A Season Of Life

The fantail pigeons are all looking healthy and content with their lives, good examples of what I meant when I entitled this post "A Season of Life:"

Furthermore, they seem to be more successful than usual raising babies this season. This pair had two hatchlings in an unlikely spot but they've done a great job of feeding them and keeping them warm:

And the two babies have been wise enough to stay on their narrow shelf. Jumping down to the floor could subject them to pecking by other adults:

The little hens are likewise comfortable and without any stress:

The cherry tree began to show red cherries, and I was immediately drawn to it:

Only the pure red ones are ripe, and even they are not particularly sweet:

But they were tasty, and I truly enjoyed my trips beneath the branches while I was on the riding mower. Each pass by the cherry tree enabled me to stop for a couple of ripe cherries:

We had so much rain that mushrooms appeared in the lawn and pasture. This row was near the cherry tree. Yes, my lawn has almost as many weeds as grass:

The old fashioned rose which I'd saved several years ago (and then drastically cut back this year) finally bloomed, filling the air with its scent. Behind it are the two Ninebark bushes and the old silo base which is filled with Elderberries in bloom:

A closeup of the old fashioned roses:

And a better view of the Elderberries:

Up close, the Elderberry blossoms look a lot like Queen Anne's Lace:

Summertime On The Farm

It's midsummer and life on the pasture is relaxed and comfortable:

I saw windfall cherries all over the ground beneath the cherry tree and thought this year's crop was lost:

 But then I looked up and saw lots of baby cherries still on the tree:

 There are many green baby pears on the pear tree:

And a few red baby pears also. I don't know why some are turning red so early, but I'm pretty sure this happens every year:

 The plum tree is loaded with baby plums:

 And the unmowed places near the road are filled with Northern Bedstraw, Mullein and Butter-And-Eggs:

 A close-up of Butter-And-Eggs:

 My favorites were this Deptford Pink, surrounded by Northern Bedstraw:

 The apple trees in the grove are mostly without fruit, but the two trees on the other side of the house have lots of baby apples:

 I saw this patch of Lesser Stitchwort, a kind of Chickweed, in a spot next to the barn door where I couldn't mow:

 Lesser Stitchwort, up close, is really quite attractive:

Around The Farm

The two little horses got to spend a week in the north field, where the grass was almost as tall as they were:

 The horses and cows were happy there, with plenty of grass to eat - but no grain. They are all on a diet:

 Remy always came trotting over for attention when I entered the field. Blue would follow him for most of the way, but he's always leery of being taken by the halter:

 The winds were whipping Remy's tail around while he took a drink of water:

 The little garden I planted is pushing up so many plants now that I have to be careful about weeding it. I planted many new, unusual plants which I might think are weeds. I also think I planted too many things - it's getting crowded in there. The Magnolia, which I thought had died over the winter, is now growing so fast that I realize it's going to have to be moved:

 And I have a warty little friend living in the rocks around the garden:

 What's this? These used to be the flowers of the Bridal Veil Spirea. I can't say they are attractive, but they are interesting:

 Wildflowers abound. Here by a fence post were Northern Bedstraw, Buttercups, Red Clover, Bladder Campion, and - what's that new, small, daisy-like flower?

 I got a close-up and searched in my field guide without success. Then I went to the internet and found that it was in the genus Galinsoga. Then I had to figure out which species, which was difficult but I'm quite sure I finally figured it out. It's Galinsoga quadriratiata, commonly known as Shaggy Soldier:

 The cherry tree was so laden with fruit that I couldn't wait any longer to start eating them:

 I picked a rather large bowlful of the lowest, reddest cherries and ate them fresh, then mixed the remainder with my cereal in the morning. Life is good:

Enjoying A Working Summer

We've had beautiful weather, though I am including lots of rain in my definition of beautiful. It's kept the plants growing nicely. The cherry tree is producing fruit that is already edible, at least the darkest red ones, and I grab one whenever I pass beneath the tree on the riding mower:

The Elderberry plants had a tough winter and some died, but those which survived are beginning to bloom. Mostly they just have buds now, but some flower heads are open:

The new Magic Carpet Spirea surprised me by blooming. They are not the big, gaudy sorts of flowers which people will admire from the road, but I like them:

 Lots of wildflowers are blooming also, such as these Maiden Pinks. Those in the lawn are short, but out in the pasture they are about 12" tall:

The two little Ninebarks I planted are changing colors. Their dark burgundy color is turning a brilliant gold. They are also growing well, getting taller each time I check on them:

I moved the herd across the road to the north field so that I could spray the fence line of the south field. This must be done once each year to suppress the weeds from shorting out the fence:


Alas, there is also the problem of trees falling on the fence. I had to cut this one with a chainsaw:

Northern Bedstraw and Cow Vetch make a wonderful combination - and one which is nearly everywhere I look these days:

Red Clover is too big to grow in the lawn, but it sure does well in the pasture. Indeed, it's been a very nice summer so far:

 I have a few Musk Mallows growing in the south field. They come in both pink and white, though all I've seen this year are pink:

 The Musk Mallow is a member of the Hibiscus family, and very showy:

A Beautiful Season Indeed

Just as the Iris began to fade, a wildflower, AKA weed, began to take over and bloom. I was glad I hadn't weeded them out. By the way, the Rhododendron on the left has never flowered since I've been here, though I added a lot of compost this year and it sure looks healthier. Maybe it'll bloom next year:

 The wildflower which began blooming is Bladder Campion, and it is really quite nice to look at:

 And then the old fashioned rose in the side yard began blooming:

 I like the buds even better than the open flowers. They don't really look as neon pink as this looks, but every camera I've tried on them comes shows color like this:

 The fully open flowers perfume the air with fragrance, and just look at all those buds in the background:

 The pear tree doesn't have many fruit this year, but it does have a few:

 Tiny baby pears:

 And baby cherries. They will be abundant this year - unless the birds eat them all:

 And baby apples. Oddly, they seemed less developed than the pears and cherries:

 Several years ago I rooted a cutting from that old fashioned rose. It's done well ever since although it has stayed small. It's going to have at least one flower this year:

 Inside the barn, one pair of fantail pigeons has made a nest on the floor, behind a shovel. There have been no baby pigeons so far, but maybe this pair will be able to raise a couple: