Welcome to the latest edition of Nature Friday where we join our friends, Rosy and Sunny from Adventures of the LLB Gang. Elsa here. Another hot week is in the books and an even hotter one is forecast for next week. It is compounded with some of the worst air quality in the entire country. Denver continues to be plagued with ozone issues and now wildfire smoke coming from Canada and the Pacific Northwest has arrived. On Tuesday, the Swiss company IQAir who tracks air quality, rated Denver the worst in the country and was rated 9th worst in the world. With 40+% humidity and somewhat cloudy conditions, our walks stop being fun. Normally the humidity hovers in the very low teens so this definitely feels muggy to us.
Wilson: Exactly. As I walk three times farther than you do, I huff and puff like a bloody steam engine. Even potty breaks throughout the day are short to say the least.
Elsa: It’s miserable for all of us. Normally the early morning air is clean and fresh but we know isn’t because Mom coughs almost the entire walk even before she checks for air quality alerts that now last all pretty much all day long.
Wilson: It’s enough to make a chap stay indoors, I tell you. But let’s share what we saw just this morning, shall we?
Elsa: I’m game. What ‘cha got?
Wilson: Well I’m still getting used to the botany around here. I have to inspect some things very closely.
Elsa: Umm, I think you photobombed Mom.
Wilson: Ah…well, how’s this frame showing off that beautiful Coleus and those lovely Dahlias?
Elsa: Oh yes, that’s much better. That planter has a lot of pretties in it. And besides, no one wants to see your big fat jughead in a planter.
Wilson: {miffed} Well, I had to check it up close and personal and can tell you that I was quite mesmerized by all that color. Nearby I found a nice patch of orange coneflower, also known as Rudbeckia that was located within some other plants. Guess Mum realized she probably needs to hold me close to her so I don’t investigate too closely.
Elsa: Well just realize it’s good practice for you to stay close for when you go visit folks at hospital. They can’t have your large tuchus sashaying all over the hallways.
Wilson: Oh dear, I never thought about it like that. I’ll make a note since I certainly don’t want to get Mum in trouble because I’m investigating the world around me and will try to stay more focused.
Elsa: You say that now, but I know when a squirrel or bunny comes into view, all bets are off. At least you give the birds a break.
Wilson: Not that there will likely be any birds in hospital but crikey…you ever try to get close to birds? Obviously they don’t want to become friends with a cuddly chap like me anyway.
Elsa: Your size probably intimidates them. I learned a long time ago it’s impossible to try to get close to them. Those wings work hard to stay away from the jaws of death.
Wilson: If you think I’m big, you should see the Irish Wolfhound puppies. Those little buggers are growing like weeds. Check out this little ‘chonker.’ He’s the largest of the litter and will likely be quite a specimen when fully grown. Check out those little pinky paws and that round belly!
Elsa: I’ll grant you that he and his siblings are going make you look small by comparison. Mom’s daughter says they’re doing well and gaining weight.
Wilson: They’re sure cute and I’m glad Mum receives regular updates on how they’re doing. And just for the record, the ‘jaws of death’ are reserved just for squirrels. I will say the birds were definitely enjoying all the sunflowers we walk past. They wait until the last second to avoid any encounters with me and Mum while eating the seeds.
Elsa: Everyone seems to like sunflowers. They’re pretty cheery, that’s for sure. I’m also a big fan of hollyhocks. They can grow just about anywhere and it makes you wonder how they manage to thrive in sidewalk cracks.
Wilson: Right-o! Another beautiful example of brilliant color. Rather like this daylily which I’m particularly fond. They are blooming all over the neighborhood in assorted colors.
Elsa: Oooh, that is a vivid specimen! I’ll give you points for finding that one. So…you got any critter sightings this week?
Wilson: As a matter of fact, I do. This cat was lounging inside the windowsill and seemed fairly focused on making sure we didn’t linger too long interrupting his bird watching. We walk past that house every day, but have never seen him before. He seems like a fairly big fellow.
Elsa: Meh…I’m sure I could take him.
Wilson: {gasp} Why on earth would you? He’s minding his own business. Such hostility…what’s up with that?
Elsa: It’s not hostility-I’m a Ninja. It’s just what we do.
Wilson: I see no reason to cause a bloody ruckus in the neighborhood. Unless we’re talking about squirrels…then you have my wholehearted approval…although I’d prefer if you left the squirrel hunting to me. I’m getting better at anticipating their wily ways. Why just a couple of days ago, I was within a whisker of catching one before he jumped up on to a power pole to escape.
Elsa: Yeah, You startled both me and Mom. Remember the house rule-one mustn’t hurt Mom.
Wilson: Well he startled me, too. And because I know it upsets Mum, I’ll keep that rule in mind. I did however see that African chap you’ve mentioned before. I think he enjoys munching on tree leaves.
Elsa: {eyes rolling} You buffoon…that’s yard art. That giraffe statute isn’t real.
Wilson: It’s not? Hmm…that’s a major disappointment. So little sister…what plans do you have for the weekend?
Elsa: Lots of naps in air-conditioned paradise, Dude. Not much else can be done. Oh and I’ll probably check out some of coverage of the Olympics. But that’s the extent of it.
Wilson: I’ll be right there with you. I rather enjoy watching the telly. Whatever you do, we hope you have a marvelous weekend and hopefully are able to see some of the finer examples of nature’s beauty when and wherever possible. Cheerio!
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Welcome to this week’s edition of Nature Friday where we join our friends from the 
Hope you all managed to survive Explosion Day, aka July 4th. Elsa here. Whew, thank goodness we got through it even though it lasted until after midnight. Mom closed up the house and turned up the volume on the TV so we’d have less to hear. Bless her. Seems like a lot of peeps are beginning to question this whole “let’s blow &#@% up” holiday and not just here in the Mile High. Although Mom thought there were a lot of people who give lip service to ending fireworks but still ran to their favorite fireworks pop up stand and bought a bunch. Still we hope all that barking and whining by folks about it is starting to move the needle. Baby steps. Not only are there alternatives that don’t scare the Bejesus outa 
Elsa: Holy flowers, Batman! That ‘beard’ is very bright!
Good Friday morning everyone…even though it feels like the day is practically gone. Elsa here. Mom has spent several hours trying to fix some of her technology and sort out some issues in WordPress and has been muttering and grousing for the past few hours about how tech is conspiring against her. I’m not sure what’s going on (I’m a Ninja, not Steve Jobs) but she’s pretty exhausted and very frustrated so I’ll apologize for her right up front. Hopefully, she’s resolved the issues and you’ll be able to see our post. As the House Pony says, “Sometimes you’re the dog, sometimes you’re the hydrant.” I think today qualifies for being a hydrant. As always we’re joining the fur kids from Adventures of the 
Elsa: Mom and I have seen those Alliums on our walking route too. It seems to have been a very good year for Alliums and I’m sure the recent showers have been a good thing for them and all the plants in the garden.
Welcome to Nature Friday where we share bits of nature from the urban landscape. As always, we are joining our friendly hosts from 
Wilson: It’s quite something, that’s for sure. Well that’s it for the flora this week but Mum was super excited that she saw some wildlife as well. It’s not a very good photo since all she had was her cell phone but she was blown away to see what she thinks was a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk in her silver maple tree. They’re not unheard of but seeing one in the city seems somewhat unusual.
