Thistle fix ‘em! #phenology

Some of our roadsides are full of Canada thistle in bloom and beyond. That means the supply of fluff goldfinches use to line their nests is increasing daily. That’s good, because we’re near nesting season for goldfinches. According to The Cornell Lab’s All About Birds:

Canada thistle

Photo by J. Harrington

American Goldfinches breed later than most North American birds. They wait to nest until June or July when milkweed, thistle, and other plants have produced their fibrous seeds, which goldfinches incorporate into their nests and also feed their young.

We’re seeing only an occasional butterfly these days. More should appear as the flowers in the garden come into bloom over the next week or so. Although we have a few common milkweed plants, none seem to be feeding monarch caterpillars. 

We had a few showers and thunder rumbles today, but not much real precipitation. That may, or may not, be the routine for the next week or ten days, or more. The weather forecasts call for isolated thundershowers / storms which means one yard's deluge is another’s dry spell.

It won’t be much longer and this year’s goslings will be starting their practice flights in anticipation of autumn’s migration. That should come as no surprise for the Druids among us, since Lughnasadh is but three weeks from tomorrow. Summer is flying by, as it usually does. Have you noticed the days really are getting shorter?

Invitation

by Mary Oliver

Oh do you have time
to linger
for just a little while
out of your busy

and very important day
for the goldfinches
that have gathered
in a field of thistles

for a musical battle,
to see who can sing
the highest note,
or the lowest,

or the most expressive of mirth,
or the most tender?
Their strong, blunt beaks
drink the air

as they strive
melodiously
not for your sake
and not for mine

and not for the sake of winning
but for sheer delight and gratitude –
believe us, they say,
it is a serious thing

just to be alive
on this fresh morning
in the broken world.
I beg of you,

do not walk by
without pausing
to attend to this
rather ridiculous performance.

It could mean something.
It could mean everything.
It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote:
You must change your life.

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