Greetings sports fans, Elsa here. Welcome to the latest edition of Nature Friday where we’re joining our hosts, Rosy and Sunny from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Be sure to click on their link to see what others have shared. First off, the heat of the past 87 years finally broke, and we’re experiencing some very lovely temperatures and, get this…even had a little spot of wet stuff yesterday evening. Whoa…I almost had forgotten what that felt like. Anyway, let’s get started. It’s been a very busy week for the Mom-ster and she wasn’t able to get too many photos taken but the House Pony will share what we managed to see.
Wilson: Top of the mornin’ to you, little sister. Like you, I’m thrilled with the nice cool temps. When we went for our early morning constitutional, it was a crisp 58ºF (14ºC) this morning and we both were high stepping it along our route. The air was clean and fresh after a little shower last night and everything looked quenched instead of crunchy and brownish. It’s always quite remarkable how even just a small spot of rain can refresh the landscape when supplemental waterings merely keep things alive but never near as verdant as a bit of rain. This year with the heat and lack of early season frost, the fruit crops have done well. Peaches for instance, look quite juicy and sweet. They are most tasty but Mum says dogs cannot eat the stones since they have naturally occurring cyanide and are quite toxic to us dogs. They also could cause a blockage which would require immediate surgery. She’s really paranoid about it since a friend’s sheepdog passed away from eating a peach pit. I say let the bloody squirrels have the pits.
Elsa: Not everyone knows that Colorado peaches are some of the best in the country. The best come from Palisade, near Grand Junction. Peach trees in Denver don’t often produce since our early spring can be sketchy for fruit. Palisade’s warm days and cool nights create the perfect climate for bringing out those delicious flavors with larger-sized fruits than those grown elsewhere.
Peaches can be tricky to grow, the crop in Denver doesn’t always produce fruit every year, especially when there are dry conditions or a late frost but when they do, oh my…talk about luscious snacks and scrumptious desserts.
A note of caution to consumers, if you don’t see the ‘Colorado Proud’ sign, you should realize they are not ‘Palisade peaches’ which are known to be extra juicy and extra sweet, thanks to the long sunny days and cool summer nights, which help all those delicious fruity sugars develop. A brief history of Palisade peaches starts with John Harlow. After the local Ute tribe was forcibly removed from their ancestral home on the Western Slope in 1881, settlers began developing the town of Palisade. Farmers discovered the soil was rich and nutrient-filled and perfect for vegetables and grains. But water was in short supply. John Harlow, who along with his wife, planted some of the area’s earliest peach trees in 1882 and spearheaded a canal project to divert water from the Colorado River to irrigate the region, and though it took years for his project to come to fruition, it worked. Palisade peaches are shipped throughout the lower 48 states.
Wilson: On of the many squirrels I encounter on my walks knocked one down near me so I grabbed it and tried to carry it with us but Mum made me drop it. Walks are for walking and sniffing, she reminded me so I dropped it like a good boy and then we had a great walk.
Elsa: So Mom has this thing about Cooper’s Hawks and the mated pair that live in the Silver Maple across the street in our neighbor’s backyard have been flying around the neighborhood. She hears them every morning and tries to call them with the lamest version of their shrill whistle. They must be dumb birds because they respond to her {eyes rolling}. I swear, it’s stuff like that which makes me embarrassed. I know she means well, but…behavior like that jeopardizes my cred as a fierce Ninja on the streets. She’s so fascinated by them but you’d think she’d carry her big camera with her more often so as to capture them much better.
Wilson: I for one was gobsmacked when it flew over our heads. I can see why she is so mesmerized by their presence and the fact that they ‘talk’ to her every morning is pretty posh in my books.
Elsa: You see what I have to put up with? Good grief.
Wilson: Not to be out done by the peaches, we’ve managed to find a few nice grape vines as well. They’re well on their way to being fully ripe, but again, these guys are on the “no eat” list. Sheesh, here I am wasting away and all Mum finds are fruit and plants that I’m not supposed to eat. What’s a poor starving dog supposed to do?
Elsa: Oh for crying out loud, stop thinking with your stomach! Is this just a boy thing or is this something all sheepdogs are prone to do?
Wilson: Well if history is correct, we were left with the sheep in the highlands and ate what they ate. Some of us are omnivores. And before you start poo-pooing that, I understand you think wool socks are a food group, so don’t get high and mighty on me, Ninja.
Elsa: {clearing her throat} Ahem…moving along with other flowers and plants…what else you got?
Wilson: {chuckling under his breath} I thought so. Well we managed to find a beautiful specimen of butterfly weed. It’s bright orange blooms could be seen for quite a distance. No wonder butterflies hang out on it. With it’s bushy shape, orange flower color, and interesting seedpod, this xeriscape plant makes a wonderful addition to landscapes in our area. While not native to Colorado, it is a good food source for native insects and butterflies and is a great addition for attracting pollinators. After blooming, seedpods will form and split open in fall releasing showy, silky seeds.
Elsa: Nice color, House Pony.
Wilson: Thanks, Mum says it ‘screams’ its presence to butterflies in the garden and she’s hoping the volunteer will naturalize and bloom again next year.
Elsa: Maybe it’ll end up like the lupine {chuckling under her breath}. Probably good to keep a watchful eye on it but I think Mom learned her lesson with the lupines.
Wilson: When we were out and about recently, we came across this little beauty that Mum had to photograph. It was near the giraffe that I wanted to see up close but Mum warned me it’s guarded by a rather inhospitable chap of a dog so she took a quick pic and we left. Commonly known as moon carrot, Sesli gummiferum, and is easy to grow with its silvery-blue and lacy foliage. It’s a biennial that remains a basal rosette the first year and then grows a thick flower stalk in the second year that bears many pale pink flowers which are clustered in large, flat umbels. The blooms are continuous from midsummer through fall and grows in either full sun or part shade, isn’t fussy about the soil and adapts to moderate or low watering regimes. Because it’s a biennial; two years completes its life cycle so any future generations need to be assured with seeds, then Mother Nature is bound to do the rest.
Elsa: Oooh, pretty. And speaking of pretty, I heard you found a rather unusual rose.
Wilson: We did. This one is special for Rosy. I think she’ll appreciate it.
Elsa: I’m sure she will, big guy. That’s very thoughtful of you. Well that about does it for us this weekend. We hope you have a fabulous weekend. To all our friends on the East Coast, please stay safe as Hurricane (now tropical cyclone) Debby moves through your region. We’re thinking of you and hoping you are dry and well. Have a great weekend.
Wilson: Yes, what she said. ⬆️ Cheerio, mates.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Such lushuss flowerss!! An them Peechess look so yummy Wilson!!!
Wee happy youss’ got sum rain furinallee. Wee got wacked with Tropical Storm Debby an it rained alot on an off for 2 1/2 dayss/nitess an sorta windy. No Hydrow outage so that was guud!
Wishin you an Elsa an Miss Monika a grate week….
~~~head rubss~~~BellaDahrma~~~ an {{huggiess}} BellaSita Mum
Many thanks! Peaches around here are a big deal…and sooo tasty. Next up are the Rocky Ford cantaloupes. So sweet and yummy. Can’t wait for those babies! Even the dogs love them.
I woke up this morning to a beautiful chill in the air so yeah, I’m plenty good with the change. Not that August isn’t going to provide a few reminders it’s still kicking but yanno.
Hope you kids had a nice weekend
Yup, here too. It’s nice that it’s not triple digits or upper 90’s for days on end. I’m so ready for autumn. Weekend was great but it sure flew by. Here’s to a great new week.
When it’s in the sixties in the am, I feel as if I overslept by a couple months.
Which makes it even that much more enjoyable. 😉 Extra sleep and decent temps. Win, win!
Another beauty of a morning for running and I took advantage. I love it when the temps are JUST right.
That’s only fitting for anyone who exercises in the morning, particularly runners. You runner guys totally deserve nice temps cuz gawd knows the running part sucks.
I dig it when the mornings start getting cooler. Right now it’s that “happy medium” place, between too hot and too hold. It’s just right.
Just as I was getting used to those lovely early mornings, Mother Nature decides to do a runner and go back to the broil setting. We’re headed for the upper 90’s for the next week or so with dry conditions. 😭
We went back too, ugh!
Dang!
Chaplin: “Dennis told us that there used to be peach trees and apricot trees in our yard. Supposedly the apricot trees made the best apricots that Dada ever had, and Mama would eat lots of peaches every year, and so would the squirrels and even the coyotes. But then all the trees eventually died.”
Java Bean: “Ayyy, but they can still get apricots and peaches from the supermarket, no?”
Charlee: “According to Dada the fresh ones spoiled them for the store-bought ones forever …”
Your Dada is right, Charlee…store bought produce is rarely as good as the stuff that grows in the backyard.
Mornings are cold but the days are not so bad. Today we are supposed to have 18 – 20c which is good enough for a pleasant walk around the wetlands and visit the swans. Your flowers were lovely as usual. I was going to plant some of your Coleus but it’s not available until around Mid-September here.
Love days like that where it’s not too hot, not too cool. Sounds like perfect weather for swan visiting. Enjoy!
That butterfly weed sure is large! We had some here, but somehow it didn’t survive…
Peaches….ahhhh….YUM!
We had great weather here today, too…about 72F With a nice NW breeze.
Our thoughts are with all those in Debby’s path…what a long trail she has….!
I’d never seen them before and found two in the past month! Still waiting for the butterflies to land but it sure is showy in the garden. Just hope the one in my yard reseeds itself. 🤞🏼
You’d think with a name like ‘Debby’ it wouldn’t be such a fierce storm. Boy has she done a number on the East Coast-from Florida all the way to New England. Yikes!
I gave my dog Rollo some peach today but I certainly watch out for the stone. I am curious what “First off, the heat of the past 87 years finally broke,” mean. Did you mean 87 days?
It was a bit of sarcasm, Thomas. 😉
Peaches?….. we love them.
Palisade peaches are beyond incredible!
Fresh peaches are sure yummy! Hey, those hawks really are quite regal looking aren’t they. Have a fun weekend!!!
Thanks, Brian. They truly are regal birds. Enjoy your weekend-hope it’s not too hot down your way.
LOVE LOVE all the nature pictures and Mom is- as are her sons, a huge raptor fan! We have Coopers Hawks too. Love ’em.
Aren’t they incredible?! Love their speckled chests and the way they survey the landscape from tall trees. Now if only they took a greater interest in hoodlum squirrels. 😈 Have a terrific weekend.
Crummy weather here in the east. You pups would not like walking in it. Next week is predicted to be lovely! Beautiful flowers you found on your walk.
Thanks, Kate, glad you enjoyed the tour. Yeah, my sis in the Maryland/Pennsylvania area filled me in on the East Coast weather. Generally, dogs don’t like the rain because the sound of it falling is amplified in long ears. It basically works like a megaphone and they don’t like that noise. Put your feet up and enjoy a good weekend relaxing after your bathroom remodel. 🙂
I remember Colorado peaches…and Rocky Ford cantaloupes of course!
Oh yesss! They’re up next. Have a great weekend.
That butterfly weed is calling me! Beautiful share this Friday (like most Fridays).
Have a wonderful weekend. We are definitely feeling some sort of residue of Debby with the rain we got since last night and which is still falling!
Thank you, Dale. When I saw it, you were the first person I thought of since I know how much you love orange. Try to stay dry and safe this weekend. Autumn is just around the corner (45 days!). Enjoy the weekend.
I am fascinated with the butterfly weed and the Moon carrot. I have not seen them before. That rose is beautiful. I envy your morning temps. We will be in the 100s all next week with lows in the 80s. As usual the “feels like” temps are in the stratosphere. I hope you have a super weekend.
They were new to us as well (though I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the butterfly weed before along sidewalks). Ugh, those temps are no bueno! Try to stay cool. Have a great weekend and give those cute pupsters an extra ear rub from me.
I will do that. As I mentioned, this is our Hell’s Back Porch season and we are more of less used to it.
You’re much braver (and tolerant) than we are.
Or dumber.
🤣
😁
Beautiful blooms and nice fruit. We have a semi dwarf peach tree here in Massachusetts and they are pretty darn sweet. 🙂 XO
Thanks. And their blossoms smell so lovely! Great smell, great taste…count us as big fans!
Glad you got a break in the weather and interesting to learn about Palisades peaches… I must look for them.
It is raining buckets here in MA and we’re not in the worst of the storm, which is upstate NY… they must be in flood at this point. Tornado watch through the evening. Ugh, a bad combination, we have lots of trees. 🙁 🤞🏼🙏🏼
EEK! We’ll keep our paws crossed your trees stay intact with no damage from that weather system. 🤞🏼
Thanks!
Congrats on the cooler temps. Today is only 87, about 5 degrees cooler than yesterday. We’re only 3 weeks from September, so fall will be here before we know it…putting a good face on it. (Of course, we have had over 100 degree weather in September one year.)
You cannot begin to imagine how glad we’ve been yesterday and today with temps in the low-to-mid 60’s. It’s been paradise. September and October are my two favorite months so we’re looking forward to some moderation from all the upper 90’s and above. Hope your weekend is ‘wagnificent.’
We’re definitely not dry here in Pennsylvania but we need the rain so let it rain…within reason. The plants here are all doing happy dances.
That’s what my nephew in the Pittsburgh area said. We hope you guys stay safe and dry. Rain water makes such a difference in the garden! Have a great weekend.
I always learn something here – like for instance that wool socks are NOT a food group! Darn! Love the flowers – that moon carrot thing is WILD – looks like it’s from another planet…… Thanks for the garden tour – didn’t know apricots were a BIG NO NO for dogs (and cats too??) to eat.
Hugs, Teddy
{Giggle} Yeah, Mum has to remind Elsa about that frequently. Also, reading glasses are not edible, despite her eating 4 pairs of them! Sisters…what can you do about them? Have a great weekend. Yes, stay away from all stone fruit-pitted fruits. The seeds contain a compound called amygdalin, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide, a powerful toxin for both people and pets when ingested. Stay safe, Teddy.
Thank you. So sorry you’ve been plagued with stormy weather and power outages. That’s definitely no fun. Hopefully sunny, dry days will return soon. Our forecast for next week will only be in the 80’s. Whew…we can do 80’s easily enough, it’s just those upper 90’s & low 100’s that really zap us. Have a good weekend.
anda happee fry day two ewe pupz frum TT…de fotoz thiz week iz awesum pawesum tho eye canna commint bout de…burd…hang round TT long enuff N ewe will noe why..itz been a fry fest heer two but thanx full lee two dayz onlee gettin ta 76..bring on fall…ewe dawgz get ta see way kewl stuff on yur walks…‼️😺heerz two a grate week end N biscuitz all round 🥩🦴🍗💙
Oooh, biscuits? Yay…thanks, Tabbies. Very kind of you. And thanks for swinging by. We 💙 visitors. Only 45 days until the official arrival of autumn. We can see the light at the end of this hellscape finally! Have a great weekend.
we have the same peach problem… this year they are as small as cherries… bonsai peaches maybe? a happy weekend to da ranch…
😆 Bonsai peaches…that’s too funny. When they don’t get adequate water here, the fruit tends to be small. In Palisade, they were known for being gigantic, about the size of grapefruits. And oh-so juicy and sweet. Have a terrific weekend.
So, just as the header promised, the two enjoyed their walk! So pleased that the cooler times let you all enjoy the experience!
By the by, a tiny abandoned pup arrived yesterday……found eating the big boys’ food while they looked on bemused….. and now has his bed and food set up while we quarantine him until the vet can take a look at him. Called Trotsky…because he trots like a pony!
Thanks Helen. Yes, a cool walk beats those pizza oven scorchers ANY DAY!
How exciting…a new pupster. Bravo, Trotsky. I hope he realizes he has won the Costa Rican dog lotto and hope he checks out completely healthy with the vet. Have a great weekend getting to know this new addition.
We have had power outages and downed branches last couple days so im jealous of the nice weather. I love your beautiful flower pics!