By summer's ripening breath

Today was the kind of golden summer day so perfect that it makes your heart ache a little, or a lot. The Long Meadow seemed to be breathing in unison with every lush green valley under every summer sun on earth.

The last time I hung longingly over the fenced-in wildflower meadow near the Dog Beach was June 17. Except for little white asters, none of the same flowers were in bloom today.

I cannot figure out for the life of me what this tall yellow one is (left). ID, anyone?

Yellow predominated, in daisies and the first flush of goldenrod, alongside a few pale lilac beebalms.

 

The flower action was subdued, however, compared to the berries, which are entering burst mode. No wonder the woods were alive with birdsong; those guys have a feast here.

Pokeweed, gorgeous and invasive. Once, I let some grow because the cardinals in my garden loved the berries so much, and looked so lovely  feeding on them. The following year, I had one million pokeweeds, each with a tap root extending into the earth's core. The berries can be used to make ink, if you can't get to Staples.

I believe these are elderberries (right).

And this (left) is some kind of viburnum, I think.

But today's best finds weren't those I went looking for (cue Recurring Theme). Surprise Number One: Piles of wet sludgy pond weed raked ashore attract diverse creatures, including a warbler and...our first AYITP rat! Of course, I've seen several since I began my visits, but they are frisky and swift, and I've never managed to get one's picture. I can't help it, I think he's a handsome devil. (Yes, I know, I wouldn't feel that way if I'd ever shared living quarters with one.)

Surprise Number Two was that a Monarch butterfly can get around on one and a half wings. I'd guess this brave flyer isn't going to make it back to Mexico this winter, but he was operating just fine over this ironweed. Soaring even with some parts torn off; a pretty good mascot for middle age.

Comments

[Monica Berger]

The warbler is a louisiana waterthrush. Cool.

[Monica Berger]

Or maybe a Northern Waterthrush. Mea culpa.

[Brenda from Flatbush]

Thanks for the ID! I would've said "little yellowish guy."