Photo of the Week: Borders

 

Earth & sky, city & country, sun & storm

Photo of the Week: Baltimore checkerspot

 

Photo of the Week: Roofline sunflower

 

July 13, 2025

Update: I scheduled this post nearly a month in advance. Just before 6 AM on the morning of July 19, 2025 a very weak tornado swept through the area and toppled the sunflowers. I already made a post about that specific event but am reposting the photos here.

Photo of the Week: Life, uh, finds a way

 

Photo of the Week: Wild Bergamot

 

Tornado at 6 AM on July 19, 2025

What has been a slow tornado season in Iowa got a little interesting (at least for me) on Saturday morning as a very unusual early morning tornado caused damage within a quarter of a mile of where I live. Damage was minimal. Photos show flattened corn, a bent road sign, and at least two damaged power poles just west of Gilbert, Iowa.

Chris Kuball - Facebook

The tornado seemed to originate from the junction of two storm fronts moving perpendicular to each other, one north to south and the other west to east, hence the rare southeastern motion of the storm.

https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-weather-tornado-story-county-gilbert-ames-satellite-data/65464449

https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-weather-tornado-story-county-gilbert-ames-satellite-data/65464449

According to KCCI the tornado has been rated an EF-0 by the NWS as of Monday night.

Chris Kuball - Twitter 

I didn't quite escape undamaged.

July 20, 2025

One week earlier - July 13, 2025

The biggest sunflower was at least an inch in diameter where it was snapped at the ground level.

Making the best of it

Photo of the Week: American Goldfinch

 

Photo of the Week: Blanketflower

 

Photo of the Week: Plains coreopsis 2025

 

Trying to get a good picture with the wind blowing is challenging.

Photo of the Week: Coral bells