Look Closely— Monday, June 3, 2024

LADYBUGS!   Keeping the alfalfa free of pests!

Once the stems dry down the Lady Bugs fly away.  They come back after the plant gets a few leaves back on it.

Ain’t Nature Grand!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

This and That and a Little Bit of Everything

One of the reasons we went to Dove Creek was to see a collection of antique tractors.  Although, I took lots of photos I thought everyone would enjoy this one.

Supped-up-Tractor

Not your typical tractor, that is for sure!

We are ready for the second cutting of hay; the alfalfa is just starting to bloom, so maybe tomorrow we will do the swathing.

Blooming-Hay

The oats are headed out and starting to fill with milk, after much pondering we are going to cut them for oat hay, instead of harvesting them as oats. 

Oats-and-bugs

The pinto beans are shooting feelers so the last cultivation for all of our crops is officially over. 

Shoot'n-Feeler

We have been having so much rain that the irrigation water is a red/chocolate color. This water is like a thick coffee causing the irrigation tubes and the gated pipe gates to plug up.  As the water moves through the opening the mud collects and stops the tubes, or gates from taking anymore water.  We have to check every 2-3 hours to make sure everything is running and in good order. OTHERWISE, the plants suffer, and the ‘escape’ ditches fill up and flood. 

Mud-in-the-Water

What an odd read this has been.

I took most of these shots just as the sun was sitting (9:30 p.m.)  The spots you see over the oats are bugs that were caught the light of the flash.

Another odd thing is we have lots, and lots, and lots of ladybugs this year.  A blessing to people who do not like to use chemicals on crops!

Have a nice weekend!