As Our Life Goes On

Above: Button Bush This evening we went for a round trip drive through Twin Lakes and around the Lake  Pippen and Rockwell Lake area. One goal was to get a few common milkweed pods so that these plants could be introduced to the swampy weedy areas in the yard. I resisted jumping out of the car in front of houses so as not to attract unwanted attention.  I was able to find about 6 large pods on a secluded road that runs between the 2 lakes in the reservoir. We already have the swamp milkweed growing in the yard on the hill and on the edges of the wetlands. Isolated maple trees have turned bright red and the trees should be ablaze with color in a few weeks. The plants and weeds along the road reminded me of the Weeds and Seeds show at Fishcreek Elementary School. It was held each Fall. The show featured decorations and other things made by students from weeds, seeds, pods and dried stuff from fields. There were animals made with all kinds of materials and wonderful centerpiec

The blooms on the hydrangea shrub in the garden have turned from creamy colors to rosy colors. Most of the flowers in that garden have faded and only seed heads remain. A bit of yellow here and there from late blooming daisies breaks up the dullness.  The paths in the wild areas of the yard are abloom with purple asters, goldenrod and little white daisies. Honeybees seem to be favoring these wild flowers.  Cool mornings and warm days are making cleaning the yard and garden pleasant but towards evening the mosquitoes are a big problem. Their bites make us itch all over.  Individual trees and the poison ivy leaves are turning bright red and the golds and oranges are only beginning. Most trees are still a shade of green. 

The first day of Fall can bring forth some beautiful sights. The colorful Sugar Maple leaves are scattered on the ground at the foot of the tall trees and beyond. The seldom seen honeybees are working around the goldenrod, purple asters and other blooming plants in the wild flower areas in the yard. I can just taste the dark wildflower honey in my mind as I watch the busy bees. Ants and other types of bees are working in the same areas. The sun is shining and it gives me a calm peaceful feeling as I walk through the paths cut through the wild areas in the yard. 

Earlier in the year I bought a few perennial flower plants at a flea market. Helen's Flower turned out to be my favorite of those plants. It grows to a height of about 36" on very sturdy stems that do not bend over like many of the tall flower plants do. The formerly red blooms are turning a soft brown-orange before the petals fall leaving a colorful conical seed head. There was only a picture on a card to show what these might look like when I purchased the plant. These late bloomers are adding nice Fall colors to the garden. 

I find it amazing that the small rose colored blossoms that were seen on this plant in the Spring turned into the spiked milkweed pods shown above. These plants attracted butterflies and they seem to be establishing themselves in the wetlands at the bottom on the hill on the West side of the property. 

This large hornet's nest must have exceeded the weight limit for the little branches of the maple tree that it was built on. These nests are sometimes difficult to see when they are built high in the branches and leaves of the tall silver maple trees. This one landed near the back of the house near the outside water faucet. It is just a few feet from the house and the large hornets are furiously flying about the huge nest. It would be quite dangerous to venture behind the house until the threat is eliminated. 

The old wooden windows on our 1950s home need attention. Many  windows on the house have been finished but Russ just checked out the window at the upper back of the garage and it is flaking and peeling. Our garage has 3 metal framed windows on the ground level and two wood windows that are on the upper sides. One on the front and one on the back. The front upper window has been painted recently but the back window needs some attention. The weather is very hot and humid so not much may be accomplished today.