6-24-08 Observations

- Clear and cool on the mountain properties this morning.....with early AM temperatures in the upper 50s.

- I have been seeing several fawns recently. It has always amazed me how, due to innate factors, these young deer freeze when danger threatens. Often I have stepped near them while walking in fields with long grass, and they simply do not move...they flatten the ears, droop the head, continue the prone status and do not move...while the doe may flee, probably to draw attention away from the youngster (s).

- In the surrounding forests and fields, I could hear several Whippoorwills through the open windows last night....

- Attached is a recent photo of the Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) near Hemlock Park, one of the many nature parks within our mountain developments.