#hayfield

The Hayfield

Artist: Ford Madox Brown (British, 1821–1893)

Date: ca. 1855-1856

Medium: Oil on mahogany

After dinner K and I went outside and worked in the garden a little. Some things are germinating, some are not. I watered with a bit of Miraclegrow and she weeded.

When she left to head back to her college town (summer class first thing Tuesday morning) I packed up the dogs and headed down to Home Farm. Last week Son, K, and I went up in the hayfield and he used one small, anomalous patch of daisies to have a photo shoot for her and the dogs. Results were stunning.

While they were doing that, I roamed the field pulling milkweed. This is the same field where Neighbor J makes hay on for his wife's horses and Hero, and we really don't want toxic plants in that. I resolved to go back "soon" and do more. Soon ended up being this evening.

So, the goal was to walk back and forth across here, pulling up milkweed (and nightshade, if I found any). It's a big job, probably impossible, but I can do - as much as I can do.

I worked on it for a while, and ended the evening having removed several armsful of milkweed. Every stalk removed is a good thing, even if I don't get it All. Fear not for the monarchs; there is plenty of milkweed everywhere else on the farm. Just don't want it in the hay.

It's kind of a long walk across here when you're stooped over pulling sturdy weeds.

I don't want milkweed in my hay, please and thank you!