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Monday, June 11, 2012

up the valley


A sunny afternoon on the leased pasture for our cattle.

Although I include photos of the creek, because it is the heart of this valley, the cattle are fenced from it everywhere except one point on our own property where they can cross to more pasture on the other side. Creeks are healthier ecosystems without big bovines trampling their banks.

Up here the wildflowers are just beginning to bloom even though it seems late and is almost summer. We had a cool and wet spring which may not be over since it has still been 40 F in the mornings. It's rather as though our summer season shifted a bit and lasts now much later into what used to be fall.





The scotch broom is invasive and isn't food for animals even though it's pretty. It is something Farm Boss is quite allergic to. Because it's leased land, we aren't sure how much we can invest in grinding or pulling it off. It does help to rebuild damaged soils through putting nutrients back into the soil. It keeps erosion down but it is obnoxious especially to those allergic to its pollen.


It's easy to see why the cattle enjoy their access to this place. It lets them feel they are more like a natural herd in the wilds. Cows love to explore, to move through grazing areas with their usual spots to ruminate. Not a bad example for humans actually.
This last photo is on our own land. Farm Boss wanted a photo illustrating how he brings in the sheep these days.

9 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

I always so enjoy it when you show us your lovely farm!!!

Tabor said...

Such a lovely area. You are blessed. Even that invasive is lovely. Who is the sexy chick sitting in the grass?

Tabor said...

Oh, wanted to ask what that white flower with pink buds is...the shrub?

Rain Trueax said...

Only because you asked, Tabor, as we had wondered but didn't know. We now think it's called ninebark. I had not seen it before on our own property. There are evidently ten species of it out there.

Anonymous said...

Sure is pretty there, rain. Such a beautiful rich valley.

Hattie said...

So I kind of guess I know where you are. Nice.

Ingineer66 said...

Looks beautiful there. It is all brown and dry here already.

Lynn said...

Beautiful photo's, Rain. Love your creek and your own property as well.

Annie said...

Very nice photos! Love the creek. Around here, I get told off for saying "creek", it's a "brook", LOL. Where my youngest son used to live in the mountains of BC, it was a small valley with one or two farms and the local Indians kept cows and horses on unfenced land. You'd see the cows wandering in the forest in the summertime, occasionally meandering into my son's "front yard". Till he got his dogs. Come to think of it, I guess that's why the Indians kept dogs tied up in their yards.