Butterfly Hill Farm: Rain, Rain, More Rain

Banner Photo

May 20:

The Farm is really greening up. Plants are breaking into buds and flowers, under our ever watchful eye. Buffalo Gal, a rose we brought with us from North Dakota, is covered with buds and today she presented us with her 1st flower.

Irises began blooming yesterday. And we were not surprised that the 1st to flower were Irises from Melanie's 2 Grandmas (Ethel and Dorothy, who have both passed). I noted that the Yellow Columbine is also breaking into flower. And the Bleeding Heart just continues to throw out cascades of flowers.

We got 1 inch of rain last night. We did lose a few limbs, but otherwise, the countryside is in that luscious, after rain, spring-moving-into summer, green.

I do remember that my Dad, when he came to our Farm in 2007 just 2 months before he passed, said: "This is paradise. When I go to Heaven, I want to come here." It surely is beautiful here. The landscapes are radiant.

And the Hummingbirds, with all their energy, have just arrived. They buzz about. I don't know how they have all that energy. They wintered in the Yucatan, crossed the Gulf on those tiny wings, and now are setting up home here. I supposed you could say, they are setting up home just like us.

All this makes a perfect backdrop for wedding preparations and for the wedding itself. Is this for real?

Photos

Except in very specific circumstances, all photos depicted here were taken on our Farm. Those circumstances off the Farm relate to the purposes of this Farm and this writing exploration. Almost all were taken by 1 of the 3 C's. If not, I try to make sure others are credited. I (Glinda) am usually the one carrying the camera, but not always.

I do my best to gain permissions of Folks whose pictures are shown on this Blog. If for any reason, you are pictured and would like your photo removed, just let me know. Thanks.

Glinda

...began her professional career as a Home Economist, later serving as a Home Economics Teacher Educator for 2 decades. In 1995, she moved into analyzing the Human Side of Environmental Issues. She went from studying Humans in their Little Homes to studying Humans in their Big Home, the Earth. Those 2 leggeds were, after all, creating a substantial problem for the Earth, which sustains them. After 30 years in higher education, she became Professor Emerita of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota in 2005.

Glinda has a special interest in analyzing the split Humans have with Nature. Her focus is bringing Humans home to the Earth, opening at long last to the awe, magic, and love of this beautiful Earth whirling in the Great Cosmic Sea. She is a writer, teacher, poet, artist. She is the writer for this Blog, the substance of which will likely become a book she has known she would write.

Recent interview with Fast Recipes: http://www.fastrecipes.com/latest-news/nature%E2%80%99s-recipes:-living-off-the-land-in-missouri-2010061740080/

Richard

...grew up on a 120 acre Farm about 5 miles west of here. Those humble beginnings have had a profound effect on his Life. He was trained as a Wildlife Biologist and later responsible for the Wildlife Management Program at the University of North Dakota for over 3 decades. Retiring in 2007, he is a UND Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology.

Richard brings to the Farm a lifelong interest in the Natural Sciences (Birds, Wildlife, Prairie Restoration, Ecosystems, Gardening) and the Humanities. As his wife (Glinda) says: "He is one of those few people in our Culture who can still read Nature's story and make it accessible to those around him."

Melanie

...would list a bio a little shorter than her Mom and Dad. That's because she hasn't lived quite so long, which is the normal course of such things. But her bio would be no less interesting and perhaps even more so. She has come to this work and this walk far earlier than her Mom or Dad.

Melanie has an interest in healthy lifestyles. It's not something you read about; it's something you do. She brings her love of life, her travel near and far, her love of people known and unknown, her playful curiosity, and her knowing to Gardening, Raising Chickens, Herbal Healing, and the Culinary Arts. She makes a place for Kids of all Ages on this Little Farm.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Rain, Rain, More Rain

July 25:Yep... Our Official 5 Gallon Pickle Bucket Rain Gage recorded an unofficial 13 inches of Rain on the fence just outside the Little Rooster Pen from daybreak July 24 until 7 a.m. July 25.We are told more official Adair County records in Kirksville (some miles away) showed 12 inches. Whatever you call it, that was a long Day and an even longer Night.

We are pretty certain of the accuracy of our Accidental Rain Gage. Of course there is some margin for error. The Rain Gage sits on the fence outside the Little Roosters' Pen. In this location, it is away from Trees, Structures, and such which might influence its recording. We feel affirmed that reports from this end of the County received higher amounts than in town. For your information, the Accidental Rain Gage is actually a 5 gallon Green Pickle Bucket which has a multitude of other uses, unlike conventional Rain Gages.

Most of the Rain came Thursday night and Friday early in the morning. We surely must have been in a long line of Thunderstorms that continued to dump on the area. Folks tell us that such volumes of Rains are highly uncommon in these parts. In fact, late July usually has little Rain and thus a late Summer brown color.

During the night, it poured. Sometimes we would have a lull with lighter Rain, but very shortly thereafter, the Skies would just pour. The Lightning was intense and actually quite beautiful. It was continuous, Cloud to Cloud, and Cloud to Ground. We had several Strikes and Thunder Booms almost simultaneously. There was little Wind, until the end. Wind is especially problematic for Plants who are tall or can't get a grip in Soupy Soils. It was a Night of Little Sleep, at least for me.

We did some walkabouts in the Garden in the Morning and Afternoon. We had full buckets in the Garden verifying similar results. Preliminary looks in the Garden show some damage but it really is too early to tell. It will take a while until we can get out into it. We are exceedingly grateful that the damage was not so great.

The Sorghum Cane looks very good overall. Again, roots are exposed. Some have taken a tumble but most are upright. Yea! (Photos 1 & 2)
The Soil is back to the Chocolate Pudding stage.
Open Soil shifted "downstream". That which was covered by Plants and protected by their extensive roots stayed pretty close. (Photo 3)
Some Onions are about washed out of the Soil. (Photo 3)
Paths in the Garden worked well to channel water, seemingly decreasing damage.
Sunflowers took a hit. Many of their roots are exposed. Some will be OK. Others we will lose. This has definitely not been a Sunflower year, at least so far. (Photos 4 & 5)
We had wilt with the Brussels Sprouts but they perked back up when they were out of the Sun.
Some Potatoes are exposed. (Photo 6)
We will not know the complete effects until the coming days and weeks. Nature is resilient and robust. Damage to roots and sitting in damp Soils can set up challenges. We are here to learn.

Notes: The 2 pictures are especially intended for Hollis and Deleta. This is Sorghum Cane, one of 2 crops the Crawford family will be using for the making of Molasses in September. So far, the Cane looks pretty good. Again those fine roots are exposed. More Rain is predicted the next few days. Time will tell. I guess, as always, it really is out of our hands. We will do the best we can.