You know it’s gonna be another hot day when it doesn’t cool down at all overnight! This morning was still just as hot & humid as it was last night… quite the sweaty ride this morning!!! But if you look closely, the huge dragonflies are loving it along the lakefront… hopefully taking out & eating some of those nasty black sand flies!!!

Stalky yellow beach flowers basking in the morning sun.

Tiny pebbles… shining wet… crashing waves.

Early morning sun along the beach… warming & illuminating the layers of beach grasses along the way!

It’s survival of the fittest…
just a little determination & perseverance needed when nature meets concrete!!!

The latest blooming “addition” in my garden… loving the color, the polka dots & the graceful curls!

So I made a couple “friends” today while I was playing along the lakefront this afternoon on my bike. While I know one is a typical seagull… err, Ring-Billed Gull to be specific. But I’m not quite sure what the other bird is?

Anyone…

UPDATE :

Okay… so we have confirmation from Karen… an avid birdwatcher…
“Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron. One of the last Illinois breeding colonies is at Lincoln Park Zoo.”

Well, THIS wasn’t there yesterday!!! Kind of an early morning surprise laying across the bike trail as I was going under the bridge… whomp, there it is!!!

A bright sunrise followed by some bright morning flowers. The zinnias are finally in bloom… and every time I see them I think I need to plant more of these next year!!!

Pedaling by I saw these lilies blooming a couple blocks away from my condo… and thought they might be my favorite lily ever!!! Not just the amazing color combination & ombre’ blend, but the way the sunshine is highlighting every petal & creating some stunning shadows.