Chippewa Valley Butterfly Effect: Eau Claire home filled with bu - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Chippewa Valley Butterfly Effect: Eau Claire home filled with bu - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

Once again, Jim has done a wonderful job explaining the native butterflies of Wisconsin!  Love the footage, too!  It documented the Butterfly House to a *T*!  Enjoy!  --LKR

Terrific Tuesdays

I am adding the above cartoon here in response to Lyn's comment to this post. :-) Thanks, Lyn!!! :-)

Most of the country is--or will be--experiencing excessive heat, this week. Right now, it's been our turn! Keep cool and safe this summer! --LKR

Heat Wave!!!

Here in the upper midwest, we're experiencing extreme heat. While 92F may not sound scorching to anyone living in dryer climates, when high temps are combined with high humidity, the heat index can easily rise up and over 100F. This could lead to heat related illnesses such as heat stroke in both humans and animals.

Stay in air conditioned buildings, drink plenty of fluids, and if you must be outside, wear a hat and stay in the shade.

Check up on elderly neighbors, and families with young children. A day like this is not good for gardening or running around outside!

Outdoor dogs (and cats!) should have plenty of shade and water to access throughout the day.

For wild animals, consider leaving shallow dishes of water in shady areas, or hanging an extra hummingbird feeder out for hot, hungry hummers.

--LKR

Raspberries

Got bit up big time by mosquitoes while bees of all sorts flew all about us. But it was well worth it! These sweet, juicy, delectable berries were devoured in no time at all!

Soon, frost will be ruining any remaining, ripening fruit. I'm just hoping for a good loooong Indian summer to make up for the lack of usual warmth we normally have in June, July, and August! --LKR

Keepin' Cool!

School's Out!!! Part One

Yesterday was the first day of summer vacation for our three cherubs. We celebrated by visiting Willow River State Park, the Science Museum of Minnesota, and friends in Bloomington. This was our relaxing time at the falls:

My youngest found several of these caterpillars that had fallen into the water and asked if I'd rescue them. About a dozen were scooped out of pools of water and revived.

Two of these Mourning Cloak butterflies greeted us, but my (older) camera wasn't quick enough to capture them fluttering around until one finally landed.

A Garter snake was sunning itself on the side of the path, but quickly slithered away when it became the center of attention! --LKR

Yeay! Summer!!!

I love it! Summer and nature once again influence advertising:

These "Monarchs" were spotted on a window at Caribou Coffee. Enjoy! --LKR

Dog Days in the Dead of Winter???

Hi! It's me, Mister Poochie!

Mom took this picture, she did, as my little kitty brother Toby and I were taking our nappy naps. Remember how tiny he was? Well, he's sure not that small any more, no, he's not! At 10 months, he is way bigger than our almost 17 year old kitty sister Rocky!

Mom and Alpha often have to rescue Rocky kitty kitty, they do, when he tries to "suma wrestle" with her. She just does not like that, she doesn't. Mom likens it to a toddler attacking a frail elderly lady!

Anyway, Mom says we're laying low, today. Something to do with a snow storm coming through. But when I saw a flash of lighting and heard Mom squealing with delight, I was confused. This time of year? Mom said "yes"--she knew what I was thinking, she did!

Mom just loves thunderstorms, and danced around the kitchen while I scurried out of her way. She calls it her happy dance, she does, and said the thunder and lightning makes her think of summer, her favorite season. So while we got about six inches of the white fluffy fun stuff, Mom's anticipating the sunny season!

I just want to go play and roll around in that white fluffy fun stuff, I do, but Mom says it's a white out, she did. Maybe later... . --Mister Poochie

A Strange Summer, So Far...

This has been a really strange summer, to say the least. The locals agree. If it hasn't been wet and rainy, it's been cool and windy. Today's high was only 68 degrees!!! We haven't had to use the air conditioning at all, so far!

Trees bloomed and leafed out later than normal, this spring, but the melodious croaking of frogs seemed to be on time, in spite of the late April snowfalls. --Yes, that's plural!!!

It was also shocking not to see our lilacs swarming with several species of butterflies, especially the emigrating red admiral and American painted lady. Our sweet smelling mock orange bush, also a butterfly magnet, has surprisingly drawn very little outside of the various bees.

But, the flowers are blooming, the grass is once again green, and in spite of the drop in butterfly sitings, I'm finding eggs on their specific host plants. To see photos of butterflies, moths, and caterpillars, check out the posts on my leps blog at: http://lezasleps.blogspot.com/ --LKR