We had mostly warmer than expected temperatures and clear skies through September. The shorter days and cooler nights remind us that it is fall. The canopy is still green for the most part, but, from early September, there have been a few outstanding Red Maple and Silver Maple trees already turning brilliant shades of red.
With clear skies, our sunsets have been mostly muted.
Despite ongoing projects, we made it out a few times in September.
Kilally Meadows, September 9, 2025
The paths at Kilally Meadows provide sun and shade and a variety of habitats.
We can usually count on finding a Song Sparrow at Kilally. Otherwise, there were few birds in evidence.
At this time of year, it is the insects that are most abundant and interesting.
Two kinds of grasshoppers:
Carolina Grasshopper and Red-legged Grasshopper
Because there is so much overlap in the features of the crescent butterflies, it was impossible to identify the specific type of crescent – Pearl or Northern.
The next photos should come with a warning, such as “butterfly Kama Sutra”. It took us time to see that the crescents were mating as they changed positions in the grass.
Other pollinators: Western Honey Bee, Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee, Pure Green Sweat Bee, Common Aerial Yellowjacket, Small Carpenter Bee
Some wildflowers: White Snakeroot (2 photos) Cut-leaved Coneflower, Brown-eyed Susan, Smooth Blue Aster, Fleabane.
Fungus: Violet-toothed Polypore.
It’s easy to see why these berry-producing vines and bushes have become invasive.
Virginia Creeper, Common Buckthorn, Autumn Olive
Wandering Bee Flowers
My New Favourite Band – Blue Rodeo
CBC Gem (available for free, small monthly charge to skip commercials) has a new documentary called Blue Rodeo: Lost Together. Somehow I missed a lot of what was going on in Canadian music since 1980. I was distracted by work and a few superstars and overlooked so many great musicians.
Susan noticed that some of the early songs sounded much better live. Fortunately, Blue Rodeo did not lose their voices or their fan base with age. With Blue Rodeo performing in London on November 15, I am very tempted to attend.
Here is a playlist of great versions of songs I like.
I added some lyrics for each of the songs in the playlist that now grab me every time I hear these songs.
Try
Every time you walk in the room
I couldn’t ever be sure of a smile
You were never the same way twice
I’m falling in love
Oh, night after night
Oh, it’s crazy
Til I Am Myself Again
Well, I don’t need a doctor
To figure it out
I know what’s passing me by
When I look in the mirror
Sometimes I see
Traces of some other guy
Five Days in May
They met in a hurricane
Standing in the shelter, out of the rain
She tucked a note into his hand
Later on, they took his car
Drove on down where the beaches are
He wrote her name in the sand
Never even let go of her hand
Bad Timing
I never meant to make you cry
And though I know I shouldn’t call
It just reminds us of the cost of everything we’ve lost
Bad timing, that’s all
And maybe soon there’ll come a day
When no more tears will fall
We each forgive a little bit, and we both look back on it
It’s just bad timing, that’s all
Hasn’t Hit Me Yet
Never thought this could happen
But somehow the feeling’s gone
You got sick of the pattern
And I got lost in this song
Lost Together (often sung at the end of each concert with other performers)
Strange and beautiful
Are the stars tonight
That dance around your head
In your eyes I see that perfect world
I hope that doesn’t sound too weird
And I want all the world to know
That your love’s all I need
All that I need
And if we’re lost
Then we are lost together
Yeah if we’re lost
We are lost together