where they spring into the air, lifting all four feet off the ground simultaneously, a common trait of quadrupeds. People who live in areas where these deer can be found often refer to them as rats with hooves. They graze on trees and flowers in suburban communities, much to homeowners’ dismay.

The Mum: It was an exciting few minutes to watch this doe bounce around the landscape all the while keeping on eye of our presence on the path. She was alone and not taking any chances.

Wilson: Maybe we’ll run into her again. I’ll keep my eyes and nose at the ready. Oh, that’s your cue to keep your phone handy. Better yet, maybe bring your big camera with you more often. You missed another opportunity to capture two blue heron as three white egrets this morning. They took off before you could snap their pics.

The Mum: Well, in my defense, they were behind a metal fence which I couldn’t quite crop out of the frame and when I tried to move closer, they took flight. And not seeing anything while having to lug a heavy camera doesn’t make for a fun walk.

Wilson: Oh sure, blame them for your inability to quickly take a pic. I guess if it makes you feel better think…

The Mum: Whoa, lighten up there, House Pony. Encounters with wildlife isn’t always going to result in some award-winning photo.

Wilson: Well in this case, it resulted in no photo…award-winning or otherwise.

The Mum: Ahem…got any other pics to share, Mr. Critical?

Wilson: Well we’ve been seeing these plants called Dipsacus for a while now. Commonly known as ‘teasel,’ these tall herbaceous biennial plants have been popping up along the creek and canal. They’re anywhere from 3 to 8 feet tall (1–2.5 meters) with prickly stems and leaves, with purple, dark pink, lavender or white flowers that form a head on the end of the stems. They are considered invasive in the U.S. despite the seeds being a good winter food source for many bird populations. Teasels have been used since Roman times to comb the nap of wool.

The Mum:  Lucky for us, we won’t be getting close to those stickers. I don’t want to be picking those out of my socks or your legs.

Wilson: Appreciate that Mum. So what’s the story about this tree? It sure is pretty.

The Mum: Oooh, I’m glad you asked. I love this maple tree, known as a Tatar Maple. It’s somewhat smallish tree/shrub that grows to anywhere from 13-39 ft. (4–12 m), possessing a short trunk with slender branches. The bark is thin, pale brown, and smooth at first but becomes slightly fissured as the plant ages. It produces green leaves, but the real beauty of these trees is the fruit called samaras with a beautiful rosy red color which matures in late summer and will last until early autumn. Those samaras will quiver on a slightest breeze and add even more visual interest to the landscape.

Wilson: Nice capture before the smoke began to fill the skies with haze, Mum. Speaking of smoke-filled skies, the Aspen Acres fire has now grown to nearly 100,000 acres and is the largest current fire in Colorado. It has destroyed over 800 structures and only around 36-45% contained. At least your brother’s house remains safe but officials are closely watching the winds which have been changing directions daily and is keeping residents from being able to return to their homes. Here’s a graphic of some of the historic fires in the state so you can get a sense of what people are dealing with. We continue to keep everyone affected by wildfires across the U.S. and Canada in our thoughts and prayers. I know the air quality is especially severe in the upper Midwest as well as the East Coast from all these wildfires.

The Mum: Yes, it’s been so heartbreaking that so many are still displaced. We will keep them all in our thoughts and prayers.

Wilson: Make sure to have a safe weekend, stay hydrated and please be mindful of pavement temps on tender paws. And for heavens sake, please don’t leave your pet in the car, even for a few minutes while you dash in to quickly pick up something. Please leave us at home instead.

Live, love, bark! 🐾