Summer Flowers Around The Farm

This has been my first full time summer at the farm. I've learned that there is much more work to be done than I'd ever imagined, but also that the beauty of summertime is infinitely more lovely. These Iris began their display very early in the summer:

And not too long after the Iris, these pink Columbines, no doubt ancestors of the former owner's plants, emerged:

And this, my one and only Bleeding Heart, had been one of the first to bloom. It continued blooming through mid-summer:

The wild Blue-Eyed Grass added color everywhere it could grow without being mowed. It's always been a favorite of mine, reminding me of my childhood. I still remember my mother looking it up in a Golden Book Guide To Wildflowers and teaching us about it:

And one of the most spectacular of all, the Mock Orange. Did you notice the Canadian Swallowtail sipping nectar in the center of the photo?:

Here's a close-up ob both the Swallowtail and the Mock Orange blossoms:

And this Rugosa Rose, mowed over for many years and overpowered by a large maple tree, has now bloomed profusely, filling the entire yard with a sweet, old-fashioned aroma. That white flower behind it was the first Peony of the summer to bloom. There were many, many more to follow:

Here's a close-up of some Rugosa Rose buds, just about to pop:

And the trees: My several Mountain Ash bloomed this year for the first time:

Everything was filled with old fashioned aromas and beauty:

And out in the hay fields were Buttercups and Ragged Robins:

Cow Vetch and Buttercups and Fragrant Bedstraw abounded. Two brothers, who farm together nearby, will be cutting and baling my hay this year. They'll split it with me and agreed to wait until July to mow in order to save the nesting birds. I'm pretty sure I saw an Eastern Meadowlark in the north hay field. Of course the incredible amount of rain we've had all through June and into early July has prevented haying until this week anyway. As of today, my fields are still uncut:

The Farm In June

I arrived at the farm and found the tenants (and their dog) away and my hay fields all mowed. So as soon as the car was unpacked and the dogs settled, I took a walk out into the south hay field. There were 35 bales of exceptional size. That's far fewer than last year, but  the bales were larger and the hay was cut earlier. I suppose he's hoping for a second cutting. I will be sure to insist that he spread manure in the autumn as promised. This photo was taken out in the south hay field looking back toward the barn and house:                                                                                                            

I walked back to the house and made sure the dogs were happy and safe inside their fence:

The weeds had been growing lushly alongside the milk room:

These yellow lilies were all that remained of the domestic flower plantings of past years:

But the Milkweed was also lovely, and smelled heavenly besides:

Inside the base of the old silo, a forest of white flowered something-or-other was blooming profusely:

I walked over for a closer look and a photo which I could identify later. Alas, I could find no obvious match in my field guide. This plant grows everywhere, though, so it is apparently quite common. It looks a bit like Elderberry but I never saw any berries last year. Anybody know what this is?"

Near the fish pond I found Blue-Eyed Grass and Fragrant Bedstraw:

And the old-fashioned roses which were almost dead because the Maple trees had been choking them out were not only growing, but beginning to bloom:

I walked out into the north hay field and found 23 extra-large bales all lined up:

These bales were easily twice the size of those the other farmer had made last summer:

And Motherwort was blooming nearly everywhere. Summer had come to the farm and I was looking forward to the day I can be here to watch nature unfold every day in all seasons: