As we slip into those lazy, hazy, crazy days of mid-summer, there's plenty to see whether we take a sidewalk stroll or hike in a wilderness area.

This week, we had two days of temperatures above 90° -- and then Brimson almost broke the record with a low of 30°.

Last month blew through the previous record (set in 1910) for the hottest June on record - and that's 150 years of records.

Hotter than normal and drier than normal, but still not as bad as last June at this time.

Summer solstice is two days away. Whereas nine years ago during the summer solstice the region was literally flooding with record rainfall, this June rainfall totals are at less than one-half inch so far -- two inches below normal. Many bird fledglings are emerging, and some lake frogs are calling and beginning to mate. Some butterfly species are making their first appearance for the year.

Last week at this time, we had some record-breaking heat. The National Weather Service in Duluth recorded highs on Friday and Saturday of 94. But on June 7, the records remained standing, and only a true weather nerd would get why Larry was so excited about it. Also new butterflies. moths, dragonflies, turtle eggs, frogs calling, and wildflowers, this week on Backyard Almanac.

Was it really only a week ago we broke records with temps of 30º and 29º? And today we're challenging the record high temp of 95º?

The wind has had everything to do with our weather this week; when the winds turn off the big lake, everybody notices. But at least it's not snowing like it did in 2019. Tent caterpillars are out - and before you reach for the chemicals, read or listen to today's episode of Laura Erickson's For the Birds - the season of toad romance has come and gone, but everything else from wildflowers to warblers is getting a move on. "May is greening," says Larry. "June is growing."

Larry Weber says it's almost as though the plants were coiled and waiting for a little rain. And once they got it - they're busting out all over.

The first half of May (remember, lately the first and second halves of the month are dramatically different from one another) wraps up with cooler than normal temps and no rain. And while May continues with warblers and wildflowers, birds and blossoms, spiders and sparrows - the continuing lack of rain is bad news for the vernal pools and the plants, animals and insects that depend on them.