Nature Notes

  July 2 After a heavy rainstorm, Jamaica Pond at sunset. July 3 On a morning bike ride through the Arb, saw a family of turkeys snuffling about in the grass. And the rose garden is wonderful right now. July 4 Saw a great blue heron fishing by the boathouse, with a perfect reflection in the still water. Later on in the morning, biked around the Concord - Carlisle loop, getting ready for my upcoming Nova Scotia bike tour.  A biker coming towards me alerted me to this deer ahead. I was amazed that it let me stop the bike, get my phone out and take a photo. It looked a bit nervous at first, but I talked to it gently and it seemed fine with me being there until I finished up and got back on the bike. This evening, walking by Leverett Pond, saw a great blue heron fishing.  After a bit, it flew along the length of the pond, squawking, then landed in another spot to resume fishing.  I don't think I'd ever heard the squawky noise they make before.  Here's how the Cor...

  June 4 Biking through the Arboretum this morning, spotted this kousa dogwood tree, with its wonderfully patterned leaves. Kousa dogwood Also saw this guy wheeling a harp through the Arb; he told me his wife was playing at a wedding. Harp on its way to a wedding Later on in the morning, at the Roslindale outdoor market, open for the first time this season, loved seeing this mushroom stall. Roslindale farmers market June 6 On a morning bike ride to MIT, saw hundreds of plants being unloaded from a tractor trailer, along the edge of Leverett Pond. Over the last couple of years, the US Army Corps of Engineers has been dredging and upgrading the pond, as well as the Muddy River that flows from it.  They're now putting the finishing touches of plantings! I can't wait to see it all done. Plantings waiting at Leverett Pond On the way home, I get a glimpse of a  great blue heron through the trees and when I take a closer look, I see that it's perched on top of a wood duck nes...