Pretties

It’s quite pretty on the farm right now.  The waterways got baled right before the last rounds of rain began.  Having the waterways mowed also lets you see how the beans are growing.

I have several varieites of lilies blooming right now.

There have been lots and lots of butterflies this summer.  I think they like all of the rain.

swallowtail

I found a few wild raspberries up around my house.  This one by the deck has actually given me a few berries.  I was also fortunate enough to have someone gift me with a buck of raspberries.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.  They are my favorites!

I am always surprised when I find mallow blooming.  I planted it years ago, and the beds where I planted it have all been overgrown, but these little flowers keep finding places to grow.

I was also pleased to note that my white gooseneck flowers seem to be making a come back.  I really need to clean up the flower beds. They were neglected for years with my Great Pyrenees and the goats in the yard.

The barn swallows are busy raising babies.

A little fritillary.

I am also seeing a few strawberries on the plants I put in pots.  Of course, the shepherd’s hook couldn’t support them in the saturated ground, so I had to move them, but they are doing well.

I also have impatiens blooming. They were a Mother’s Day gift.

Impatiens I received for Mother’s Day.

I think all the little meadowlarks have fledges based on the number of them I’m seeing in pasture.  I can’t take more than a step or two before one flies up in front of me.

meadowlark

The yucca plant is also blooming right now.

Yucca blooms

Nothing beats Iowa’s beauty this time of year.

Fall Scenes

Here’s some random shots from around the farm.

Casey

mallow

Buster and Aurora

Fionn and girls

My sister sent me pie pumpkins. I think I have an idea for something new and delicious!

It is looking like fall.  Then last Sunday, this happened.

Our first snow!

Cinnamon and Victoria

I am not ready for winter.  Please, let me enjoy fall for a while yet.

It’s Starting to Look Like Fall

This time of year, I really wish I had trees whose leaves turned brilliant colors.  Alas, mine generally just fade into brown.

Same tree a few days later (and Tony has moved between these two images) an a lot more brown.

Tony in the back, Xerxes and Aurora in front

Cinnamon under the tree

Luckily, I found some brightly colored leaves at my dad’s house!

I still have some splashes of color on my farm.  The flicker provides some.

northern flicker

The mallow is still going strong.  It doesn’t mind a cold, fall rain.  If we don’t get a hard freeze, it will keep blooming until Thanksgiving.

My corn is turning, but there’s still lots of bright green in the buffer strip.

I even managed to get a mini pumpkin from my garden!

Of course, Sky is my assistant photographer.  Boy, is he a great help!

I love this time of year.