iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Ivy-leaved morning glory. Each flower only lasts for a few hours.

Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Our asters are in bloom now, and will soon embrace the steadfast bumblebees in final sweetness as a resting place, not a meal. “To tend asters is a gesture of hope, a small and profound act of benevolence.” www.resilience.org/stories/2026... #nature #pollinators #nativeplants

resilience.org

On autumn asters, bumblebees find warmth at season’s end

Sowing flowers in spring may have a surprising effect on the inner lives of bees.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

“The change always comes about mid-August, and it always catches me by surprise. I mean the day when I know that summer is fraying at the edges, that September isn't far off and fall is just over the hill or up the valley.” — Hal Borland

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

She brought her own equipment to watch the Yankees with us. She’s our MVP.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

June 23, 2026 - “When you get free from certain fixed concepts of the way the world is, you find it is far more subtle, and far more miraculous than you thought it was." --- Alan Watts

Dog curiously sniffing and investigating a box turtle.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Identifying Bumblebees can be tricky. Kentucky has at least twelve species. This looks like a Common Eastern Bumblebee gathering pollen from our blooming Coral Bells. Evidence is mounting that these important pollinators are in decline. #pollinators #bumblebees

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

May 27, 2026 - The Great Spangled Fritillary is just one of this family of butterflies in Kentucky. This adult is feeding on the nectar of our Butterfly Milkweed. Their young caterpillars feed on the leaves of violets. #butterflies #nativeplants

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Reposted by Allen Brown

swirlOsquirrel @swirlosquirrel.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

The Danish gov’t has installed floating platforms planted with wildflowers and native vegetation in the harbors and canals of Copenhagen, to create urban habitat sanctuaries for birds, bees, pollinators, insects, and even some aquatic life. #FlowersOfBluesky #InnovativeSolutions💡

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Reposted by Allen Brown

Barb McQuade @barbmcquade.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Keeping this false narrative alive is a corruption of public office. Audits and lawsuits have already answered this question.

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Reposted by Allen Brown

WeRateDogs @weratedogs.com · 25/03/2026

A viral dog rescue from 2016 is now immortalized with a statue in Kazakhstan. When a dog fell into the Sayran reservoir, bystanders formed a human chain to pull him to safety. The statue is a reminder of the value of unity, solidarity and collective action. 14/10 for all

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Reposted by Allen Brown

Paula Hammond @writerpaula.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

I sometimes despair that the camera can never really capture just how amazing the natural world can be. But sometimes, just sometimes, the winter light hits those reeds and all those reflections pop... #birds #birdphotography #birding #photooftheday #photography #NatureIsAmazing

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Cold front approaching. Gusty winds and falling temps. These lilac bushes are good weather predictors because the birds hunker down in them in large numbers. When it really gets bad, they vanish into the cozy, thick evergreens nearby. These are White-throated Sparrows and a Dark-eyed Junco. #birds

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Ivy @askylitocean.bsky.social · 13/01/2026

🖼️ "Gloaming" by artist Dan McCarthy.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Hearing Papa John’s brag about removing artificial colors and additives from a zillion calorie pizza reminds me of that classic line from Butch Cassidy - “What are ya’ crazy? The fall will probably kill ya’!”

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

There were no birds at my feeders this morning, and it was easy to see why. This Cooper's Hawk was out for breakfast, alert to every sight and sound, even the wind chimes. The agile Cooper's Hawk is perfectly adapted to swoop in and ambush birds even under the cover of trees. #birds #hawks #nature

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Often confused with Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers are noticeably bigger (close to Robin size) and have a much longer, chisel-like bill. I got a pretty good comparison shot on the peanut feeder this morning. #birds #woodpeckers #kentucky

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 26/12/2025

This woodpecker is a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. They have become more frequent visitors to our peanut and suet feeders lately. #birds #woodpeckers #nature

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Cardinals are irresistible when there's snow, like living Christmas ornaments. The Goldfinches, however, rule the roost around here. #birds #birdwatching #naturephototograpy

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Unfrozen water is precious to these guys in winter. By the way, those “suicidal” squirrels you happen upon that seemingly have a death wish by staying motionless in the middle of the road? They are actually drinking water that has pooled in cracks in the pavement. #squirrels

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

He’s always the last at the feeder at sunset. Always the same position at the same feeder port. He’ll eat alone until dark. The scratchy sounds are squirrels digging through leaves under the feeders. #birds #cardinal

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Sean Brodrick @seanbrodrick.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Can’t wait to see where this goes

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Rami Ismail (رامي) @ramiismail.com · 11/09/2025

"Political violence" is a term that exists to suggest a moral distinction between "violence against politicians" and "violence by politicians" - so that one can be condemned while the other can be normalized. Obviously, no such distinction exists in reality: violence is violence.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

Hummingbird migration is well underway. These little spirits fly at about 20 miles per hour at treetop level during the day so they can seek food along the way. The trip takes weeks. So keep those feeders up. We’re seeing some frenzied feeding lately in Kentucky. #hummingbirds #birds #nature

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

A glimpse of nature's rhythm. Coneflowers sway in a gentle July thundershower. September brings dried seed heads as gifts for Goldfinches and other birds. #nature #birds #nativeplants

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

We haven’t seen the usual collective of squirrels on our decks recently and there’s a good reason. The little monkeys are high up in our Pignut Hickory trees gorging on the late summer bounty. The sound on this video resembles rain through the leaves, but it’s the squirrel’s at work. #squirrels

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Jaya Saxena @jayasaxena.com · 03/08/2025

Experiencing grief recently felt like entering such an animal space, like tapping into a universal and eternal force. It was/is so difficult but I’ve never felt more human. I cannot imagine wanting to outsource that experience.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

At my feeder today, one of the most beautiful birds in Kentucky or anywhere - the Indigo Bunting. #birdwatching #birdphotography #birds #IndigoBunting #nature

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

I pretty much abandoned cable news months ago but I was wondering how the debacle in the senate was going so I turned on CNN. I should have known better. There was nothing about the senate. I saw a woman with a microphone going on about “Diddy this and Diddy that.” Click.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Birds, squirrels, bees, and butterflies all visit this small birdbath. During these hot days, I refill it at least twice a day to keep it fresh. A simple, inexpensive solar-powered bubbler creates just enough movement in the water to attract them - like a neon sign flashing, “Cool Drinks Here.”

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Whistle Pig looks content among the petunias.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Those students who graduated from high school this year are seeing approximately 20% fewer butterflies now than when they were born. Butterflies are rapidly disappearing from our landscape. Pesticides and loss of habitat are the cause. #butterflies #pollinators

xerces.org

State of the Butterflies in the United States | Xerces Society

A study published in March 2025 showed that we are losing butterflies at a rate of 1.3% per year in the contiguous US. State of the Butterflies in the United States presents a summary of those finding...

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Reposted by Allen Brown

Saganism @sagan.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Isaac Asimov on, "If God is Dead, Everything is Permitted?"

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

These little jewels may look sweet, docile, and playful, but there is the irresistible force of survival at play. These little hummers pursue each other through the tree canopy, swooping and diving at unbelievable speeds like movie starfighters. #hummingbirds

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Some insects have evolved to be able to feed on toxic milkweed and, like monarch caterpillars, have become milkweed specialists. These insects are native to the US and have been feeding on milkweed for a long time. Action to control this fella would also harm the butterflies. #nativeplants #kentucky

Orange and black bug on green milkweed leaf.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

What’s blooming? Lanceleaf Coriopsis. #nativeplants

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

When someone begins a statement with “Let me be clear” or “Look,” it sets off a warning in my mind that a lie may be coming.

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Allen Brown @squirrelmanor.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

It’s breezy and beautiful here in Kentucky after the cold front passage. It’s causing some dancing light through the leaves of the woods and into our home.

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