The heat still makes it too unbearable to be outside for long, so short bursts are in order. My oldest son and I continue to try and get out to a new place for a walk every other Sunday morning, and this time we went to the Purdue University Campus in Westville, Indiana. Located right off 421 between the town of Westville and heading North towards Michigan City, the campus is easy to find, but this walking location was not. There is a sign box up on a hill that once had maps for the disc/frisbee golf, but most of the signs have disintegrated. There are no path/trail markers, so we didn't venture too far until we got more familiar. Eventually we realized that all of the paths lead in a circle back to the starting point. While it was sunny and humid on this day, there was a lovely breeze, and we didn't stay outside too long. *Note, there is no public bathroom at this location. I am going to try and remember to include with the postings I do about the walking locations. It's important for me to know that and I am sure there are some other who need to know it as well!
There was a fantastic gully in the woods! You can can just imagine the glaciers moving through! 👇
They also have elderberry growing wild in various spots! Native and medicinal. 👇
It's that time of year for June bugs and Japanese Beetles. I remember when I was growing up, people would hang those bags traps up to catch them. 👇
It always makes me sad to see mushrooms and fungi get mowed over. This one held up well! 👇
I found some rose hips, but didn't look to see if it was a MFR or something more native. 👇
What a lovely day and views! 👇
They even have heal-all growing on the mowed paths! I remember being so excited to find this at our land! Native and medicinal. 👇
The Tatarian Honeysuckle is getting its berries. Non-native/invasive. 👇
And ugh. The horrible, terrible, Callery Pear tree. I have sent an email to someone in the hopes of getting this on someone's radar for removal. Highly invasive/problematic, cut them down at your first chance! 👇
Back at home, I see the soapwort is in bloom again. I have tried to remove as much of this as I can from the railroad tree line, but it is hard to eradicate. It gets its name because of its use as a cleaner! It does really suds up! A.K.A. Bouncing Bet. Invasive/aggressive spreader. 👇
And our friendly neighborhood Cicada Killer is back! Although it came back to the same location that it has made tunnel slides before, I don't know if this vegetation made it too difficult for it this time. These are good insects to have around, though a lot of people are afraid of them. They are quite large and resemble a wasp. I have informed my family NOT to harm them. 👇
Of course we could not have been so lucky on our next trip out to the land as to have dry conditions. While there was supposed to be a quick shower in the morning, it rained ALL morning, and for nearly our entire time out there. 👇
But I'll be outside no matter what and looking for the beauty to be seen! Rain and fog are two times that being outside can be so ethereal! One of my favorite things to see is raindrops on leaves, and spider webs. 👀👇
One main thing I need to get done, is get the SD card back in the trail cam on the farthest point of the land. I had forgotten the back up card, and when I pulled the card from the cam, it was too full to stand outside for more than hour going through it. I made things a little easier for myself and have all of the trail cam items in one spot now! This pencil case was my oldest sons (he's now 31!) when he was little. It had his marker "collection" in it and he had stickers on the outside of it. All cleaned up, and filled with trail cam papers, all of the SD cards, batteries, and the reader. I have mixed feelings about this SD card reader now after using it several times out in the field! It has a mind of its own and I've just gotten to the point where I give up and bring the card home to view on my computer.👇
A large milkweed beetle wasn't fazed at all with the rain. Maybe it was a nice relief for it? 👇
Like the Cosmos dappled on to each leaf! 😍💧👇
The Common Evening Primrose is now blooming. Native and medicinal, but can be weedy and aggressive in spreading and out-competing. There are no issues at this time with it where we have it. 👇
I thought that this was going to be my last view of the pond this way. We left the padlock key with the gentleman we hired to fix the slumping, but they haven't started the work yet. Originally slated to start in August, they had the time to start early. We are hoping to hear something within the next couple of weeks. 👇
By chance, I saw this on a willow, and then looked closer at the other willows and they were all over! I was pretty certain they were galls, but Woodchuck insisted that they were flowers. They do look like pinecones, don't they? And like they would open? But it turns out that they are galls! Specifically a Willow Pinecone Gall caused by a gall-midge, and almost always on Black Willow. We had wondered what kind of willow we had, speculated to be black. Black Willow is native, but is a very aggressive spreader. It is what I make my dreamcatcher frames out of when we cut it back. 👇
It does not look to be clearing up any time soon! As long as there is no lightning or thunder, I will stay out here to work. 🌧👇
The white pines, from a distance, look ghostly and like they are incased in ice. Up close, they are like modern art, full of movement, light, and dimension. 👻🧊👇
Everything becomes a cup, and a stopping point for the water to rest. If you think about it even more, one of the functions of a watershed is to slow water down, let it disperse, and each plant does that in their own way as well! What the plant can't use for itself, it holds, and then it will eventually evaporate off, become drinking water for insects, or will roll off to the ground. These are water droplets on a wild bergamot who's flower hasn't opened yet. 👇
And these droplets on a plant that I don't know. Everything has a purpose, and some times more than one. Held in place, suspended, slowed down. 👇
The green and gray colors of the day were broken up by this striking metallic Dogbane Beetle. Even its body and legs are holding on to water droplets. Some times the smallest things in nature are some of the most amazing. 👇
You know, I have yet to harvest any wild bergamot to make tea from for myself. I think once I start living out there, it will be easier for me to start utilizing medicine from the land. 👇
One of the reasons I take so many pictures of flowers, is to learn to identify them, help others do the same, but also because I eventually want to start painting them! These photos will act as the perfect reference! Black-eyed Susan. This one is more colorful than all of the others I've seen this season so far!👇
One of the reasons I take so many pictures of flowers, is to learn to identify them, help others do the same, but also because I eventually want to start painting them! These photos will act as the perfect reference! Black-eyed Susan. This one is more colorful than all of the others I've seen this season so far!👇
I wonder what the fungi are saying to each other today, as they lean into one another in the rain? 👇
It continues to rain and I continue to absorb water. One of these days I will remember to start wearing my water boots.👇
I found the Leadplant just in time to see some flowers! They were like purple firework bursts! 👇
Along with some Deer-tongue grass 👇
And some Poison Oak. It is time for me to go back now. I'm tired, hot, my socks are squishing because they are so wet.... 👇
But there is still so much to see! Like this Bittersweet Nightshade, which is confusing because it's not a Bittersweet plant like Oriental Bittersweet, etc. It is an invasive and I will be digging it up on the next trip out. This is the second time I have found one, but the first one I found was in another spot.👇
The grass is so wet that as we are walking, frogs are jumping out of the way. This one is a Green Frog. 👇
So.much.jumpseed. on the forest floor and getting tall. 👇
This Enchanters Nightshade leaf was a favorite snack of something. 👇
Need to see a moth with a cross on its back? I can make that happen for you! Clymene Moth. 👇
When we first bought the land, I remember being so steadfast in the thought that I was going to remove every.single.invasive. And that's just impossible with it just being me doing this. So, I do what I can, when I can, and hope that one day the land will get into a maintenance status. So this Great Mullein gets to stay for now. It is medicinal, and the leaves can be used a toilet paper and is good as a tea for respiratory issues. So many spiders and insects utilize these plants as shelter too. Once the plant rods die off, I sometimes gather them, and coat them in beeswax to use as torches while camping. 👇
As we left the land and headed home, I just happened to glance up and flying over the highway was the Goodyear blimp!!! That's not something you see everyday! It was heading North, I believe to Wisconsin. And of course the weather is clearing now that we are headed home.👇
Once we got home, I mowed and Woodchuck had to remove a tick from my leg (I had on pants, used a spray, etc) and it was time for a quick walk and as usual, I found some more rocks, lol. I believe the yellow one could be yellow quartz, and the other is granite with mica and quartz! I wish I could have things made from rocks in our new home, but then I would probably never leave it, lol. 👇
All work and no play, or socializing, make me more feral than I already am, so on another day soon after, it was time to visit my mother for a bit! From my step-dad's cat, to flowers, to my own cat, each brings so much color to our lives. But honestly, some times I get lost in the wonder of nature, need to pull myself back to reality. Susie the cat. She adores my step-dad and is his little shadow. 😻👇
My own Pierogi. She means the world to me, and is my familiar. I know she looks forward to our evening snuggles as much as I do! 😻👇
My mom and her husband don't have native/invasive on their radar, lol. 👇
But my mother actually found the native phlox growing along a roadside, and without knowing what it was, she stopped and dug it up! It comes back every year in her yard and I am tempted now to find some and transplant it at the land. Maybe next year! 👇
In other news, I am trying to finish off one to two new pieces of handmade things each week. I continue to do the Sunday market every other week, but may have to drop down to once a month. My business funds are dwindling, and I just had another market day with no sales. I am checking today into selling on Big Cartel as Etsy continues to unravel its original business morals. You can find all of my ready to ship items at
Stay tuned! BTW, this piece was hand-stitched by me, then I used a vintage frame and vintage woven backing, Woodchuck cut some extra glass I saved for things like this and this cutie is ready for its forever home! By framing these pieces on my own, it really keeps the costs down and lets me use all of these great frames that I have been collecting over the years.
Don't forget that I make donations from the proceeds to many organizations. Thank you for making that possible!
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