Abby, Katy, Will (and Rev) came down for a visit, some bike-riding, park time, backyard swinging and some hose fun. Not a cloud in the sky, no wind, and a high about 80. Had to ride towels on the slides because they were too hot.

On our morning walk, Pax and I passed by this little roadside retention pond, as we often do, and found it to be a more than usually hopping place. Bullfrogs, all around the pond, twanging and thrumming, redwing blackbirds chuckling, and turtles plopping off mats of vegetation. Quite an amazing lot of vitality in a nondescript little place.

And, here is a close-up of my favorite little tree in Starin Park, a young American beech. This is the tree I was trying to identify last fall. I remember the great beeches around Saugatuck and Camp Gray, which were so impressive when I was a kid, and I want one in my yard someday.