Sowing in tears

Nice day for a walk, a little cloudy though.

On Sunday morning when we walked through the gate the clouds were a solid gray canvas over our heads.  The dog and I decided to walk down to the east end of the paved road to have a look at how things are progressing into winter there.  The temperature was around 55 degrees and the humidity was very high at around 90 percent.   When the temperature and the humidity are at the noted points the conditions are really ideal for a walk.  A light jacket is all that is needed to keep you warm.

The dog checking soil conditions.

I noticed as we walked that the farmer who had the soybean field has now plowed and tilled the remains of the soybeans under.  He may plant what they call a tillage next to give the soil back some of it's nutrients for the next crop.   Although the field had two crops last year this is the first time since spring the field has been tilled.  I think the farmers in our area are now planting into the place of the previous crop without tilling the field.  It is called no till agriculture.  I imagine it keeps the soil in place and benefits the organisms that live in the soil.

The big thistle is doing well.  

We moved on and passed by the big Thistle plant that is growing in my neighbors front yard.   I am intending to take photos of it as it grows to show it's progress.  I hope he doesn't cut it down with the lawn mower.  Once we arrived at the end of the road we turned and headed home.  Sunday morning walks are leisurely affairs with a good deal of stopping to look at things.

After nearly two years waiting 
it is nearly banana time. 

Once home I took a photo of the bananas from my banana tree.  I have them stored in the garage to ripen.  They are beginning to turn yellow on the tips now.   The conditions in the garage are perfect for slow ripening of these type of bananas which I feel should ripen slowly as they would on the tree.

The dog desires to chase the cats but
he is trapped in a cage of his
own making. 

The dog and I took a ride up to the gas station to get some coffee and while there I parked near where some cats live in the hedges that surround the station.  These cats are semi feral and are fed by a customer who frequents the station.  The dog loves to bark at the cats. For some reason though he will not jump out of the truck , ever.  I have never done anything more than tell him to stay in the truck since I have had him and I guess he has built a mental wall at the truck bed that he cannot cross.  Since he will not jump out of the truck the cats feel free to taunt him.  One of them has even went so far as to walk over and jump up on the bumper while looking up at the dog who was barking furiously looking down at her.   If these cats that the dog hates so much will not make him jump from the truck then there is probably nothing that will.  Thanks for reading the blog today. Bye.

The Monarchs are just passing through

The shady spots are cool on a morning like this one.

Sunday morning we walked down to the east end of the paved road.   The temperature has now drop into the high 50's with the passage of the front.  The dog as I have said before finds cool weather to his liking and on Sunday morning he was running ahead of me like a puppy.  As we walked along the road I spotted a Monarch butterfly flying beside us.  It was stopping every few feet to warm itself be opening it's wings to the sunshine.  It would not let me get very close without fluttering away.

Look closely and see the Monarch. 

 The Monarchs are starting their epic migration from the U.S. and Canada down into Central America.   They come this way I suppose to feed on the bounty of Golden Rods and other wild flowers that are present now.  I know from experience that soon this place will be full of these beautiful butterflies flying and resting, flying and resting, always south.

Zig-Zag's field looks good. 

  The field where Zig-Zag the bull stays is now green again after being mowed for hay.   The Golden Rods are adding their color to the field and making the scene very pleasant. As we turned and headed home I saw a prickly neighbor has emerged from the grass.

This Thistle is just starting. 

 This is a Thistle plant.  It will eventually grow into a large spiny circle of about one foot in diameter and then a prickly bloom will pop out and look very pretty for a few days.   The bloom will die away leaving dandelion like tufts with seeds connected which will blow around and start the process over again.  These Thistle seeds are the ones that are in the bird feeders.  I would hate to work on a farm where they grow these plants for seeds.  You would need a very good pair of gloves.  Thanks for reading my blog today.  Bye.