Last night Nature Up North hosted its most successful campfire yet, with over 30 people attending! After a day of intermittent rain showers that soaked our firewood and nearly forced the event indoors, the skies cleared for a lovely summer evening. We were treated to classic campfire tunes by local musician Barb Heller and friends. Good times and s'mores were had by all.

Nice paddle today on Lake Lila with the dogs. Also took a jaunt up Shingle Shanty Brook where there was lots of beaver activity. This is a great place for a wilderness paddle just outside of Tupper Lake.

The fungus grows on decaying trees, and is recognizable by its long body and pointy top.

The fungus can be many different colors, and is also edible...but I wouldn't recommend trying it.

Over a small pond, these dragonflies are everywhere. I walked out onto a small stump to take pictures, and this dragonfly hovered right in front of me. I took a picture, just as I fell backwards off the stump. At least you can still see the main features of the dragonfly. It has stripes of blue and green down its tail and abdomen, and a bright green head.

Our neighbors have geese nesting in their yard. The goslings have grown to adolescent geese, and are soon going to leave.

The Rosy Maple Moth is a bright pink and yellow moth. The caterpillar is green, with light stripes running along its body and an orange head.

While walking in the woods near the Northville-Lake Placid Trail, we stopped at a beautiful little pond.

A male hummingbird was swooping a U-shaped mating display trying to impress a female sitting in a nearby tree. The display will often be accompanied by whistles and chirps, which hummingbirds rarely vocalize.

As our group walked by a large puddle covering the trail, frogs started jumping into the water. The mink frog has an irregular spot pattern, and a spot on the side of its head, called a tympanum.