Jordan Lake. I am glad that Lapis Lazuli, my Chevy truck, sees so clearly our paths as we wander the Jordan Lake Neighborhood. She makes the paths easy and full of wonderment about what we will next see. Lapis is a steady sturdy companion!

Jordan Lake. The crimson-eyed rose-mallows are blooming. This blossom may look familiar – especially if you have ever grown okra. However this is not okra but it is a relative and both plants are hibiscus varieties. Like okra, the rose-mallow is edible although I’ve never tasted it. The crimson-eyed rose-mallow is native to North America while the okra originated somewhere in Africa.

Jordan Lake. Oh, it is still hot! The eastern cottontail rabbit, however, has a very neat way to stay cool. Rabbits cannot sweat, so how do they get rid of excess heat? You see those big long ears? If you look carefully you can see the blood vessels coursing through those ears. Those vessels bring the too warm blood up close to the surface of the ears and there the body heat transfers out into the air and the now cooler blood returns to the body. Another way to keep cool in all of this very hot weather.

Jordan Lake. I watched the two-year-old bald eagle launch. Found myself wondering if I reached my arms up high enough towards the sky could I somehow make feathers appear and I, earthbound human, join the flight? Oh my.

The house wrens at my home are fledging out their chicks. There are at least three babies. The bird making all the noise is one of the fledglings. The wren popping in and out of the box is a parent. As you can see it’s very hard to keep track of where all your young ones are when they have wings and a whole new neighborhood to explore.