The Wordsmith's Forge

Today is cloudy and mild.

I haven't fed the birds yet.

I've seen a fox squirrel bounding about with a walnut in its mouth. I feel sorry for the little guy because, while there are lots of nuts now, the ground is rock-hard.

I also saw a medium-size bird that was yellowish-grayish-brown with darker wings and lighter belly. It's too big for a goldfinch and lacked the white bars. It might be a nonbreeding tanager, although the western version (not found in Illinois) looks like a closer match than the scarlet (which is).
EDIT 9/21/'24 -- Someone else suggested a female summer tanager which is possible. They come into Illinois for breeding season. This page about Illinois tanagers lists the western one as rare here. The size and beak shape is right for a tanager.

EDIT 9/21/24 -- I planted 12 crocuses under the golden raintree in the house yard.

EDIT 9/21/24 -- I planted the remaining crocuses in the house yard, so that bag is done. \o/

EDIT 9/21/24 -- I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of house finches. One of them has discovered the new thistle feeder! :D

I put out water for the birds and watered a few plants.

EDIT 9/21/24 -- I planted 15 Leucojum (aka summer snowflake) 'Gravetye Giant' around the white garden at the end of the driveway. These look similar to snowdrops, with white pendant flowers, but a little more bell-shaped with tiny green dots on the bottom edge. The bulbs are the size of tulips or small daffodils and more resemble the latter in shape. This cultivar is supposed to reach 2' tall.

I've seen a robin near the forest garden.

EDIT 9/21/24 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I watered the newly planted bulbs in the house yard, patio plants, picnic table, and septic garden.

EDIT 9/21/24 -- I watered the seedlings in the savanna, notch in the prairie garden, telephone pole garden, and grass patch.

I saw a toad in the prairie garden. :D I haven't seen many this year because it's been so dry.

The soybean field north of us has been cut down. The same field wraps around the yard east and south, but so far all I've seen cut is the north part.

EDIT 9/21/24 -- I watered the white garden.

I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 9/21/24 -- I watered the purple-and-white garden and the notch in the prairie garden.

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.