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Ellisville Bison Dispatch |
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As predicted, the weather has been much more “seasonal” since my last post. While we need the moisture (and the lawn seems happy to get it), all this rain has slowed progress on any outdoor chores.
When you have a gravel driveway, the lawn and weeds tend to encroach upon it over the course of the summer. With all the moisture softening things up, Spring is a good time to give it a grading. This uproots last years weeds and also smoothes out any bumps/potholes left over from winter and the frost break up. A week ago Friday I thought I would try grading the driveway and ended up with a muddy mess! The weatherman predicted the clouds to break up by afternoon, but the longer I worked, the more it rained. I finally had to quit.
Over the weekend Jodi and I went into the pines to brush out some of the undesirable growth between the rows. Poplar and other “softwoods” like to grow there, especially when the pines are smaller. These unwanted plants drink the water and use the soil nutrients we want the pines to get. So out they go! While we were working, Jodi let out a scream when she startled a turkey sitting on a nest of eggs. We took a picture, counted the eggs, and quickly left the area so as not to disturb the “mother to be” any longer. Later, Jodi took some corn back and placed it near the nest to simplify things for the expecting hen. I’ll keep an eye on the nest and try to get some pics of the chicks.
As you can see on the webcam, the pastures are really turning green, so hay consumption is way down for both buffalo and horses. This simplifies chores a bit during the summer. However, it was time to fill the grain feeder. If anyone has been wondering what the big yellow object is near the center of the bison cam, it’s a gravity feeder that holds 2 tons of rolled oats and corn. When the feeder is empty, you tow it to the feed mill to have it refilled. Bring it home, unhook in the pasture, and happy buffalo flock to the tasty treat!
On the way to the feed mill, I spied these proud mothers with their babies. Looks like the geese got a head start on the turkeys!
Hoping the weather reports are right about things warming/drying up. Memorial day weekend is pretty much the “official” start of the gardening season around here. I did manage to till the garden once, just to loosen things up. This picture also shows the orchard blooming in the background. I’d like to get a bit more done in the yard before the bugs come out.
Lastly….the 2005 calve update. Calf number 4 (far left of picture) showed up on Friday the 13th! We now have two boys and two girls. The official ranch terms are bulls and heifers.
Larry |
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May 21, 2005 |
