Only the Tough Survive

There was a lot of interest in the living snow fence I planted a few weeks ago.  I bought 100 of these Streamco willows, which are supposed to grow super fast into a dense hedge that will be low maintenance, easy and oh-so-good for everything.

Of course, this "easy" hedge has to be protected from weeds, drought, livestock and probably stray butterflies.  To this end, I put down a layer of landscape fabric covered in a deep layer of mulch hay.

I used these very dead round bales that have been sitting on the edge of my field for the last 5-6 years, slowly rotting away waiting for me to find a use for them. 

It was a nasty job, but I got them torn apart and loaded onto the trailer.

At this point, the herd still had access to the entire field.  I foolishly thought I could get away with doing this job without their help since they were distracted by hints of green grass.  Really, you'd think I'd know better wouldn't you?  What was I thinking?

With a whole field to graze and good hay in the barn, this horrible, nasty, moldy junk that was left to rot because it was crappy hay to start with was just irresistible. 

So, the next step was to move the loaded trailer back outside of the fence and build a new fence around the whole area to keep nosey noses out of the way.  Then, with the help of the Farm Hand, spread the mulch over the fabric.

Once the fabric and mulch were down, I planted the willows.  I put them about 30 inches apart because I want a dense growth.  They are just little brown twigs and are invisible in the photos but they are there.  Unfortunately, I got them planted just in time for a Spring drought and record breaking heat.  I have no way of getting water to any of the trees I planted this Spring and many of them have clearly suffered for the two weeks of dry, hot weather we had.  We finally did get some rain and things have certainly greened up, but it is too early to tell (I hope) if the willows are going to make it.  They don't look so good at the moment.  Although I do have a nice pathway to Oz.  Or maybe a runway for stray butterflies?

I've done the best I can and I have found that any tree I plant up here on this inhospitable hill either makes it on its own or not at all.  Anything that needs a lot of TLC won't survive its first winter anyway so I no longer try. They have to be tough enough to make it on their own.  I manage after all so I gave them a lecture about self reliance and have left them to it.

I have several of these willows growing up here that got planted inadvertently as little bits of shrub that came home on my horse's feet.  Of course, those are growing in the worst possible places and I need to dig them out.  Hopefully, the ones I actually intended to plant will be just as tough.

As long as I can keep the livestock away from them, I like to think they have a chance.  I'll post updates now and then.

Of Contract Killers and Brush Piles

Sorry to disappear for a few days, there is just so much to do in the Spring and such a small window of opportunity to get it all done.  One of the jobs I've been working on is clearing the brush along my stone walls. 

It started out in April when I was just going to clear around some of the flowers I planted a few years ago and somehow, it just morphed into a month long project.  And I still haven't gotten to the flowers.

I've made four huge brush piles...

...and ran into more of this nasty stuff.  Will I ever find the last of it?

The 4-wheeler and its little trailer have been earning their keep.  

And the Farm Hand has been a big help.  Just think how useful it is having a 50 pound, psycho puppy furiously attacking every. single. stick. Good thing he stops now and then to nurse on his teddy so he can get recharged for the next load (yes, he does have the bear's entire face in his mouth, sucking on it).

The Contract Killer thinks this is the greatest project ever.

In true cat nature, she is certain that the entire endeavor is for her alone. 

 She loves these stone walls and sees them as her personal highway...

 
...an expressway of murder and mayhem. 

She has supervised every step of the way, doing her best to torment the dog....

....and instill fear in rodent hearts.

A Boy and His Teddy

Great White

Connor's shark status has been supplanted.  There is a much bigger fish in town these days and she is in the Great White family.

I think the family resemblance is remarkable, don't you agree?

Skinny B****

"Why is it that even space aliens get to eat more grass then we do?"

"Yeah, I bet it's one of those awful creatures who can just eat and eat and never gains any weight."

"And just look at the way it eats...that tongue...do you think it might be part lizard?"

"Well, at least it doesn't want to eat donkeys for dinner.  Yet.  I guess we better hope the grass holds out." 

The Aliens Have Landed

"Holy Smokes!  What on Earth is THAT?!!"

"A spaceship has landed right in the middle of our field! Call the cops, cal the FBI, call the dog!  Call somebody!!"

"Look Mom, that's an honest to God alien getting out of the spsceship."

"Do you suppose it likes donkeys?  Um, I mean, in a friendly sort of way, not a lets-have-donkey-for-dinner sort of way."

Farm Buddy needed a temporary home for one of her cows. 

Shannon here is going to have a calf in about three weeks and her last calf  (who has been weaned for months and weighs about 500 pounds) decided to start sucking on her again, he is a terrible brat.  Being a bit of a pushover, Shannon put up with this and ended up getting mastitis.  She has been treated and is better now, but needs to be kept away from him until her new calf comes along.  Since I have more grass than I need and FB didn't want to make Shannon stay in the barn for the next three weeks, she has come to stay with me temporarily.

The donkeys have never seen a cow before and Tessa has only seen a few times when we have ridden by.  They are a bit appalled.

Shannon will be staying in the middle portion of the pasture, eating all the yummy grass that the equines do not have access to.  Life is so unfair.

After the initial drama, things settled down and every one is getting along.

Shannon is thrilled to be out on grass and is very happy as long as she can be near the herd.  They may not care for her, but she does indeed like donkeys.

Small Things

 

Happy Mother's Day.