Welcome June!

This past week was a busy one as we cleaned windows inside and out, started work in the garden and visited the garden centre. Fewer walks were the consequence but the days we walked were exceptional. We witnessed the beauty of the leaves opening over a few days and the new green of late spring took hold.

This was the scene along a trail in the Rotary Friendship Park in Summerside on last Friday, May 30.

On Monday, May 26, this was the same scene. 

The area looked bare in comparison on Wednesday, May 21st.

Witnessing the change in the leaves over nine days has been a privilege as the new green of nature awakens for another growing season.

On the forest floor, a sighting of a Painted Trillium is a rare treat. I have only ever seen two others in my years on the island.

Also on the forest floor, thousands of Star Flowers are blooming between tufts of grass. 

Canada Mayflower is beginning to bloom and will look beautiful when the buds are all open. 

False Solomon’s Seal may bloom this coming week.

Early last week, Serviceberry shrubs were in full bloom in the understory of the forest. The blooms may not have survived the high winds of this past weekend. We shall see later this week. 

A Hairy Woodpecker appeared in a tree along a trail one day, and I watched with interest, wondering if the hole was the entrance to Woody’s nest.

Male Mallards are spending time alone these days as the females are nesting.

Along the boardwalk, new Red Squirrels are out and about, not afraid to approach people, like their parents before them.

Finally, we were fortunate this past weekend the torrential rain of Saturday and the high winds of Sunday didn’t happen on the same day.

On Sunday, the white caps on the muddy sea indicate high winds.

Enjoy the first week of June!

The wind through the wildflowers

The weather this summer has been peculiar. We have had hot days with high humidity, but we’ve also had high winds, making the temperatures bearable. These days are sandwiched between days with the temperatures below normal and the breeze cooling it enough to require long sleeves. The wind is a constant this summer.

One windy morning, we headed to the boardwalk early because of the forecasted humidity later in the day. The southerly wind caused white caps in the harbour. That sea was rough.

Also noticeable was the height of some of the wildflowers blowing in the wind. I am 165 centimetres tall or 5 feet 5 inches and many plants were at eye level. 

The roses are almost two meters high 

and I’ve never seen vetch grow this tall.

Queen Anne’s Lace danced in the breeze. Its younger blooms have yet to achieve the height of those nodding above them.

In early June, my husband and I saw a young child and an older couple, possibly her grandparents, place a small painted birdhouse on the remains of a young tree by the waterside. At that time, the three could easily reach the stick to place the birdhouse. The grass was no more than ankle high. Such is not the case today. The grasses tower over me, bending in the breeze. 

Goldenrod is beginning to bloom and has achieved an impressive height as it joins the other tall plants along the boardwalk.

We are in awe of nature!