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The Daily Bucket: Pleasant Days in July [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-07-10
Ahh… a stretch of mild days with low humidity in Michigan. Here’s some flora and fauna in my backyard this week.
Mr M said “do you want to see a turtle”? Of course! A Painted Turtle was in the grass between the house and the pole barn. I saw one a few years ago in the same area. We have vernal pools, but they’re dried up now. There’s a lake about a half mile down the road. We see Eastern Box Turtles more often.
Painted Turtle, an unusual sighting at our house.
Wild Yam seeds (Dioscorea villosa)
Black Raspberries, and evidence of who likes them.
I thought I’d better include a couple of birds so I don’t lose half the Bucketeers. I’m seeing fledgling Red-bellied WPs, fledgling Hairy WPs, and young Downies. The adult Wild Turkeys have been visiting every day, too. The hens with poults visit less often, so far.
Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak and female Cardinal
A few of the 3 hens and 13 poults in the backyard on Wednesday.
I’m not sure who this is: Cowbird, Grackle, Crow? but I liked the silhouette.
The dry meadow to the west of the house. There’s lots blooming, but it’s hard to capture in a landscape shot.
The dry meadow
Up close:
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Gray-headed Coneflowers just starting to bloom (Ratibida pinnata)
The wet meadow to the north isn’t blooming yet. I’ve spent the last few days pulling invasive plants in both meadows.
Goldenrod in the wet meadow. There are several Goldenrod species, plus Ironweed and Tall Coreopsis.
Wild Roses grow at the wood’s edge. I’m not 100% sure which species this is. I transplanted a piece to next to the gazebo in the backyard and it’s flourishing.
Bumblebee on Wild Rose
The little jar below is a nest made by Potter Wasps, aka Mason wasps. The link is to a great article on the wasps (Eumenes fraternus). For example:
The sex of the future wasp depends upon the number of the caterpillars upon which it will feast. In nests containing more than five caterpillars, a female wasp will emerge. If the nest contains fewer caterpillars, the wasp will be male.
Teeny-tiny wasp nest on wild rose plant
A few years ago I transplanted some Hairy Wood Mint that I found in the wet meadow into the yard. It’s doing extremely well and I’ll probably pot some up for the next Wild Ones native plant exchange, plus move some back into other areas on the property.
Hairy Wood Mint (Blephilia hirsuta)
Queen-of-the-Prairie (Filipendula rubra) with a bit of Beebalm (Monarda didyma) between the gazebo and the veggie garden. I suspect the Beebalm is a cultivar, but the hummingbirds love it.
My little nursery, where the magic happens.
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The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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Now it’s your turn! What’s happening in your backyard?
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