Watch your matches, don't smoke on the trail, and don't be a cigarette flipper! Nova Scotia Department of Lands and Forests, 1942. Pure cussedness.

So many warblers in one corner of the yard tonight! Mostly Common yellowthroats, palm warblers, yellow-throated green warblers, and yellow-rumped (not shown, they stayed high up tonight).

Everywhere I look it's clear that summer is winding down, yet sometimes the changes are subtle. Today, and on September 1st.

Early September.

Caffeine not helping a somewhat stressful Friday, so I will think about my cats slurping up fresh catnip and that should help.

The mountain mints and spotted bee balm are holding down the fort here, with some rattlesnake master and white swan echinacea to boot. (Also oodles of wine cup, but it doesn't fit your theme ;)

I am not local to this fire so I can't speak to the experience of the most affected people, but as constant worrier, I really think DNR/the Province has been doing SUCH a better job with comms/info sharing this fire season, especially with showing us what measures they take. Really appreciated.

It feels like there is so much to be anxious about, and my nerves are of the old school Mrs Bennett type. Here's a video of Aelfwynn that I try to emulate. Alert and curious, but chill. Also, tummy floof. #tabbytuesday

My first Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) bloom! Grew this from seed in 2024 and overwintered in the greenhouse. Very neat.

Fish cakes were great! Talk went well I think. It was a fun topic to a great audience so I had very little to do! Story Map coming on late September.

Kinda nervous! Haven't done anything like a lecture in 3 years. Not sure if I will be able to enjoy my fish cakes and baked beans.

Chippie time. Every day, for a few hours. Esther for the pounce! It's usually Aelfie. It comes back within seconds, & seems to have a deep understanding of screen doors.

I've been staring at the Church map of Halifax County so much this summer, I immediately recognized the style here!

The owner's garden appears to be an interesting combo of prickly pear cactus and roses. I feel like gardener and cat were peobably well matched in personality and humour.

Following up, Spigelia marilandica only just starting to bloom here in my garden on the Eastern Shore!

I also found out who probably ate my two surviving woodland phlox (also from seed). Gently escorted out of the workshop. Actually happy to see this buddy (for the moment), we haven't had hares around for years now.

Two plants I grew from seed last year and are now blooming: Poke milkweed and wild garlic.

I am so curious about this plant, so I planted 3 1l nursery pots last year and germinated & then tried to overwinter some seedlings in 3" pots. The seedlings perished, and 2/3 nursery plants made it. Definitely not blooming yet where I live. More to observe & try!

Canadian tiger swallowtail on the Knautia macedonica. First one I have seen in the garden this year, though I wouldn't be surprised if I just missed them while I was at work.

Peonies, Nova Scotia style: use the bayberry as plant support.

I've been wanting to grow this but have never seen it in my immediate neighbourhood woods. Was thinking of buying seed online. Does it seed for you, she asks hopefully..?

Forgot alt text! Three pictures of unopened milkweed flower panicles or leaves with a tiny creamy white monarch butterfly egg in each image.

No adult monarch butterfly sightings yet, but I found the first eggs yesterday. This milkweed grows out of the driveway but it is spared from being pulled because every year it is the monarchs' first choice for a nursery. They have at least 25 others to choose from, but this is always The One.

Bought this upright clematis on a whim years back. It gets better every year. Here, at dusk, doing its starry thing.