Pipi’s pasture: So now it’s June
After the early, dry spring, who could have predicted the rainy and snowy days in May? This week, after finishing chores, I stopped by a patch of young rhubarb plants and pulled some weeds. I was surprised how easily the weeds came out; the soil is still damp—even after all of the wind.
Finally, after postponing the branding here at Pipi’s Pasture a couple of times, we got it done last Sunday, and we moved our small herd of cattle up to summer pasture. I could only imagine what they thought when we put them through the gate because the feed is wonderful—all lush grass and dandelions.
What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time I was writing about the cows acting as if they wanted to come back home. This year when our grandson Kenny went back up with a load of bulls, the cows were napping around a reservoir. When they saw the stock trailer, they got up and headed up the hill. No going home for them.
So now only a few cattle remain here at Pipi’s Pasture, including Ucky and Sarah, my two old cows. There are still chores but not so many.
Otherwise, this first week in June finds the garden cultivated but not yet planted—not even the cold weather crops like onions, potatoes, and carrots. I’m late planting this year, but that isn’t going to stop me from planting a big pumpkin patch.
This week I was delighted to find my “Prairie Flowers” (which is my name for a Grecian violet plant) at Murdoch’s. Some years they aren’t so easy to find. This coming week I plan to pot them and a variety of geraniums, pansies, and other flowers that will keep our front porch area colorful throughout the summer.
Even after all of the snow and frost there are still a few lilac and chokecherry blossoms on the trees. Yesterday morning I stopped to “sniff” the blossoms and found a big bumblebee on one of them. Last year the bees seemed to be scarce; this year I have seen a variety of bees, even in the haystack.
Ladybugs were also scarce around Pipi’s Pasture last year. A few days ago I found one riding on a stem of hay that was gently moving across the water on a stock tank at the corral. I
let the ladybug crawl up on my hand and put her on some grass along the fence. I was afraid that a cow might drink her up.
We are enjoying the songs from the robins this June, too. The males seem more colorful than usual. Yesterday while I was waiting for Ucky to finish her grain I spotted a bird nest in the rafters of the loafing shed. It is quite large and appears to be constructed of twigs, hay, and feathers. Some birds were perched nearby—just what kind of birds I can’t say.
That’s how things are at Pipi’s Pasture this June, and I have vowed to enjoy each day. It won’t be long until we will all be making plans for the 4th of July.
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