Red admiral and mourning cloak butterflies attracted to over-ripe apples. 4 - Bur marigold blooms on edges of ponds. Surface temperature of Lake Waconia is 76 degrees F, and the water is perfect for swimming. Many monarchs on the move. Clusters of wild grapes offer hikers a pleasant snack.
Woodchucks are busy foraging on plant material and storing up fat for hibernation.
5 - Canada goldenrod very showy and at bloom peak. Boxelder seeds are mostly brown and give the impression of many dead leaves on the trees. Fall producing garden raspberry canes have ripe and ripening fruit. The bright yellow-orange sulphur shelf fungus is seen on some stumps, logs and standing trees. 6 - Steady stream of monarch butterflies migrating south.