Some summer days invite you outside. Others remind you that nature sets the schedule, not us.
Today was one of those latter days.
My backyard weather station recorded a high temperature of 97.5°F, and it felt every bit of it. The air was heavy enough that even standing still left you wishing for a breeze. Like many people across the Northeast, we’ve been looking for air-conditioned places to take our daily walks rather than heading to our favorite nature preserves.
As evening approached, though, the day offered a reward.
Smoke and haze softened the western sky, turning the setting sun into a glowing orange-red disk hanging above the trees. At the same time, the backyard meadow remained surprisingly busy. Bees and other pollinators continued moving from flower to flower through the tall grasses, seemingly unfazed by the heat that had driven most of us indoors.
It reminded me that every species has its own way of dealing with summer. Some seek shade. Some become more active in the cooler hours. Others simply carry on with the work that needs to be done.
The weather forecasters say the humidity will begin dropping tomorrow afternoon. If they’re right, the heat should become a little more bearable, and I’m looking forward to getting back onto one of our local nature preserve trails.
Sometimes stewardship isn’t about doing something extraordinary.
Sometimes it’s simply paying attention, waiting for the right moment, and then stepping back outside.
Tomorrow may be one of those days.
here in Upstate New York. We live on a well-traveled, but country road in Albany County.
The tree is the sole source of food for an interesting and important moth, as the leaves are eaten by the caterpillars. When caterpillars are numerous, infested trees may be completely defoliated. Defoliated trees produce new leaves readily, but with multiple generations occurring, new foliage may be consumed by subsequent broods. Severe defoliation over several consecutive years can cause the death of trees. Because the caterpillars are an excellent live bait for fishing, some dedicated anglers’ plant mini-orchards of this tree for their own private source of fish bait, particularly in the southern states.
A friend of mine mentioned a video production that is focused on Monarch Butterflies and their migration. He is fascinated with the Monarch and the fact that the species is in a population decline.