I've been working outside a bit today - I wanted to take advantage of the weather being warm with no hot sun; and that was all good, but the black flies are definitely still here and out for blood. I only needed to be out there for a few minutes, so I didn't use bug spray. Consequently, I get bitten several times, mostly around my ears. I'll will itch for a few days, at least!

Cousin Ora sent this photo of a lady's slipper plant (of the orchid family) in Rhode Island last week. I'm not sure whether Ora found this one in the wild, someone's yard, or in captivity at a botanical garden area, but they are fairly common here in Vermont woods, if you know where to look. I believe they are still on the list of endangered species of plants, but I'm not certain. I remember even when I was growing up, we never picked them. There used to be a few plants in the woods near Bill and Dorothy Dimick's camp on what is now Cove Road, but I expect they are gone now. I never knew that their hairy foliage can cause a rash. I guess it's a good thing we were taught to leave them alone!

I believe white water lilies were protected when I was growing up, too, but the yellow ones were not. I haven't found that either are considered endangered in Vermont now, but I didn't spent a lot of time looking that up. The while ones are very fragrant, and beautiful. I would love to have some on my pond, but not until I see how it's going to behave. More on that later.

Sunday's "Destination Danville" had a few bikers stop by on the Green. I haven't talked to anyone to learn if it was considered a success or not. There weren't as many people around as I had expected, but perhaps there were more actually on the trail who didn't come the short distance to the Green for the free lunch. The people Bob and I saw, as we sat near the bandstand with the newly-published West Danville history book, were enthusiastic, and there were quite a number of youngsters there, not all of them on bikes. There was face painting, and that was a big success. Lunch was really good; and there was a popcorn stand, and a young couple from Rutland area played music during the event. It was a very pleasant day, and Bob and I had a good time talking to people - even though we didn't sell any books. I expect after making the climb from St. Johnsbury to Danville on the rail trail, about the last thing anyone wanted to do was add another five pounds or so to their backpack or saddlebag for the trip home. People looked a bit bushed as they came onto the Green, and some confessed they hadn't expected it to be such an unrelenting climb. Bob said he has done the trail several times, both directions, and from St. J. to Danville there is no flat or down-grade to relieve tired muscles. It's truly "up-hill all the way." Of course, that is how railroads managed to climb steep grades - with a very gradual but steady incline. We saw a couple of electric bikes - and that would be pretty helpful, I would think. 

I didn't look for the meteor showers last night - but from what I saw on the news this morning, it may not have been worth losing sleep over. More clouds than expected, I guess, or maybe there was some other reason they didn't show up well. It certainly feels like we could get rain any moment right now. I hope so because we really need the rain badly. My pond is way down again - we are thinking it is losing more water than just by evaporation, but Jamie and his friend, Luke, have searched the perimeter and haven't found any obvious wet spots that would indicate a leak. However, it goes down a few inches every day. I haven't talked to Ben (who dug it for me) yet - I thought I should give it at least a few months to settle in or season - or whatever new ponds have to do - before I bother him about it. It is concerning, though. I would like to have it stay at maximum depth throughout the summer. I have a small stream running into it constantly from one spring in the woods above, but that isn't enough to keep the level up. 

In the meantime, I have had a pair of ducks visit more or less regularly. They fly in together and land with a pretty loud splash, usually late in the afternoon. They swim to shore and usually spend time feeding on the bank above the pond. I believe they usually spend the night, but sometimes I have seen them take off after feeding a while or occasionally they just have a bath in the pond and then leave. Today I noticed footprints in the mud where something has visited - probably a raccoon. It's good to know that wildlife is enjoying the pond just as much as I am.