Early August #phenology

 Goldenrod has come into bloom. Acorns are beginning to drop. One day soon temperatures will follow suit, but for now we'll just enjoy these hints of cooler, less humid days to come. Canada geese are beginning post-molt flight exercises combined with training flights for this year's now grown up goslings. Whitetail fawns still have white spots and bucks haven't yet begun to scrape the velvet from their antlers.

goldenrod in bloom

Photo by J. Harrington

It looks as if the swallows that, for the  past several years, have been nesting in the back yard bird houses have already migrated. At least there's no sign of them around the yard and hasn't been for a week or so. Ruby-throated hummingbirds are still coming  to the nectar feeders. Sandhill cranes have begun pre-migration flocking together in nearby fields, feeding amongst the soy beans that  they tower over. A week or more ago, we saw a pair of sandhill cranes with unusual coloring. Instead of the typical gray or rust colored feathers, or a mixture, these two had rust tops and gray bottoms, (or perhaps the other  way around). It's the only time we've seen such a color pattern locally. Wish we had had a decent camera with us at the time.

wild cucumber blooming

Photo by J. Harrington

Later this month we'll look for wild cucumbers blossoming. From a distance, they look a little like ghosts drifting among the plants they're growing on. The elderberries on the bush growing in what is usually a wet spot in the back yard aren't yet ripe enough to attract the attention of passing birds. We'll keep an eye on their progress.

Summer's Almost Gone

By William Trowbridge

The squirrels are spreading the rumor: no more monkey business.

The Dow Jones hops up, then down, then back up, trying for attention,

           up against dog days.

The Capitol dome rattles like a witch doctor's gourd. “More Republicans,”

           warn the talking drums.

The networks labor underground to stockpile T, A, and blood capsules

           for Sweeps Week, when all hell won’t be enough to save some.

Pedestrians slip into light coats of pollen and mold spores.

The Enquirer reports the sighting of Satan's image over Chicago during

           the heat emergency. His words were, “For the hottest deals in town,

           see Sal at Mutto's Chevrolet on East Wacker.”

The old elms shrug: “You think this is hot: we could tell you about hot.”

Walmart and Kmart burgeon into crooked towers of back-to-school

           candy. They're heaven-bound, via the moon. Greeters offer

           themselves to the lowest common denominator. There's a Blue-

           Light on moon caps.       

Representatives from Tire City have announced they intend a hostile

           takeover and cleansing of their former territory, now known as

           Carpet City. Furniture City will not intervene.

The NFL’s negotiating for rights to the Baptist Church.

The carnies have packed up the Tilt-A-Whirl and Ferris wheel, leaving us

           up to our ass in free parking.

Everyone under 30 dreams of shoplifting some Air Jordans for school.

Everyone over 30 dreams of going to prison for shoplifting.

The hypochondriacs wake up noticing little dark spots in front of their

           eyes, think they could be in the middle of something serious.

“Winterize now,” say the prime-time commercials. “Spend, spend, spend!”

           cry the cicadas and katydids over the scorched, moonlit lawns.

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