May 10, 2014

• a field survey

  
  Pork chops for lunch, with arepas and a mix of broccoli, carrots, snow peas and baby corn.

  Down at the outpost, I was listening to the Joyous Rosary on my iPhone, when I heard a roar back at the house. It was brother George. He had ridden over on his old John Deere mower and begun to mow our yard. In a whirlwind of activity, he had the whole yard done in no time. Then, without stopping for thanks, drove straight to the woods on the way back to his house. Must have been a phantom that just looked like George. Anyway, Mary was delighted with her Mothers Day present.

  After things calmed down, I checked out the tomato plants. Two already had blossoms.

  

  Then, I returned to the outpost. Spied something interesting near the pond. It was what Mother calls Cow-eats-vine, hanging low enough for me to photograph. Seldom do I get such an opportunity.

  

  Trumpet creeper. (Campsis radicans) Watercolor effect.

  
  Wikipedia and my books have it as Trumpet creeper or Cow Itch vine. There is a European vine called Cowage that causes an itch. I've always strongly suspected that the early settlers here borrowed its name to give to the trumpet creeper. Cowage sounds just too much like Cow Itch.

  I began to explore the edge of the field. The Pacesaver I bought last year has more power and ground clearance than any scooter before it. I was tempted to enter the field. The wild flowers kept calling me. The field is fairly rough, but not too much so. I was encouraged. Went down to the end of the driveway and entered the street right-of-way to try the field from that side. No steep inclines or ditches encountered. Woo hoo!

  

  Beardtongue (Penstemon sp.)

  
  The beardtongues I found were in decline, stems already burned. The ones at my mailbox have yet to pop. Quite a difference between sun and shade.

  I continued my survey.

  

  Ragwort (Senecio sp.)

  
  

  

  Oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)

  
  

  

  Hop Clover or Black Medic

  
  

  

  Bluets?

  
  

  

  Showy Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)

  
  No spectacular pics to show, but I had the satisfaction of having made a complete list of plants flowering in the field at this time of year.

  • 9:42 pm
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