Summer is here! I'm so excited that we're having some sunny days!
We've been getting lots and lots of rain! I'm not sure if you are aware that much of Minnesota has been getting flooded. Last week we received about 4 inches of rain over night. Our little lake was the highest I've ever seen and was up over it's high water mark and into our mowed grass. I'm glad the rain stopped when it did!
After a flooding incident in the 1960's they put a pumping station in and now control the level of the lake by pumping the water down stream into other lakes and then into the creek. We were glad to see the lake go back down after a couple of days.
Other than that the rain has been great for my garden. The flowers and weeds are growing taller than ever! Even as I write this, a storm is moving in and we should get more rain. Let's hope not too much.
More Peonies.... |
Blue Delphiniums and Yellow Sundrops |
We also had a Strawberry Moon last week and I went out to snap a photo. It doesn't show near the detail in the moon as I had hoped, but that's the best I could get with my point and shoot camera.
Last week after all the rain, I was backing out of my garage and wondering what some walkers were gawking and pointing at in my driveway. As I slowly backed out, I saw to the left of my driveway a huge snapping turtle digging a nest for her eggs! I didn't take a picture because she raised her head and was giving me the evil eye! I did not want to disturb her anymore than I already had by opening the garage door and driving a huge metal beast out just when she was doing something that should really be private!!
I have marked my calendar though and in about three months we should be hearing the pitter-patter of little baby Snappers!!
The common adult Snapping Turtle weighs from 9 to 35 pounds and may live around 30 years. They can be aggressive on land, so I chose not to mess with the big mama! I've heard that in the water they are not interested in people and will swim away and hide on the bottom. They are prehistoric looking creatures and quite interesting. We have observed the two snappers romantically involved in the lake!
Below is a baby snapper. I've found them in the yard, or I should say, Guy has found snappers and other turtles in the yard before. They are usually about two inches in diameter. I carry them down to the lake and they jump right in and swim off.
source: Baby Snapping Turtle
Independence Day is soon approaching as are my house-guests! I probably won't be back here to my blog until after the 4th of July, but I will try and get around and visit some of your long neglected blogs! It appears my blog list is working again and your blogs will be much easier for me to keep track of.
Have a wonderful weekend!
~~ Diane ~~