Flower Duets, Ferns and Persimmons

 

Wildflower Update:  Flower duets (not the opera) - Pairs of Monarchs above on butterfly plants ...  also, a pair of Painted Ladies.
        Not many plants blooming as we start the second full week in October.  After a very dry September, it started to rain this week.  We still have dutch white clover blooming and some late wingstem, asters and mist flower.  Our flower beds around the house have blooms ... butterfly plants, marigolds, zinnias and a few coneflowers.  We had a dozen or so Monarchs each day earlier in the week but, on Wednesday, the sun came out with a light wind from the north and they took off toward the southwest.  With wildflower season winding down, the cooler temperatures and rain has brought the ferns in our woods back to life.  Below, a Christmas fern under a beech fern (?).

Pollinators and Wildlife:  The deer, racoons and opossums are feasting on the many persimmons scattered on the ground around our farm.  With the wind and rain this week, the ground is covered.  I like the bark on persimmon trees second only to sourwood bark.  Lots of lichens on this persimmon tree in our yard.
     While cleaning out the barn this week, an eastern fence lizard kept an eye on me while basking in the sun.  Lots of spiders still out this week.

 

Work on the Farm:  I finished planting our food plots on Wednesday evening.  It is late so, I only planted winter oats, wheat and winter peas.  Back to school on Monday and work on the farm will be limited with less daylight hours.

We support:
Round House, Jeans and Workware, Made in the USA for 111 years.
     http://www.round-house.com/
Red Pig Tools, Garden tools, Made in the USA.
     http://www.redpigtools.com/servlet/StoreFront
FEDCO, Co-op Garden Supplies, Seeds, Trees and Bulbs
     http://www.fedcoseeds.com/
Johnny's Selected Seeds and Garden Tools
     http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
Roundstone Native Seed ... A Kentucky Company!
     https://www.roundstoneseed.com/
Prairie Nursery, Native Seeds and Plants
     http://www.prairienursery.com/
Kelley's Beeskeeping ... A Kentucky Company! ... at least for now.
     http://www.kelleybees.com/
and these organizations ...
Xerces Society
Journey North
Monarch Watch
Sierra Club