The Backyard Science group regularly publishes The Daily Bucket, which features observations of the world around us. Insects, weather, meteorites, climate, birds, flowers and anything natural or unusual are worthy additions to the Bucket and its comments. Please let us know what is going on around you in a comment. Include, as close as is comfortable for you, where you are located (and photos!). Each note is a record that we can refer to as we try to understand the patterns that are unwinding around us.
As many have noted lately, the end of summer is nearly here, and fall is right around the corner. Growing has slowed, seed pods have formed, and the days are growing shorter. This time of year, my veggie garden starts to look like this as I harvest crops and get the ground ready for compost and mulch in anticipation of the next growing season:
This past weekend, I had the best laid plans to get a ton of work done, but something got in the way....
My growing restlessness, which led to a late-night decision to leave early in the morning to go for a hike at Mt. Rainier--northeast corner of the park out of Sunrise:
I was, as always, awed not only by the vast mountain and vistas
But also by the small wonders:
Mountain Bog Gentian (Gentiana calycosa)
Pika (Ochotona princeps)
The wildflowers are waning, though there were still quite a few blooms amongst the seed heads, and I watched a couple of chipmunks gathering dry needles and leaves from the ground before they disappeared into the low-growing bush--signs of summer ending at Sunrise. I'll make one more trip here mid-September before the Park closes that entrance for the winter (winter means October at the Mountain). Maybe I'll have the veggie garden where I want it by then. Or not. As I said, I'm restless.
Here's one of those chipmunks:
Chipmunk, of course
And a few more flowers:
Paintbrush and Asters
Your turn: what's going on in your neck of the woods?
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"Spotlight on Green News & Views" is posted every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time and Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. on the Daily Kos front page. It's a great way to catch up on diaries you might have missed. Be sure to recommend and comment in the diary.