Great story about the Yankees' Gio Urshela and the new Yankee mascot in The New York Times.

Yes, it is a parrot. More precisely, it is a Scarlet Macaw, and it is endangered throughout much of its range.

Friends and I have seen them in Belize. They may be even more spectacular than the 2019 Yankees!

More on macaws here.

Photo above is from The NY Times -- Kathy Willens/Associated Press. Article is by James Wagner.

Betsy Thomas found this chrysalis on a tomato plant this week. 

Looks like a Monarch but on a tomato? Ever heard of this?

Any advice on helping/protecting it? Thanks.

Sandee Faust photographed this guy from the Warden's Watch.

What is it?

If you'd like to beat the heat nearby, check out the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve.

I did a leisurely paddle around the lake on Friday -- took about an hour. Yes, that is High Mountain in the distance.

You can BYOB (bring your own boat) or rent one on-site from the Ramsey Outdoor Store.

The preserve was once the Haledon Reservoir. I came across this cool 1906 clipping (below) from the  NY Sun -- celebrating work starting on New Jersey's first municipal waterworks. (I wonder if nearby Ewing Avenue was named for the mayor mentioned in the article.)

You can learn more about the preserve and download a trail map here.

Purple Loosestrife, the beautiful but invasive plant that once overran the Celery Farm, can be seen by the path but is no longer a threat, thanks to beneficial beetles that were imported to control it two decades ago.

A Monarch and a couple of skippers enjoyed the blooms.