Outdoor Hour Challenge #20 Our Summer Tree Study

We have had hot smoky weather for the past two weeks with all the fires burning in our area. It is very unusual for the wildfires to start so early but my husband says that the fuel in the forests is so dry that it doesn't take much to get it going. We had several dry lightning storms and two weeks ago we had extremely high winds. All these factors together make for extreme fire danger.

We have been enjoying our outdoor time both in the garden and out on hikes in our local area. First of all though, here is my son's summer tree study.His tree doesn't look that much different from our last study. There are lots of green leaves which my son thinks are darker than they were in the spring but it is hard to tell. Here is a close up of the leaves.


This time he measured around the trunk and found it to be 28 inches in circumference.
This is what he noticed had changed the most about the tree. It had these sprouts coming up from the bottom of the trunk. We usually snap these off as they sprout but my son wants to leave them just to see how they grow.


A few days ago we went on a hike at Lake Tahoe which is about an hour from our house. Here are some photos from that hike.

Ignore the crooked horizon line and enjoy the beautiful cloud and the water :)

The lupine was in full bloom.....and it is my favorite color.


Zillions of pinecones on the forest floor should provide lots of food for the critters.


My three favorite boys in the universe standing on the bridge overlooking Taylor Creek. No salmon this time but in a few months this place will be teeming with spawning Kokanee salmon.


The end of the hike winds around in this meadow through a grove of aspens. Just beautiful.

Another great week outdoors in our home territory.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom