It’s finally chilly here & most things have stopped flowering. Good time to look through pics to remind me of summer. The first shows a bumble bee on native Late Boneset, and the second is the cast off outside of a cicada still attached to an Elephant Ear.

Not my usual backyard bird, but an escapee suburban chicken from next door. She’s a bit feisty, so despite my neighbor running out to buy a large net, we decided to let her hang out until roosting time. Wish us luck. 🐔

A few of my under-performing canna from last year are finally blooming. This one is Pfitzer's Primrose Yellow Dwarf. Our hummingbirds still prefer the full height Miss Oklahoma & struggle to get inside the blooms of Alaska. If only I could consult them while making my selection! #bloomscrolling

Summer solstice did not go as hoped for, so posting a pic from a week or so ago of an adult bluebird feeding a juvenile from our supply of mealworms. Focusing on the positive.

Happened to see this Rose-breasted Grosbeak on our safflower feeder this morning. Grabbed this shot several feet from the window as most first time visitors tend to fly off before I can get closer. And he did, briefly, before returning to the side of the feeder away from the window.

First Southern blue flag (Iris virginica L.) bloomed yesterday. Best hand-me-down plants I’ve ever gotten from MIL! Rhizomes & vines are almost the only things that our surface rooted trees don’t strangle in their relentless quest for more water. #Bloomscrolling #NativePlants

Some Canadian natural beauty: photos and some video as well of a “spirit bear” in British Colombia. A single recessive gene in black bears is what produces this rare coloring. 🇨🇦🍁 www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

These are so ubiquitous in the yard I usually forget to capture a pic. Here are a few blooms of Rubus trivialis (Dewberry) today. #BloomScrolling

Smallest cat has now taken over the top platform on our newest cat tree this Caturday.

Too delightful not to share. 🇨🇦 I completed my undergrad degree alongside Canadian Geese & am similarly unsurprised regarding their proclivity to fight off a predator.

🥚 Tried the periodic method of egg boiling. Lost track if I was in the last or 2nd to last round (thanks, ADHD). Spouse loved them. Yolks were great. I might prefer another 2 minutes of boiling (I have texture discomforts & albumen in one spot was too loose on mine). www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Just remembered that this weekend is the bird counting (or at least, observing) event. This fella joined the robins in digging through the leaves in the bed next to the living room window. Then jumped up on the tree until he had enough of being spied on.🕵🏻 merlinbirds.org/species/rebwoo

Caturday content is from cat-sitting at the in-laws for a couple days this week. Which left my spouse the sole-carer for our 8. 😆 Our cat-in-law likely would be fine on his own, but, as with the rest of us, doesn’t seem to have a deciding vote in the matter.

Weather Channel app tells me it’s reached 85F. Extended forecast indicates another cold front is in store to keep confusing my plants. Blueberry bushes seem to be keeping with their normal schedule & are beginning to bloom. Carpenter bees are usually who visit those so I’ll be keeping an eye out.

These baby boys still love napping together. The only adult male has also joined me on the sofa, but is out of shot. Our 5 girls tend to disperse, preferring solitude. #catnaps #FelineFraternity

Got distracted by a new reply bot that is trying to “correct” information in posts about events that have happened today (inauguration, pardons). I assume it has no access to info since the election. Mostly, it just both-sides & generally acts like a milquetoast mediator. So weird. Reported.

Fire ants in the canna (only one container, thankfully). Will leave that one for last then! About to have several nights below freezing, so need to un-pot these rhizomes for storage & dividing. Photo is from a month ago. Miss Oklahoma, I believe, is the variety.

This sweet boy wants to know why there have been tiny explosion sounds coming out of this object all day (BBC live coverage running since New Zealand). His brother is as uninterested as all of the older cats (the boys aren’t a year old yet).

Lovely article (from 2020). Will put this documentary on my list to watch. I was in grade school when Jimmy Carter lost to Reagan & therefore have little personal memory of that time. I must make an effort to read more positive takes on his actual presidency.

Caturday content contribution: one of the three cats that timeshare this particular bed. Taken this morning. She had no interest in looking my direction 😸

‘Tis the season for Asian lady beetles. Several in the yard this afternoon (one pictured on the Texas Sage bush). Also, a Spotted Cucumber beetle on my very non-native elephant ear. Moved several smaller tender plants indoors as it may get down to 32 for a couple hours.

I almost slipped back to look at the bad place for live reports & discussion, but found @sarahjeong.bsky.social just in time. *whew*

An amusing diversion given how little material was available 😸 (wouldn’t call it a “roast” though). In a parallel universe: The cat-loving activist leading the charge against anti-feline legislation. blueskyroast.com/roast/catsta...

No bell too small or absurd to ring so long as funds/power keep flowing in response to the stimuli! It’s hard to imagine how to extinguish this particular loop for the cast of characters currently involved, but must find a way!

Clear blue sky this afternoon. All native plants have stopped blooming, but these canna are still going as we’ve not had a freeze yet. Still getting a sense of how 🦋 works & already not going to keep up w/ start pack volume plus every other enticing rabbit hole 🤦🏻

It's what I've always said, true human progress isn't technological but a more just socioeconomic system.

WATCH: John Oliver claps back at anti-trans politicians on “Last Week Tonight” glaad.org/watch-john-o...

Been radio-silent on all social media for a few years, but might consider rejoining the human race here. Let’s see. 🤞