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The Daily Bucket: A Nice Walk Before the Heat Dome Descends. [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-07-24
Much of the country is under a heat advisory today. In SW Michigan, it’s predicted to be 93-96F with the “feels like” temperature of 98-103F, depending on sun or shade. I’m opting for shade, better yet, this will be an indoor day. It’s a good thing we invested in a geothermal/heat pump system, the cooling feature is very efficient. We set the temperature at 78F and only use it on these really steamy days.
Climate change intensifies midsummer U.S. heatwave for millions
American Robin
Aware that I’d be indoors for the later part of this week, I took advantage of Monday and Tuesday (83F with tolerable humidity) to walk the approximately one mile path, then visit the SE corner of the property.
A Robin was foraging in the yard by the driveway as I returned from the veggie garden Monday morning. A juvenile rabbit has been getting in the garden. I watched it transport itself (beam me aboard, bunny) through the fence and chickenwire. I swear there’s no hole it could fit through.
Birds love the veggie garden, I see at least a half dozen fly out when I approach, Cardinals, Catbirds, and more.
Earlier I weeded the Prickly Pear cactus by the path. I forgot how insidious the fine spines are. I’m still picking them out of my hands even though I wore leather gloves.
Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa)
I headed west through the dry meadow. This is the area where I’ve planted the most native forbes and grasses.
Gray-headed Coneflowers (Ratibida pinnata) in dry meadow
Impressionist Spicebush Swallowtail on Bergamot
Rosinweed (Silphium integrifolium)
Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)
Monarch caterpillars still alive on Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
The first shot of a Field Sparrow focused on a flowering pea, the bird flew on, holding on to that caterpillar.
Flowering Spurge (Euphorbia corollata), one of the plants already here.
Turning to head north, along the hedgerow the dry meadow is becoming dry woods. Sassafras, Sumac, and Oaks are moving in.
I haven’t planted much in the north section of the dry meadow, but spend time pulling invasive plants there. I’ve added a couple of Butterfly Weed plants and Prickly Pear, though. The House Wrens seem to be winning in the nest boxes.
West path where it opens up to the north area of the dry meadow
I turned east onto the short path. Mr M isn’t mowing the short path this summer (I promised that he could mow in the fall). There are lots of interesting sedges, Blue-eyed Grass, and I spotted native Whorled Yellow Loosestrife this year.
Short path between the meadow and the woods
Eastern Box Turtle enjoying the long grass on the short path.
Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris)
My best attempt at a dragonfly portrait.
The short path splits: north into the woods, or to the south leading back to the house. I went into the woods. Usually mosquitoes are horrendous back here but they haven’t been too bad this year, maybe because we’ve been in the “abnormally dry” category since late spring.
Black Gum, one of my favorite trees.
These fungi were brilliant orange, but my camera wouldn’t pick up the color.
The long path loops around and meets the short path on the west side. This whole area is seasonally wet.
Long path with blurry insect photobomb (the brown spot)
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
On Tuesday I walked the east power line easement. Normally this area is wet, with standing water and mud most of the year, so I rarely walk there. Plus lots of Poison Ivy. The last time I was over there was in April, pulling Garlic Mustard (very little there, I’m happy to report). The Red-shouldered Hawks have nested here in the past. I’m planning on moving some Elderberry bushes to this area, and have seeded Wild Senna. Establishing shrubby plants and controlling tree saplings will minimize power company intervention, I hope.
Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)
Probably Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)
Spotted St John’s Wort (Hypericum punctatum)
There’s a small wooded area between the power line easement and the road. It usually floods from fall through spring. The dry ground is starkly barren.
Seasonal Swamp
Fungi — genus Clavulina?
Beebalm (Monarda didyma) towards the yard.
I took a break on the back porch after my foray.
View of feeders from back porch
A few of the visitors:
Juvenile Hairy Woodpecker, he’s figured out the suet feeder.
House Finches
Red Squirrel in the popular blue bowl.
American Goldfinch, they’re year ‘round residents.
Red-winged Blackbird
I’ve been scaring up Northern Flickers when I walk outside, the white rump is indicative. After I went inside on Tuesday afternoon, one showed up in the yard outside the kitchen window.
Northern Flicker — maybe a juvenile?
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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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Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on follow.
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The news has been reporting on corn sweat (evapotranspiration). Although we have some cornfields, there’s not a huge effect in Michigan.
Corn actually produces humidity, if you will, or moisture that wicks off the plant on average about 4,000 gallons per acre [per day]," Farmer Mark Baker told AccuWeather. That added moisture increases the humidity, which in turn raises the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures, making already-hot days feel even more intense. The phenomenon is called "corn sweat," and it's far more pronounced with corn than other plants. For comparison, a large oak tree releases around 100 gallons of water into the atmosphere each day, 40 times less than an acre of corn.
What are you seeing in your backyard or wherever you go to observe nature?
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