The water is receding and Lulu’s crossing is more mud than flooded pond.
I brought the sheep and donkeys to the back pasture for the first time in weeks. It was like seeing them graze again after a winter of eating hay. They grunt and snort as they rip the plants from the ground and chew furiously.
I sat in the chair in the shade of the pine tree. The insects are too busy with the blooming Bee Balm and Wild Oregano to bother me.
Asher grazes next to me. His mouth is stuffed as he moves his way through the grasses and flowers. But as quickly as he moves, I can see him make choices between the plants. Some he gobbles up and others he leaves behind.
The donkeys are discriminating too. Lulu pulls up some Queen Anne’s Lace and eats it slowly.
There are so many flowers blooming in the back pasture since I was last there. Some I know by sight like Yarrow, Thistle, Joe Pie Weed, Daisy, Black Eyed Susan, Swamp Verbena, and a bunch of different kinds of clover.
I take a picture of those little puffy yellow flowers that I see all the time but still don’t know their name. Birds-Foot-Trefoil comes up on the plant ID in my photo app making it easy for me.
Then I take a picture of the purple flower I see all the time. This one is common also. It’s called Heal All because it has been used for centuries to heal all kinds of wounds and illnesses.
Fate is hot from running around the sheep so on the way back to the barn she goes into the pond to cool off.
Wild oregano is supposed to have healing properties. The website I read said it’s been used for centuries.
I wonder if it’s the same plant?
I’m am so surprised that so many of the plants growing around the farm have medicinal purposes, Holly. I never looked up the oregano because it’s so familiar to me. But I will now.
You’re so fortunate to live the life I dream of 😉
I feel very fortunate K.
Looks like a little slice of heaven. Just as your critters are discerning in which greens they eat, my rabbits will carefully avoid their least favorite greens until they’ve eaten all their preferred ones.
Yes, it’s the same Trish! I bet the wild rabbits do that too. 🙂