Agrostology

The study of grasses.

I won't become an expert at studying grasses, but I am learning quite a bit about something I've taken for granted all along.

Grass.

Well, it is more than that. To a farmer, what grows in his/her pastures is important to know. Do they have good forage? 

The photo below is of my ridgetop neighbor's oats. She is 85 [yes! she farms at 85 after having 4 heart valves replaced last year! She moves a bit slow while getting into her big red tractors, but she still farms!]

I've always adored her yearly plantings of oats. 

Oats can be so photographic!

How about Timothy Grass?

I've seen it, I know it is in our hay and I walk through it on the roadside. 

BUT

I never thought to look at it closely or 

take its portrait.

The photos below show Timothy Grass showing off its Spikelets.

Cool word. Spikelets.

It is the flowering parts of the grasses.

This one below has a Stink Bug on it!

A few days later in a different light [early morning].

What about them cool Spikelets??

While checking out the grasses, of course I came across clover. It is a legume and not a grass. Well now, that is another difference I'm learning about the world I walk about in.

White clover.

Purple clover!

Next up? Another legume. This I found in another neighbor's field. I always just made an assumption that IF it is green and grows and animals eat it ---> it must be grass.

Boy, I could learn a few things.

Alfalfa.

However, I do know that this also has beautiful tiny blossoms so I'll make it a point to keep walking up to this field every day to try and catch a photo of that.

This is another good forage crop for hay.

And that ends my knowledge list of grasses right now. 

I do know that come winter, I will look through these photos with fond memories and curiosity. They will remind me of how beautiful and green summer is. 

And how stunning something as simple as 'grass' or 'legumes' are.

I never realized how difficult grasses can be to photograph. 

I may never be a true Agrostologist, but I am having so much fun learning about something new.

Hot Air

In honor of Raette Reynolds
to help support stroke

Research, 

Awareness,

and

Education.

Little Rae of Hope....

Rise and Shine Balloon Festival 

and Rally

Vernon County, Wi.

I've never seen a balloon launch in real life. This past weekend Little Rae of Hope and the Rise and Shine Balloon Rally had an event at our County Fairgrounds. They were there Friday night through Sunday morning and only got to launch on Sunday morning.

The rain and low clouds prevented them on Friday, the winds prevented them on Saturday. However there were vendors and other things going on at the Fairgrounds and it was cheap to get in. $5 for the whole weekend.

I went with my neighbors on Saturday to walk around and get ice cream. I decided then that I'd go back on Sunday morning. After all, I am an early riser so the launch time of 6am wouldn't bother me in the least.

15 seconds of the Fairground and a few liftoffs...

The colors of balloons are always so very cheerful. I could just dive into their colors. If I could have a room or house painted all bright colors I would. It isn't practical, but I just love colorful things.

I headed home after the last one launched. I could see a line of cars turning off on a county road to try and follow the balloons. I just went my normal route. According to the light NNW wind the balloons would drift over my township across the ridge tops. 

I was right, they did drift that way and I was able to pull over and take a few 'snaps'.

It was pretty awesome to experience. What a great way to end June.