Happy Monday, Glitter Gremlins…hope you enjoyed a great weekend. For the record, it’s not spiders that bother me as much as that one nasty, buzzing all around your head mosquito while you’re trying to sleep. You know, the one you can’t seem to swat away and it’s too hot to pull the sheet over your ears so you don’t hear him but hey, I get it. This is what happens when you leave spiders alone…they likely will get that mosquito for you and you could be able to enjoy a nice rejuvenating sleep while they slink back into the dark places in the back of the closet. Just saying.
Here’s wishing you a peaceful night of sleep without any flying or crawling critters this week. Happy Monday!
Welcome to this week’s episode of Nature Friday were we join our pals from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to check out what bits of Nature have been shared by others. Happy first Friday of August. 2026 is swimmingly moving toward the end of the year and is one day closer to blessed autumn. Just 46 days to that glorious day. Wilson here. It’s been an interesting week. Mum had a large kidney cyst drained on Tuesday so I’ve been playing her healthcare provider while she recovers. She’s doing fairly well all things considered and trying to get lots of rest. She’s been a trooper taking me for daily walks but hasn’t been able to resume much beyond that but each day she seems improved so I’m very happy about that. Today we have a few photos to share from around the immediate neighborhood so let’s get started.
The Mum: Thanks for being such a good nurse mate, Wilson. I appreciate that you continue to make sure I’m doing well and very grateful you haven’t gone too overboard with your ministrations. You’re a good boy, House Pony.
Wilson: Well I hate to state the obvious but you know I’m right here next to you and won’t leave your side. You’re in good paws with me.
TheMum: Yes, I know…but you know you can leave a bit of space between us…I promise I’m fine. You really can step back and give me just a smidge more breathing room.
Wilson: Now Mum, I haven’t laid on you, I’ve just been very close. Why not declare that a win and leave it there.
The Mum: Hmm, when you put it like that, I guess you make a valid point. But please, try to humor me.
Wilson: They don’t call us sheepdogs “Nanny Dogs” for nothing. Just think of me as an extension of your shadow, okay?
The Mum: {sighing} Fine, guess I’ll just have to resign to the fact that you’re just a teeny tiny hair’s width away. The only thing better would be if you had thumbs and could grab things.
Wilson: Umm, I’m sure that could be wonderful for me, but you might not like the outcome. I mean, what could possible go wrong? {snickering}
The Mum: Egad…I hadn’t thought of it like that. You’re right. Let’s just forgot I said that and have you share the first photo instead.
Wilson: Right-o. There are scads of bunnies all over the trail path we walk every day and occasionally we’ll see one hop around but yesterday there were a couple of babies who were rather stationary. Neither of us noticed this little tyke who was intently keeping an eye on us near the compost bins but then he flinched so we noticed him and then were able to watch for several minutes. They are just so cute. Here’s the first one.
The Mum:ย I love coming across them on our walks. And it’s nice to see them closer to our house. Here’s the other one. They sure can blend into their surroundings nicely.
Wilson: Those guys were pretty shy whenever they see me. I wish they weren’t so afraid of me. I’m a decent chap.
The Mum: That you are, it’s just their nature to avoid anything that looks like a predator…
Wilson: {interrupting} Predator??? Oh dear, I’m very sorry if that’s what they think I am. I’m a very decent chap who just wants to sniff them to figure out what they are and if they’re friend or foe.
The Mum: Well, you and I know that, but that’s just the way bunnies process their world. Don’t take it personally. What else do you have to share with us today?
Wilson: People around our house have teeny tiny plots of land and not many of them plant very many flowers but I did manage to find a few. Check out these pretty phlox and stonecrop.
The Mum: Very nice. I also saw a very colorful Caladium not too far from those other flowers. It was so vibrant.
Wilson: They’re all lovely, Mum. Hey, I thought we were going to see some baby geese this summer but so far, we haven’t seen any in the canal or along the creek. What’s up with that?
The Mum: I know, I’m disappointed too. The only goose around here that I like is the Giddy Goose statutes. This guys makes me smile and is just as cute as goslings. On the plus side, it doesn’t poop all over the sidewalk either.
Wilson: And then there’s the fact it doesn’t chase after me like those guys along the golf course. Those geese are always so cranky.
The Mum: Well like I said, I’ll take Giddy Goose any day of the week. Well that’s it from us. We hope you have a wonderful weekend and are able to get outdoors and enjoy whatever weather Nature is delivering to your neck of the woods.
Wilson: Yes, Enjoy getting out and seeing how lovely Nature can be. Have a splendid weekend!
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 hopย 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: ย 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 (1โ2.5 meters) with prickly stems and leaves, with purple, dark pink, lavender or whiteย 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.
Along the canal
The Mum:ย 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. (4โ12 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.
Data as of July 15, 2026
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.
Greetings and salutations, everyone. Happy Friday. Wilson here…and as always, I’m joining those lovable pups from theย Adventures of the LLB Gang. Well hallelujah…we finally received some rain last night. Arvada officially received somewhere between 0.40″ and 1.41″ of rain, with the heaviest moisture occurring in the western foothills. In our neighborhood I think we received somewhere in the middle. It. was. beautiful. And comes at a good time since our temperatures are slated to be in the low to mid-90’sF next week. But like my Mum always says, we’ll take that moisture.
Wilson: Besides the news about receiving rain, Mum has a new critter obsession now. We’ve know about this critter appearing in our area because we’ve seen evidence of him but had never actually seen one in person. Well that’s history now. Meet our newest critter in the ‘Hood. He is unnamed as of now so I’m asking for your help in suggesting a name for him since Mum can’t decide. Let me just say she is over the moon giddy about running into him a couple of mornings since last week. She couldn’t capture any good photos since she didn’t have her big camera with her and whenever she did, we didn’t see him but she’s been researching about beavers nonstop. Can you imagine being replaced as the love of her life by…{gasp}…a…rodent??
Photo taken from the canal bridgeHauling a branch back to his lodge
The Mum: You are not being replaced, let me reassure you. It’s just I’ve never seen a beaver before in real life and I certainly never expected to see one in the city. This is monumental so I’ve been trying to find out about this fella. Did you know that beavers are the second largest rodent (behind capybaras) in the world and weigh up to 110 lb (50 kg)? With their stout bodies, large heads and those famous chisel-like incisors, beavers have brown or gray fur, with hand-like front feet, webbed back feet. Their tails that are flat and scaly and are used as a rudder as well as a alarm system when they slap it on the surface of water. Beavers can be found in a number of freshwater habitats and typically eat tree bark, aquatic plants, grasses and sedges. They are considered a keystone species because their damn and lodge building activities create wetlands that are used by many other species.
Wilson: {with his paw against his forehead} I can’t believe I’m being replaced by a rodent. This is just humiliating…
The Mum: {interrupting} Let me assure you that youย are not being replaced. But seeing one of these guys is pretty monumental. They’re nocturnal you know.
Wilson: Well we do practically take our morning walks in the dark so I guess that makes sense…
The Mum: ย Oh for heaven’s sake…stop being so hyperbolic. We walk early to avoid the heat…seeing that beaver was a bonus-just like that day we ran into the coyote pup. Did you know their eyes, ears and nostrils are arranged so that they can remain above water while the rest of the body is submerged and their nostrils and ears have valves that close underwater? They also have a translucent third eye membrane that covers their eyes when they are submerged. Isn’t that cool?
Wilson: {harumph} Big deal. They can’t cuddle with you like I do.
The Mum: No, you’re right about that…for which I’m grateful. You’re still my favorite pet, so don’t worry. But I will always want to better capture that guy in a photo. You’re still my bestest floof.
Wilson: Well I guess I feel better about that declaration. Thank you for that. Now that you’ve pledged your undying love for a rodent, how about I share some other slices of nature we encountered this week?
The Mum: I did not pledge undying love for a rodent but I’d love to see what else you have today.
Wilson: Just to prove we do walk in the middle of the night at dawn, here’s a beautiful sunrise we encountered a couple of days ago.
The Mum: That was a pretty spectacular sunrise through the coyote habitat.
Wilson: Umm, meh…I’d have been happy sleeping in but whatever.
The Mum: Oh come on…you love the cool mornings as much as I do. What else do you have?
Wilson: You’re right, I do like the cool mornings because I know it’ll be hotter later. The wildflowers are lovely. With the blanket flower (Gaillardia) a kind of chamomile is blooming with them.
The Mum: To show how hot and dry it’s been, look at this rye grass. Crispy-crunchy.
Wilson: I’ve noticed gladiolus are starting to bloom and there are some real beauties in the neighborhood adjacent to the golf course. Just look at these babies.
The Mum: They really are pretty. I’ve always thought those “sword lilies” are quite showy and this house has a gorgeous selection. They do tend to flop over so I’ve never planted any in favor of other plants that stay upright without support like these gorgeous lilies.
Wilson: Well that’s all I have this week. We hope you have a terrific weekend and don’t fry in the heat that is set to return. Mum is helping the rescue out tomorrow at the annual Denver Dog Fair. This is one of the best public events for dog rescues. They find homes for so many dogs and there are vendors selling everything you can imagine associated with owning a dog. I’ll be happily snoozing on the sofa (don’t tell Mum) while she’ll be dealing with crowds, parking and all the things I wouldn’t enjoy. What are your plans? What ever you do, we hope you can find some time to get out and enjoy what Nature shares with us. And don’t forget to suggest a name for the rodent. I was thinking of Theodore like that Leave It To Beaver kid or Norbert, a famous beaver who lived at the Detroit Zoo. What do you think? I have no doubt that if Mum has anything to do with it, she’ll be sharing more photos of he who is to be named. Sigh. Have a wonderful weekend!
Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday. Today is Juneteenth, a federal holiday. It was 160 years ago that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed โ after the Civil Warโs end and two years after President Abraham Lincolnโs Emancipation Proclamation. Happy Juneteenth. Because it’s a federal holiday, noย mail will be delivered, the stock market is closed as well as some some businesses. Parades and other celebrations will mark the day along with public service. The City of Milwaukee is the oldest known and longest-running annual Juneteenth celebration in the United States. What started as a small gathering of vendors, now spans over several blocks of fun with over 170,000 participants. Denver will once again have a music festival beginning today and running through the weekend in the Five Points neighborhood.
Wilson here and as we always do, we’re joining our friends at The Adventures of the LLB Gang. Clicking on the link will take you to see what others shared this week. Even though summer is scheduled to arrive this Sunday, I think it jumped the gun. I don’t know about how the weather is on your end, but it’s been very hot here. As in 15+ degrees hotter than normal. Wednesday felt like we were walking into a pizza oven. Mum got up even earlier than usual so we could enjoy a morning walk in somewhat cool temperatures, but it was already 72F (22.2C) before 5 AM. Usually at that time, the temps are in the low-to-mid 50’s. By the time we finished our three-mile walk, I was panting heavily and not walk walking my usual speed and Mum was dripping in sweat. Neither of us enjoyed the walk much. The only thing that kept the walk from being a total bust was when we came across a coyote pup on our walk in the wildlife habitat we cross every day. He’s kinda hard to spot in the tall, dry grass but isn’t he kind of adorable? Look at those pointy ears! He almost resembles a German Shepherd puppy, doesn’t he? He curiously watched us walk through but made no attempt to follow us, thank goodness. I can’t help but wonder if his mama knew he was away from the den. If she’s anything like my mine, that little guy is probably in big time trouble.
The Mum: He seems larger than I thought he would be, which leads me to believe he’s older than I originally thought the pups might be. From what I learned when I looked up info about coyotes, they are usually born in spring and may have between four to seven pups in a litter. We didn’t encounter any siblings who were probably back in the thick brush behind this little guy. Anyway, I thought he was pretty cute and right in the area where that mama coyote bum rushed those little dogs recently.
Wilson: This guy kind of acted like he wanted to play with me, Mum. But I know you didn’t want to encourage him. Besides his mama was likely close by and no point poking the ‘bear,’ right?
The Mum: Absolutely! Trust me when I say, you will never be allowed…let me repeat that just in case there’s any question…you willneverbeallowed to play or interact with any coyotes. Period.
Wilson: Um sheesh Mum…don’t get so worked up. I’m not going off to play with some coyote pup, okay? Besides I’d never leave you on the trail by yourself…well at least not for a coyote. A squirrel, maybe but never a coyote.
The Mum: You bet your sweet bippy, you won’t! Now that we have that clear, what other slices of nature do you have to share?
Wilson: Well, there are a lot of heat loving plants out there that are pretty. Check out this lavender that was enticing pollinators early yesterday morning from a house down the street from ours. I love brushing against that border. Those plants fill the air with their scent.
The Mum: I absolutely love lavender…and so do the neighborhood bees.
Wilson: We found another beautiful clematis that the bees like too. Look how pretty this one is and how well it showcases that garden statuary.
The Mum:ย This is one of my favorite gardens we walk past. Everything always look so pretty.
Wilson:ย My favorite place is the meadowy area near the canal overflow. There are loads of blanket flowers (Gaillardia) blooming now but yesterday, Mum saw a few prairie coneflowers mixed in with some of them along the trail. Such pretty wildflowers.
The Mum: The blanket flowers are really popping up along that stretch of the Ralston Creek Trail. I get practically giddy seeing them randomly showing up here and there.
Wilson: It’s always interesting to walk along that area. You just never know what you’ll see. It’s very close to where we spotted the coyote. That area is becoming a real treasure trove of cool slices of nature. And lastly we have an update on Figaro. He’s finally beginning to set fruit after getting very bushy. Look at this little baby fig. Can’t wait till it ripens. I hope more will set because, no offense…I’d prefer not to share.
The Mum: No offense taken. I thought the same thing! Well that does it for us.ย Got any special plans to welcome summer?
Wilson: I plan to stay home zonked out on the sofa for a couple of hours while you’re hobnobbing for the rescue at the Denver Dog Fair.
The Mum: Yes, you can hang out at home. But please remember the rule about no dogs on the furniture.
Wilson: {snickering} Oh yeah, right. {wink, wink} Got it Mum. We both hope you have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy getting out in nature but try to stay cool and hydrated.
Whoa, welcome to the first day of June…I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around that little facct. Since the temps will be rising this week, I guess it’s safe to say we’re cruising in overdrive toward summer.
We had quite an encounter with a coyote Saturday morning. I think it was a female being protective of her pups; she went after a couple of folks with little dogs along the path. She took one look at Wilson and said, “umm, exit stage right.” It was definitely interesting and if you were slightly sleepy, it was quite a wake up call. Everyone kind of laughed it off but I think it would be safe to add coyotes to the “what outsiders think” column particularly in spring when there are new babies everywhere. Including Canadian geese…which makes them even more dangerous.
Here’s hoping all your wildlife encounters this week are good ones.
Welcome mates…Wilson here. Notice a thief stole my fur. Mum said I was beginning to look like Sasquatch and needed a bath so she took me to the grooming shop for a bath and groom. P{lease also notice my disapproving look. Miss Sydney is always very sweet and loving but I just don’t like baths. I guess if it keeps Mum happy, I’ll get over it but in the meantime, I’ll cry like a baby and shake like a leaf. Mum says I’m overly dramatic. You might remember that we had a pile of snow last week (if you missed it, you can read about it here) and this week we’ve been in the upper 80’s. These yoyo weather patterns are going to give me a stiff neck. What the dog?! The forecast is calling for some moisture this weekend but we’ll see if any materializes. Anyway…as we do on Friday’s, we’re joining our friends from the Adventures of the LLB Gangblog. Make sure you click on the link to see this week’s slices of Nature from around Blogville.
Wilson: Last week we were going to post a few photos of various plants that were in bloom at the time but then had to switched gears because the snow buried us. Remember those peonies that were in showing buds ready to bloom? Well the 7 inches of snow we received didn’t seem to bother them one bit. Just look at how lovely these beauties continued to bloom this week. You can almost smell their sweet fragrance, can’t you?
The Mum: Ahhh, peonies…the queen of the garden is my favorite spring flower and this bush is so very luscious and full. They’re only shortcoming is they don’t bloom long enough for me.
Wilson: They’re quite beautiful, Mum. It looks like Nature boosted many of the flowers with the snow. Just check out these two clematis plants that continue to bloom along our walking route. The purple one is particularly vigorous.
The Mum: That reddish pink one really caught my eye. They both flank a driveway we walk past every day and they wind their way up brick pillars. Those pillars create for a beautiful welcome to visitors and passersby alike.
Wilson:ย Just down the lane we found this version of our state flower, the Columbine.
The Mum:ย This Trumpet Vine is starting out the season with a few pretty blooms. In no time, this baby should fill in nicely along the iron fence. It was just a few feet away from the lilac bush below and was the very last bloom on the bush and practically begged to have its picture taken.
Honeysuckle comes in coral to reddish colors and is a great attractor for hummingbirds and other pollinators. Songbirds may eat the berries. The leaves and stems are waxy and the plant can reach 20 feet long, with sturdy support. I learned the plant is very flammable and not recommended for planting near structures. Honeysuckle is cold hardy and can be drought tolerant if the soil is good so it makes for a nice addition to the Colorado landscape.
Wilson: Like I mentioned earlier, it’s been pretty warm this week and one evening it started to cloud up. We had hoped for a tiny little sprinkle but it was too warm for any rain to reach the ground. It did however provide for a lovely sunset. There’ll be another six weeks of extended sunshine and then it will begin to grow darker, about a minute per day until autumn begins. Till then we’ll enjoy what Nature shares with us.
The Mum: Spring is a lovely time of year but it can be cruel. Just off the golf course we walk through, we came across this robin egg on the ground. I can be sure what happened, perhaps windy conditions made it fall out of the nest. I think it’s the part of spring that may not be kind and gentle.
Wilson: {interrupting} Well, you know what I think, Mum? I think a squirrel probably knocked it out. You know how naughty they are.
The Mum: I’ll admit that’s a possibility. While squirrels are mostly consideredย herbivores, they are quite opportunistic omnivores given half a chance. Raiding nests can provide them with much-needed protein, fat, and calcium. It’s a sad reality.
Wilson:ย It is sad and yet another reason for me to despise them. This just proves they’re total brutes.
The Mum: Calm down, House Pony. Unfortunately, it’s Nature’s way. On the plus side, the shell will eventually break down and add nutrients to the surrounding ground so it’s not a total loss.
Wilson: Sorry Mum, I’m not persuaded. I still don’t like them. Bloody tree rats.
The Mum: Well I understand your strong feelings, I’m certainly no fan, but there’s not much we can do about it now. We can only enjoy the birds that grow up, the flowers that bloom and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets that Nature shares with us.
Wilson: I guess. Still, it was sad. I vow to avenge that little fella’s existence…
The Mum: {interjecting} Ummm, let’s rethink that strategy. Remember revenge is a dish best served cold. I’m sure Nature had a plan and it’s important that we not try to change it. Besides, remember I’m old and need my shoulders to function, thank you very much.
Wilson: Well okay, but only because it’s you. I’ll try to contain my loathing of those vile creatures. So that’s all I have this week. We hope you enjoyed a lovely spring week. Wait…what the heck was that that dashed across our back porch?
The Mum: And just like that, the morning calm is broken as a squirrel ran near the back door and all hell broke loose. Sigh. So much for the earlier promises. We hope you have a wonderful weekend and how no squirrels cross your paths. It’s hard to realize Memorial Day is just two weeks away. Where did May go? Have any fun plans for the weekend?
Happy May Day, mates. Wilson here and as always I’m joining our pals from Adventures of the LLB Gang for this week’s Nature Friday blog hop where participants share slices of nature. Be sure to click on the link to see what they and other have posted. As I noted above, today is May Day where traditionally we celebrate the return of spring. May Day, like other early holidays that originated from ancient times, has its emphasis in celebrating the arrival of spring, the season of renewal. Festivities were filled with song and dance with doorways and livestock decorated with yellow May flowers. Historically, children would hold on to colorful ribbons, and dance around a maypole which symbolized fertility and the renewal of life. People wouldย โbring in the Mayโ by gathering wildflowers and green branches, and weaveย floral hoops and hair garlands. I told Mum there would be no ‘decorating’ my glorious floofness after she saw a wide swatch of pepperweed which has sprouted near the Ralston Creek trailhead. Thankfully she didn’t argue with me.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, May Day has its roots in astronomy since it’s the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It was one of the Celtic cross-quarter days, which marked the midway points between the (four) solstices and equinoxes of the year. Since we don’t have a maypole, we’ll just celebrate by admiring flowers in bloom that we pass on our walks. Mum hasn’t planted anything yet because the risk of frost is still possible but her naturalized Bachelors Buttons are full of buds ready to display their bright cornflower blue flowers soon.
The Mum: Good morning, House Pony…Happy May Day, buddy. After a couple of cloudy days that had a few sprinkles but mostly soft misty conditions, we woke up to clear blue skies but cool temps.
Wilson: Did you encounter rain yesterday when you traveled to Pueblo with your brother to see Grandpa?
The Mum: We did encounter some rain, but nothing too heavy mind you, but every drop was welcomed up and down the Front Range. What I wasn’t expecting was seeing a little bit of white stuff at my brother’s house with more on Monument Hill between Denver and Colorado Springs. It didn’t last long.
Wilson: I was glad I stayed home with your son, even though he keeps accusing me of snoring loudly. I. Do. Not. Snore. I rest peacefully. You know that, but why he keeps telling you I snore is beyond me.
The Mum: I think he just likes to tease you. And even if you do/did snore, so what…you’re snug as a bug snoozing comfortably and that’s all that matters.
Wilson: So we didn’t take a lot of photos this week but we did capture a few photos of some ducks. That was pretty exciting since I know you’d never seen Wood Ducks in person before. The males are really colorful but they are very shy and didn’t seem to want to get to know me very much so I was left out of the photo shoot.
The Mum: I am totally fascinated with Wood Ducks. The colorful males don’t seem real. We still haven’t seen any babies yet but hope they’ll be showing up soon. The males have stunning multi-colored iridescent plumage and red eyes, with a distinctive white flare down the neck. The female are less colorful with a white eye-ring. Both males and females have crested heads. Like other ducks, they do not mate for life but tend to stay seasonally monogamous. I could have watched them for hours but they were very nervous with my presence so after taking a ton of photos, I slipped away and let them feed and swim in the shallow canal.
Wilson: I just don’t understand why ducks don’t like me. Even the Mallards are skittish whenever I’m around.
The Mum: I’m sure they view us both as predators. After all, there are hawks, coyotes and bobcats who make their home along the trail. Don’t take it personally. I had to sneak up on this Mallard and he kept turning away from me keeping a nervous side eye on me. I only managed to capture a couple of pics and they were fairly similar so I only included this one in a sunny spot along the creek.
Wilson: Even though the mornings are still cool (in the mid-30’sF 1.66C) we should reach 60F (15.55C) today and are expected to stay sunny all day. The weekend forecast should be dry with perfect temps for celebrating May Day, as well as watching the 152nd running of theย Kentucky Derby and seeing local Cinco de Mayo festivities. So this weekend will showcase lots of fun. What will you celebrate this weekend? Whatever you do, we hope you enjoy and take opportunities to get out in Mother Nature.
Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday. As we always do on Friday’s, we’re joining Rosy and Sunny from the Adventures of the LLB Gang. Don’t forget to click on their link to see what others have shared for their Nature Friday blog hop. Coincidently this is the second Friday the 13th after last month’s Friday the 13th. As you ;probably know, Friday the 13th happens when the 13th day of the month of the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, and that can happen up to three times in a year. This year will have three with the final one happening in November. Here’s a little background surrounding Friday the 13th.
According to folklore, the number “13” is considered unlucky. Based on a Norse myth, 12 gods met for a dinner party in Valhalla. The mischief maker Loki, who had not been invited, arrived as the 13th guest, and arranged for Hรถรฐr to shoot Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. After Balder died, Earth became dark and the day was thought to be a bad, unlucky day. Norse mythology believed the number 13 to be unlucky and combining Fridays and the number 13 are considered unlucky in Western superisition.
Another month and another Friday the 13th. What’s up with that? Mum said 2026 will experience three this year, with the next one not until November. Here’s a bit of background on the history of Friday the 13th. According to folklore, the number “13” is considered unlucky. Based on a Norse myth, 12 gods met for a dinner party in Valhalla. That mischief maker, Loki, who had not been invited, arrived as the 13th guest, and arranged for Hรถรฐr to shoot Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. After Balder died, Earth became dark, and mourned and the day was thought to be a bad, unlucky day. Norse mythology believed the number 13 to be unlucky and both Fridays and the number 13 are considered unlucky in Western superisition. Now that you know more about Friday the 13th, let’s move on with this week’s photos.
Wilson: Mum used to live in Monte Vista for a few years and her son decided to check out the Sandhill Crane Festival last weekend at the Wildlife Refuge there. So he decided to check it out and brought back this image. After wintering near the US/Mexico border, the cranes began to arrive in the “Valley” in early February, feeding on grain and natural grasses in the area. Did you know that cranes mate for life and every Spring they do their ritual mating dance that includes dancing, bowing, chortling, and throwing tufts of grass in the air. They will continue on their pilgrimage to the far upper Midwest and southern Canada later in the month where they’ll raise their young and then return south again in early autumn. You can see it directly on YouTube here.
Photo courtesy of K. Samson
The Mum: I was really excited (and a bit jealous) that Kevin was able to see the cranes in person during the festival (I prefer seeing the refuge before or after the actual festival to avoid all the looky-loos). But I was glad he got to experience it. Seeing some 20,000 birds in one place in the San Luis Valley is something else. I had visited the refuge back when we lived in Monte Vista in the late 70’s.
Wilson: Their noise made me keep looking at your screen, Mum. What a racket! But how cool was that to see? We really have experienced just about everything weather-wise this week. It snowed all day last Friday and left a good 5+ inches of wet, white stuff. Two days later you could barely tell we had received any when our temps reaching 73F (22.7C) on Monday. The weather has bounced up and down all week long…the only constant all week long being the multiple high wind warnings.
This shrub is a Physocarpus opulifolius – Ninebark Dart’s GoldIt was a beautiful morningA beautiful morning
The Mum:ย On Monday we decided to check out the Ralston Creek Trail in the opposite direction to see how things fared in the storm. We’ve gone that way a couple of times in the past and came to the conclusion it’s very different from our usual route. The landscape suggests there may be beavers in the area but we saw no sign of any dens and noted the creek is narrow and rather shallow so I’m not sure how to explain the first photo.
Wilson: The City has been working on water improvements and flushed a few hydrants into the creek. It’s not normally that deep, at least it hasn’t been since we’ve moved into the area.
The Mum: Right, House Pony. I had one day of errands in the old neighborhood and walked past the magnolia tree a block away from our old house. It was covered with buds-more than ever this year. It’s going to be beautiful once they open presuming the wind or a freeze won’t hurt them. We have our paws crossed. It’s such a lovely tree and I felt a little bit of nostalgia walking through the neighborhood which was surprisingly more springlike than our own.
Magnolia budsPlum blossoms
Wilson: That’s all we have to share this week. Next week we’ll officially welcome more view of spring and hopefully we can find more evidence of its arrival. Wish us luck. We hope you have a marvelous weekend and get outdoors to see signs of spring in your neighborhood. Do you have any special plans?
Welcome to the first Friday of the month. March has arrived like a lion and while we’re counting down the days until Spring officially arrives (14 days if you’re keeping score), today greeted us with a bit of white stuff. You’ll get no complaints from Mum-with ongoing fire alerts, we’re welcoming the change. A nice wet slushy mix of rain and snow. The forecast only calls for 1-3 inches in the area but it’s welcomed nonetheless. Just look at all that glorious blue on the map…woohoo. The forecast is calling for 6 to 14 inches of new snow through Friday night in the mountains. Gusty winds will make travel dangerous with blowing and drifting snow on higher mountain passes.
Wilson: Well, are you happy now, Mum? Here I was, raring to go out to pee this morning when “this” greeted me. I got my paws wet for heaven’s sake. What the dog?!
The Mum: This is one weather phenomena I can get behind. We need the moisture.
Wilson: But Mum…I. Got. My. Feet. Wet! Eew, you know how much I hate my feet to get wet.
The Mum: Oh for heaven’s sake…you big baby. You’ll live.
Wilson: Well, for the record, I’m not happy about it. This will mean I’ll have to wear heaven’s only knows what kind of anti-moisture apparel. I’ll be grudgingly fine keeping my floof dry but may have to draw the line when it comes to snow boots. Ugh…
The Mum: {interrupting}ย For crying out loud, stop being such a wuss. You will be just fine. You’ll stay relatively dry and any moisture will be on your raincoat and won’t be released as that distinctive ‘eau de wet dog odor’ while staying nice a dry underneath. It’s a win-win for both of us.
Wilson: Umm, for the record, I’m rather dubious, Mum. I shall expect lots of ear rubs as well as a pocket full of treats to assuage my feelings. Sigh.
The Mum: {changing the subject} Tender feelings aside, I think you have a few photos to share?
Wilson: Oh yeah, I almost forgot. It was an exciting week. After last week’s post telling everyone that we saw a coyote on a golf green, he was back on the links closer than ever to us on the Ralston Creek Trail. And while the close up isn’t nearly as good as Mum would have liked, I didn’t have to circle it like I did in last week’s post. By the way, Mum, that was more than embarrassing. Taking that little itty bitty scene and having to circle him. I have standards you know and didn’t appreciate looking so lame. Besides, he looks like a German Shepherd not a coyote.
The Mum: My goodness…you really are on a roll today. I have a little advice for you…lighten up, House Pony and stop being so sensitive about little things.
Wilson: Harrumph. I remain on the record as simply trying to bring respectability to this blog. After all, I’m trying to keep you relevant.
The Mum: {eyes rolling and with a hint of sarcasm} Ummm, I appreciate your efforts? Let’s move along and see what else you have for us.
Wilson: Fine, I’m moving along. More spring bulbs are emerging along our walking route. This neighborhood seems to favor turf over flowers, much more than our old neighborhood did but I did manage to find a few scenes that were delightful. Again because the dry winter conditions didn’t display them at their optimal best, but a spot of color here and there were welcomed.
The Mum: Those daffodils were peaking out of a clump of ornamental grass next to the sidewalk. I almost missed them. But who can resist these cheerful blooms?
Wilson: And those hyacinths were a nice shock of color in the red mulch. And of course, the scent was divine! I can see why you like them.
The Mum: Yup, I put them on my list of spring bulbs to add to our landscape this autumn. The mulch in our small garden space only has a few shrubs so we’ll need to add lots of bulbs and xeric perennials to provide color around the Ranch ‘Barn.’ I hope you’re ready for a big season of gardening.
Wilson: Well I am ready to snoopervise your efforts. Remember, I lack a vital component for gardening…a thumb.
The Mum: You’re right, but I hope we can create a nice outdoor space from where you can supervise. Are you up for the task?
Wilson: {saluting} I won’t let you down, Mum!
The Mum: I will be most grateful for your efforts. Together I think we can create a lovely space where we can relax and enjoy the great outdoors this Spring and Summer. The first project will be to add a small paver patio from where you can oversee the transformation. We have to submit plans to the HOA for approval. Hopefully they’ll grant our proposal. Keep your paws crossed, the rules surrounding the submission seemed a bit involved but we’re trying to play nice and meet the requirements, onerous as they may be. I’m not used to having a board having oversight on outside projects so this is all new to me.
Wilson: You got this Mum. I have every confidence you’ll be able to sweet talk them into making our little garden a beautiful place. With that vote of confidence I’ll leave you with last night’s sunset walk. The clouds were forming for today’s spring storm and with a hint of color, it made for a lovely evening walk. The silhouetted trees were quite pretty.
The Mum: Indeed they were. We hope you all have a lovely weekend. Doing anything special? Whatever you do, we hope you’re able to get outside and experience some of nature’s best this time of year.
Wilson: This is all I plan on doing until the sunshine returns this weekend. Stay warm and dry.
PSA: Remember Daylight Saving Time starts this weekend. Make sure you ‘spring’ forward Saturday night.
Welcome to this week’s episode of Nature Friday were we join our pals from 
Greetings and salutations, everyone. Happy Friday. Wilson here…and as always, I’m joining those lovable pups from theย 
Welcome mates…Wilson here. Notice a thief stole my fur. Mum said I was beginning to look like Sasquatch and needed a bath so she took me to the grooming shop for a bath and groom. P{lease also notice my disapproving look. Miss Sydney is always very sweet and loving but I just don’t like baths. I guess if it keeps Mum happy, I’ll get over it but in the meantime, I’ll cry like a baby and shake like a leaf. Mum says I’m overly dramatic. You might remember that we had a pile of snow last week (if you missed it, you can read about it 
Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday. As we always do on Friday’s, we’re joining Rosy and Sunny from the 
