Perth Wildlife Preserve Part 2

 We made it to the lookout. We'd taken the shorter path, with wide open, mowed trails and fewer bugs.

This is an arm of the creek. 

Up we went...

Boats head down the wider main part of Jebbs Creek. 

This sweet pair were dropping the F Bomb, and likely don't know or care that sounds travels over water.

🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾

Our Ottawa kids are in Newfoundland. This is an amazing part of Canada. I've not been, but I've been enjoying their photos. They've been hiking, walking the Viking Trail, and otherwise exploring. 

Can you see the boat near the left of the photo?!

Jordan loves reptiles and amphibians.

Selfie!

Caitlin is a hydrogeologist. She explained that this rock is made of 500,000,000 year old thrombolite (wiki)!

And, just before I go, good news. The nearby fire on the lakeshore (renters setting off fireworks) was contained.  No damage to neighbours, as far as I know. I added photos to my post.

Perth Wildlife Preserve Part 1

 Walkies for Gramma and Grampa!

The tower looks out to the butterfly field. They've created a wonderful habitat for them.

Grampa all kitted up. 

It is a beautiful spot, with an abundance of local plant species that provide habitat for critters. Thistle, milkweed, and a balance of meadows and forest.

Since we were wondering about bugs and heat, I thought we could take the easier path. A few minutes in, I realized we ought to put on bug spray. In the shade, the mosquitoes are bad. In the edges of the forest, the deerflies. I sprayed Joe's cap, and put on my big hat with the sticky paper. 

All told, I only had 2 deerflies. Several mosquito bites, where I didn't spray!

Isn't it lovely? 

We crept forward, and the hare didn't stir. Our path veered left, and it was left to eat.

Our goal was to make it to the lookout over the creek! Stay tuned for part 2!

First Responders: fire on Otty Lake

And locally, people set off fireworks on an island in the nearby lake. I counted 5 emergency vehicles go by. Forest fires are to be feared here. Our firefighters are volunteers.

From Facebook:

Fires cross the continent...

2 volunteer firefighters, 6+ police cars and 2 fire trucks.

Fred

We are having cold nights, Fred will soon be going to her winter hibernation burrow. I'm not sure where that is, maybe in the ditch, under the highway. 

A look back: milkweed Fred!

 

The last sightings of Fred with miniFred together.

July 24

 

  Oh, Fred! I have proof!

 

Fred's been climbing the fence and munching my flowers! 

Did you know that groundhogs can climb trees?

Frame to Frame Nature

MiniFred July 20

Fred July 29

I have not seen miniFred since then. Meantime, I think I've discouraged Fred from the front. I tried the tarp. I was worried minFred was in the hole, but I think not. She's either taken off or been someone's lunch. 

Backyard coyote

It's all the circle of life! 

Saturday's Critters # 607 <= for more critters, visit Eileen.

Happy Friday! Happy August!

 Assistive devices

Many of us are managing our health issues. We are living longer than our parents, and grandparents. That means more time for things to go wrong. One of us has issues getting in and out of bed. I mentioned it to Caitlin. She found us Econorail. It was tricky finding the specs, but I found them.

It wasn't too daunting! 

You're supposed to run the strap under the mattress. We tried it without.

It works, and gives us peace of mind.

It was chilly this morning, 9 ℃, but it will warm up. Welcome to August.

We were watching The Paris Murders, with subtitles, and spotted a gray tree frog on the window. Great little bug eaters!

Pretzel cat

Morning before the storm! 

 

The season is so short.

Thanks to the deer fence, I'm going to have some lovely blossoms! I always take a pre-bloom photo just in case, though! We moved into their habitat. 

A sphinx moth

A sphinx caterpillar!