The calendar says it’s time for the summer season to change and we are to “fall” into the next season. It’s a beautiful and colorful season but it also is a busy one. The mum flowers are popping out their brilliant colorful blooms and the trees are beginning to show signs of changing the colors of their leaves.
Farmers are as busy as the squirrels trying to prepare for the coming winter months. The combines are busy picking corn and soon it will be time for the harvesting of soybeans and milo. The last cuttings of alfalfa and feed are being baled and brought home to be handy for the winter cattle feedings in the lots or winter pastures. Spraying the wheat fields to kill the weeds is being done, and those that don’t “no till” are working the wheat ground. It’s about time to drill the wheat.
The last pickings from the garden are being canned or given away. The basement and pantry shelves are filled with canned tomatoes, corn, beans and other fruits and veggies. The freezer shelves are also stocked. The sandhill plum jelly is made and canned. All will be enjoyed this winter. Plants are being brought indoors that will not withstand the cold temperatures and the spent flowers are being cut back.
Fall rains are being looked forward to as we hope the summer drought will soon be over. Farmers are pleased to discover a filled rain gauge. Monday morning we were blessed with receiving 1.50 inches of rain, added to a half an inch received Saturday morning. A ways south there were reports of receiving up to 4 inches. The weather reporters are predicting more rain to come this week. We sure could use a real “pond filler.”
Now is the time to enjoy the cooler temperatures and get outside work done in the yards, outbuildings and cattle lots. The fall nights are filled with football and volleyball games, school Homecoming events, and last minute traveling. Hopefully air conditioners can be given a rest and windows left open once in a while. Blankets are being brought out of the closets and washed so that they can be added to the beds when the temperatures begin to drop.
Colorful wild flowers decorate the pasture fields and country road ditches. Soon the birds will begin migrating southward. Monarch butterflies are seen fluttering from flower to flower as they too make their way south.
Here’s hoping for a great and long fall season ahead. Safe harvesting!
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