July Was Good...On To August!

 Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

I've been pressed to keep up with the progression of plants in the prairie pasture.  I know I've missed things, life gets in the way, but here are a few things from July.

 Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Culver's Root  (Veronicastrum virginicum)

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Showy tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense)  

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) 

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Big Bluestem in Morning Dew

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Canada Milk Vetch (Astragalus canadensis)

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 False Gromwell (Onosmodium molle)

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 

 Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 

 Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum)

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Narrow-leafed Purple Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta)

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata)

 photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison 

There is change in the prairie here...nothing new, its just that we're seeing the end seasons approaching...the mid summer prairie plants, though still offering pollen to many interested bees and butterflies, are passing their peak "glory" and most are now forming seed heads.  

Last night I found the very first Dotted Liatris, Prairie Onion and False Boneset blooms of this new season; things will be progressing more quickly than I'd like now - the prairie bloom periods never last long enough for me!

I found a resting Monarch settling in for the night on some field goldenrod and a skipper feeding on some common milkweed; several small Bumble Bees still taking advantage of the Wild Bergamot's remaining blooms and a male Western Meadowhawk Dragonfly cruising the upper story of grasses and forbs.  I have yet to watch a Robber Fly, a Katydid or an Argiope this summer, and the Argiope spiders have been very scarce for two or three years now...a concern.

This is a bittersweet season, for when it comes and the flaming magenta and riotous yellows wow the senses - it seems to finish as quickly as it started.  Ah, but isn't that the way of things!?  One can never take something so special for granted.

Still...looking forward to what August has to offer! 

Summer at Last

"Pre-solstice Evening Sky"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view) 

The drought of the past 11-12 months has temporarily hit the wall and we are, of course, getting way more than we need all at once!  But I think the old adage "When it rains - it pours!" is about as aptly put as it could possibly be.  We've received 12 inches of rain for June so far here at Prairie Hill Farm, plus a little more wind than we care to ever have.

4 days back we got stuck in the rotating SW edge of a system and around 2-3 a.m. trees started breaking up and dropping in the yard.  So cleaning up is about all we've done for the past 4 days, but today is being "taken off" to recuperate some.  Not only did the trees get busted up, we did too...Georgie broke her wrist and I a torn ligament.  I'm doing much better while Georgie gets used to her cast...glad spring is past us now - hopefully summer will be kinder!!!

 "Bizarre Mammatus Formations and Barn"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

(click on image for a larger view)

Weather does create some visual opportunities though, I just don't care much for the messy ones!

Hope you have avoided the flooding and/or the severe storms the region has been experiencing!  Our hearts go out to those whom have lost their homes the past few days - especially in Nebraska, and certainly to those who were injured or lost loved ones.

It is summer at last and perhaps a change for the better!? We can certainly look forward to that - wishing you a very happy summer solstice!

Still In Our Own Backyard

 "Sun Dogs at Prairie Hill Farm"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

I thought I'd share this morning's frigid sun dogs here on the acreage, and go with the theme I presented last week with what inspires me here right in our own backyard!  Only this week we'll look at just a sampling of photographs garnered here, without leaving the premises...there is something everyday here...and yet I miss most of it I'm sure!

 "Sun Dogs at Prairie Hill Farm"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

We've been having sun dogs lately and this morning was no exception as, the top two images testify.  However I've been putting off photographing them because the landscape is fairly bleak and snowless, taking away much of the winter's charm. Well I finally gave in for a "few" brief moments this morning and tried a couple shots anyway...the temp was at 10 below, but the wind was brisk (35 below windchill) and one shot I wanted to try was decided against and a shot from behind the barn was tried instead...the image directly above is from the edge of the crib, looking south east.

 

 "Big Bluestem in the North Pasture"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

But there are warmer times with hours spent outside here...sometimes just taking it in and other times doing chores in the pasture, yards, gardens or buildings...there's a lot to do here, beside being "inspired"!  But "inspiring" it is, and here's a small sampling of images photographing here on the property, throughout the year!

 

 "Bird Visitors Through the Year"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Cope's Gray Tree Frog in the Grove"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Fawn in the Yard"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Monarchs Roosting in the Back Grove"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Sharp-shinned Hawk in Front of the Studio"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Skunk Paying a Visit"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Male Western Meadow Hawk Dragonfly"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Anvil across the Valley"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

 "Storm in the Valley"

photograph - © Bruce A. Morrison

The weather images can be impressive here with our prairie's Big Sky, but there is so much more that is small or fleeting...things are certainly missed every day.  But what we do find, watch and marvel at, is amazing...we're very blessed.

Once again, I'm procrastinating!  Back to work at the easel!

Hope you're having a warm place to rest this winter, be good to one another and be inspired!