We are having a mini family reunion up here in the Northland. I offered to lead folks on an outing early yesterday morning. I would not reveal the focus of our jaunt, other than to promise it would involve bursts of color, and was not a birding expedition (not everyone birds in my family!).

When we arrived at the humble sunflower fields during the early morning light, there were exclamations of joy. We spent over 90 minutes enjoying and walking in the midst of the sunflowers. Our location was Matten Road in Wrenshall … a delight for the senses. Here is the Google Maps link. We were visiting MK3 Hardwood Farm (Facebook page). The sunflowers are just coming into their own in terms of blossoms. Birding will be better next week.

Molly and I wish you a joyous rest of the summer. Note in the photograph of the two of us how the sky had become much less blue. The combination of being 90 minutes later in the morning, plus smoke building into the area dramatically changed photographs. However, before planning this outing I had taken into account which morning would have a lesser amount of smoke at sunrise. Happy August!

A number of folks have asked me privately and via the comments how I am able to forecast the smoke. There is one tool from the National Weather Service … linked via this url. It only forecasts the smoke a little over 24 hours in advance.

Here is a screenshot. Select the “vertical smoke” from the left menu, and then use the two sliders … one changes the forecast period, the other changes the ability to see through the “smoke overlays” to the map below.