Here's a mixed bag of plants and animal. This week I witnessed a Common Loon - Gavia immer in Fall Creek. This beautiful bird is one I tend to associate with large, still, lakes of the far north rather than medium-sized creeks of central New York but there it was big as day. Here some relatively grainy shots I got as proof.

Now for the plants, here's Asclepias incarnata, the Swamp Milkweed, a favorite of Monarch Butterflies.

And here is Lilium canadense -Canada Lily. This a protected, rare plant in NYS as are all of our native true lilies. This beautiful flower likes full sun to shade, "wet feet", and can reach heights of over 6'! It comes in shades from deep red all the way through the oranges to golden yellow.