The Plots Are Toast!

 I've been gone for a couple weeks on a western drive.  While I was gone, Eric and Creigh had run of the place.

Creigh had an unfortunate encounter with ticks, chiggers or both.  His pants were treated and tucked into his socks but his socks were not treated and his ankles suffered.

So I refreshed the treatment of my pants and socks.  We were wet thru July and bone dry since then - I think it was perfect for chiggers.

Here's the evidence. 1/2" of rain in one event since July 28.

From the car - this is the driveway plot which was my most lush clover.

Barn field - 2nd best clover.

Main stand field - clover that had a grass problem.

Brassica planted in upper pond field.

Brassica in field above the ponds.

Long main field brassica over soybeans.  If we would get some rain, I think that the plots will recover to a degree.  None in the forecast.

I watered the fruit tree seedlings that I planted this year.  It's the third time that I've given them a drink.

When I went inside the electric fence to water, I found this strand down.

I recovered some of the clips that had been sprung 15' away. Somebody had an electrifying experience.

The pond is extremely low.  These rockpiles are usually submerged.

I got just a few practice shots in with my 30-06.  Ringing steel at 200 yards.

And then I went for a walk.  Poop of the week.  Washed out predator poop.  All that's left is hair.  Must be old due to the absence of rain.

Somebody had a bird meal here - cardinal?  I also found some butterflies on thistle.  Butterflies on Thistle

The frogs still have some water left.

In the woods, there is a ton of these acorns.  I think that they're red oak.

I looked hard under the white oaks and couldn't find much.

Here's a few that I did find.  Not a good year for white oak acorns or have they been consumed as fast as they fell?  The red oak ones are supposed to be quite bitter and need some time on the ground before they become palatable.  White oak like candy.

Paw paw trees - I have never seen any fruit.  Not sure what time of year to expect it.

The coyotes are back in force.  It seems like they were mostly gone last year.

This seems to be a very young bobcat.

What prize did this guy get hold of?

Owl on the hunt.

Skunk.

Raccoon.

Turkeys shooing a doe.

Poults growing up.

Still a little strut.

Single fawn.

Twins.

Triplets.

Alert.

The brassica in the orchard field is attractive in spite of the drought.

A few young bucks.

And a groundhog.