Archive for April 2006

They’re back!

Apr 30th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Birds and Beasts

The hummingbirds and indigo buntings have returned to my terrace garden. The buntings perch on the end of a gutter to survey the area. Next stop is this bit of decorative ironwork. When they’re sure it’s safe, they proceed to the bird feeder for a meal. The hummingbirds aren’t dining at our place yet [...]



Bad weed!

Apr 26th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Garden

Very bad weed! Hundreds of these young burdock plants have appeared in the pasture, the gardens, in full sun and shade. Sure, they look innocent now. And yes, I know the mature roots are edible and even useful in therapeutic preparations. (More about that another day…)
It’s the burrs that cause the problems. They’re often called [...]



The babysitter

Apr 17th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Birds and Beasts

The goslings took their first swim this afternoon while I cleaned the brooder. Ralphie, our English Shepherd, stayed close and guarded them from the gang of bully roosters. He wouldn’t let the other dogs come near either.



Peeps!

Apr 12th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Birds and Beasts

This morning I got the call as I was heading to the barn to milk the cow. My peeps had arrived at the local post office on the morning truck.
The 22 turkey poults and 8 goslings made the trip from the hatchery well and are settling in nicely. The turkeys are Kardosh Bronzes, a [...]



Turkey poults

Apr 12th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Birds and Beasts

The Kardosh Bronze turkey poults can’t stand still for more than a second. They’re healthy, alert, and busily exploring every inch of the old hog waterer we recycled into a brooder pen a few years ago.



Goslings!

Apr 12th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Birds and Beasts

These American Buff goslings will spend their first week in the hose-out brooder. My genius husband built this brooder from the shell of our old dishwasher. It’s the easiest to clean and sanitize – a big plus. Waterfowl babies are MESSY! It’s also the most heat efficient of our brooders. 



Gooseberry blossoms

Apr 10th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Garden


Lavender fields?

Apr 7th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Perspectives

Fields covered with large swaths of lavender-tinted flowers are a common sight in rural Missouri this time of year. Pretty weeds, that’s all they are. Just henbit. You probably have a few here and there in your yard. They’re not particularly noticible in small numbers.
Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is a winter [...]



A closer look

Apr 7th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Perspectives


Another angle

Apr 7th, 2006 | By admin | Category: Garden

A different view, showing the leaves. Henbit blooms in late winter and early spring. It started in late January here at the farm and didn’t seem too bothered by freezing weather.