Current calf count as of today, October 9th, is 63.
I’ve been compiling notes and pics of plants, animals, mushrooms and one force of nature event from around the farm to share in a nature-related post.
Irrepressible Iris
The irises were gorgeous again this year! Well, except for one. When I first saw it I thought it was some kind of mutant iris. My comment was the border around the falls (they’re not called petals) looked like dingy laundry. Then, inspiration struck: “Dirty Water,” a top-ten hit on the pop charts in 1966 by the Standells. Hence, I nicknamed this iris “Dirty Water.”
"Well I love that dirty water..."
Other first-time bloomers this year:
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
Return to the Paw-Paw Patch
Last year I posted a blog on October 22nd about paw-paws. Recently, I detoured through the patch during an evening walk and found this cluster of six. Then, when I turned around to walk out of the timber, I saw a cluster of four. Previously, the most paw-paws I’d seen in a cluster were three.
Oak Trees Joined at the Burl
Last spring, I discovered a quirk of nature that even Bill had never seen: two oak trees joined by burls that grew from both and met in the middle. We have no idea whether or not this is a rare occurrence but I researched and couldn’t find any information.
Bittersweet Trellis Update
Remember the post, “Potential Widow-Maker Project,” from July 10, 2015? http://www.fromhighheelstogumboots.com/gumboot-tracks-blog/archives/07-2015
I posted this pic of Bill hanging an old gate as an extension to the trellis our bittersweet had out-vined.
I posted this pic of Bill hanging an old gate as an extension to the trellis our bittersweet had out-vined.
Then this pic of the finished project, which Bill lived to tell about!
Here’s a current pic of the bittersweet this year. The berries haven’t popped yet. Bill also transplanted wisteria here. Hopefully it will bloom next spring.
Do Cattle Qualify as “Fauna?”
Seriously, did you really think I would post a blog during calving season without pics of calves? Pictured are Petey (on the right), our first calf of the season born to First-Calf Heifer #206, and Calf #500, who we refer to as Petey’s Little Friend, born about ten days later to FCH #500. Petey didn’t waste any time welcoming his new pal to the pasture. He trotted right over minutes after the bull was born to check him out. Below—Just a couple of little boys playing in the water in a terrace ditch!
Bob
OK, so here’s an animal that qualifies as “fauna.” Meet Bob, the bob-tailed squirrel. When I first saw him in the spring, his tail was only about half the length it should be. One of two things could have happened: Either a predator—Cricket, another dog or a coyote—chased and almost caught poor Bob; or he had a near-miss with a vehicle on the road. I’m not sure his actual tail has regrown, but at least the hair has and now looks “plumier” than it did in the spring.
Just Passing Through
Look what we saw leisurely strolling down our driveway about five yards from the house one morning in late February.
Bill saw the trespasser first and called to me to get my camera. I grabbed my little Canon PowerShot, racked it to full zoom (such as it is!), soundlessly slipped out the door and, in full “Farm Paparazzo” mode, got off a couple of shots. Luckily, the skunk’s fight or flight debate resulted in the latter, and it skunk-sprinted, actually a slow waddling trot, on down the driveway. I’m happy to report I avoided being maced!
I emailed the story and picture to one of the outdoor writers for the Topeka Capital-Journal. http://cjonline.com/sports/2016-02-27/josh-rouse-skunks-run-amok-near-meriden-home. He thinks I’m crazy for getting that close to a skunk. He’s probably right, but I’m also very, very watchful and careful. And lucky!
I emailed the story and picture to one of the outdoor writers for the Topeka Capital-Journal. http://cjonline.com/sports/2016-02-27/josh-rouse-skunks-run-amok-near-meriden-home. He thinks I’m crazy for getting that close to a skunk. He’s probably right, but I’m also very, very watchful and careful. And lucky!
Fungus Among Us
Morel mushrooms weren’t as plentiful this spring as they were in the past due to below average moisture during the winter extending into a dry early spring. We found a few, as did most people we talked to. But unusually wet weather during summer and early fall spurred the barf-up-your-socks and/or kill-you-dead varieties to pop up everywhere. There are types and formations I’ve never seen before.
Like this fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle, elf ring or pixie ring.
Like this fairy ring, also known as fairy circle, elf circle, elf ring or pixie ring.
These naturally occurring rings or arcs of mushrooms can measure over 30 feet in diameter. This one I found is 20 feet. There were several smaller and less populated rings in the same area. The picture below shows a clump of mushrooms that were part of the large ring.
The various names for these formations sound magical and Disney-esque. In folklore and myth, entering a fairy ring was usually considered hazardous. But some people believed entry could also bring good luck; one of those “enter at your own risk” debates. In reality, they are considered a turf disease affecting lawns, parks and ball fields.
Here’s the quick, simple but scientific, non-enchanting reason why these fungi formations with the cute, fairy tale nicknames cause heartburn for grounds maintenance staff for parks and ball fields, and homeowners trying to maintain consistently green, manicured lawns: Fairy ring mushrooms feed on decaying organic matter, such as debris left from removal of a tree or an old, thick thatch layer in the turf. The raw material is converted into nitrogen, which causes the grass in the ring to become dark green. The grass outside the ring becomes brown and thin due to fungi moving through the soil, compacting it and interfering with water penetration. My research didn’t explain why the formation is circular.
For me, finding fairy rings in our timber pasture was another discovery that makes our evening walks fun and interesting. I don’t claim to be superstitious, but I entered the ring to measure the diameter.
Money may not grow on trees, but mushrooms do!
Here’s the quick, simple but scientific, non-enchanting reason why these fungi formations with the cute, fairy tale nicknames cause heartburn for grounds maintenance staff for parks and ball fields, and homeowners trying to maintain consistently green, manicured lawns: Fairy ring mushrooms feed on decaying organic matter, such as debris left from removal of a tree or an old, thick thatch layer in the turf. The raw material is converted into nitrogen, which causes the grass in the ring to become dark green. The grass outside the ring becomes brown and thin due to fungi moving through the soil, compacting it and interfering with water penetration. My research didn’t explain why the formation is circular.
For me, finding fairy rings in our timber pasture was another discovery that makes our evening walks fun and interesting. I don’t claim to be superstitious, but I entered the ring to measure the diameter.
Money may not grow on trees, but mushrooms do!
The mushroom on the ground, far left, fell off the tree from the bare spot on the trunk. The two mushrooms to the right are attached to the base of the trunk.
Shaken, Not Stirred
Saturday morning, Sept. 2nd, had a shaky start—literally! An earthquake of 5.6 magnitude with an epicenter several miles northwest of Pawnee, OK, was felt in several surrounding states and as far north as Chicago, IL.
A couple of minutes after 7:00, I was roused from a lazy slumber by the bed gently shaking. Eyes still closed, I assumed the shaking was caused by our Golden Retriever, Cricket, leaning against the bed and scratching. But I didn’t hear the thump-thump of her leg hitting the floor as she scratched. I cracked open one eye, looked around and realized she wasn’t in the bedroom. And my bed was still shaking. In my half-conscious awareness, I thought, “Earthquake?” Now I came fully awake and listened for rattling dishes and glassware but heard no clinking, clanking or crashing. Then the shaking stopped. By the time I got up, dressed and fixed coffee, the local news sources were posting the shaking, breaking news on their websites.
Judging by the posts on Facebook, I wasn’t the only person who initially blamed a pet for shaking the bed!
A couple of minutes after 7:00, I was roused from a lazy slumber by the bed gently shaking. Eyes still closed, I assumed the shaking was caused by our Golden Retriever, Cricket, leaning against the bed and scratching. But I didn’t hear the thump-thump of her leg hitting the floor as she scratched. I cracked open one eye, looked around and realized she wasn’t in the bedroom. And my bed was still shaking. In my half-conscious awareness, I thought, “Earthquake?” Now I came fully awake and listened for rattling dishes and glassware but heard no clinking, clanking or crashing. Then the shaking stopped. By the time I got up, dressed and fixed coffee, the local news sources were posting the shaking, breaking news on their websites.
Judging by the posts on Facebook, I wasn’t the only person who initially blamed a pet for shaking the bed!
RSS Feed