Although this Spring has been extraordinarily wet, the long hot days have evaporated most of the stored moisture and what isn't being watered is starting to stress. Bill's daughter now has access to a digital camera and took photos yesterday. We should get them posted within a few days. Although most of the landscape will be brown within the next few weeks (unless the wet trend continues - not likely), the pond is an explosion of energy. The red-winged black birds are becoming a really interesting group. They are so bold that they walk right up to us, scolding and displaying the red on their wings. Although they chase most intruders away, they have allowed (only) one seriously ugly bird to move in, and it now has a seriously ugly chick in its nest. No clue as to what it might be yet.
The snakes are out, but none around the pond yet. I saw one a couple of morning ago while walking, and my sister-in-law saw one at a friend's house a few blocks away. I still think that the roadrunners, owls, and hawks eat any that might come around here.