The scurs put the new control cable from AMC on the Weather Eye last week and it made a difference. Will that be the end of the problem or is there still a gremlin in the Gremlin? Starting Wednesday, partly sunny with a modest chance of rain. Highs in the upper 70’s with lows in the low 60’s. Thursday, mostly cloudy with highs in the mid-70’s and lows in the low 50’s. Sunny Friday with highs in the upper 60’s and lows in the upper 40’s. Saturday, sunny with highs in the low 70’s and lows in the low 50’s. Mostly sunny on Sunday with highs in the mid-70’s and lows in the upper 50’s. Monday, partly sunny with a slight chance of rain. Highs in the upper 70’s and lows in the mid-60’s. Mostly sunny for Tuesday with a good chance of rain by evening. Highs in the low 80’s with lows in the mid-60’s. On May 23rd we surpassed 15 hours of daylight for the first time since last July 19th. Monday is June 1st already. The normal high is 75 and the normal low is 54. The scurs are convinced if there are May baskets there should be June truckloads.
This past week finally brought us some warmth, but it also brought more clouds and moisture. While it wasn’t a washout per se, it still delayed any notion farmers had about applying postemerge weed control products. Measureable rain was recorded on five consecutive days, yet amounted to just over an inch total accumulation at the ranch and only .78” in Bugtussle. Still, conditions coupled with little sunshine meant little drying. Crop growth wasn’t as rapid as one might’ve guessed given the weekend warmth. The biggest corn is still showing only three fully exposed collars on a field-wide basis and is turning some ugly colors in places. Soybeans are emerging, although they too could use more sunshine in order to look like a crop in the making. Weed control will be the order of the day once it dries up and decides to be June.
At the ranch, the primary thing growing is the lawn. The first time over was to even out the grass and weeds that were growing with the areas that weren’t. This last go round was for real and it needed it, if nothing else to put the dandelions out of sight and out of mind for a few days. The area in front of the house gets extra fertilizer, thanks to Ruby, so that takes priority once I fire up Howard and engage the blades. The ditch is still the bugaboo. One of these years I’ve threatened to stop mowing it and every spring I decide to do it for one more year. People think I’m nuts anyway and that only confirms it.
Bird sightings at the ranch have slowed, at least on the surface. An indigo bunting appeared on May 20th and was helping himself to the bits of corn the squirrel has been churning out. The resident male cardinal was there shortly after he left. Another summer mainstay at the ranch is the common yellowthroat. These warblers provide song much of the summer from the plum and sumac thicket. Like most warblers they’re not the easiest to see. When they are seen, the males with their black mask are unmistaken for any other warbler, until they move again, which is frequently.
Last week was one of our favorites at the ranch as the apples and crabapples were in full bloom. As is the case every year, it suddenly comes to an end. It should be fun to watch the results of pollination unfold. The bee activity was phenomenal, especially the bumblebees. The apples set more fruit than any year in recent memory. They’ll certainly drop a lot of what they set, but given enough rainfall, the ingredients are in place for a good crop. The pears also appear to have set a plentiful amount of fruit. The Parker is the tree that had the most on it two years ago and it’s the same this time around. It would be interesting to see if we get some pears off the Patten tree. It’s supposed to be the pollinator, but it’s capable of producing a few pears as well.
Around the ranch the toads are out in force. There were three large diameter models right outside the walk-in door on the barn. There are lots of flies for them to catch and the halogen light attracts numerous insects at night. It’s no wonder they’re so large. There are plenty of smaller models as well almost anywhere one happens to look. Shouldn’t be a surprise, given all the precipitation the last several growing seasons. There are plenty of both toads and frogs singing at night in the wetland. The toads are trilling and the gray tree frogs add a different sound to the mix now that the western chorus frogs are waning. They crank up the volume with these warm still nights.
While grilling recently, I noticed a barn spider already setting up camp near the patio sliding glass door. It’s a little like the Charlotte’s Web tale. Last September I noticed a large female barn spider there. Every day it would rebuild or repair its web and catch whatever insects happened by. The porch lights attracted plenty of flying insects at night and being on the south side of the house meant better insect activity during the day well into the fall. Eventually the cold weather came and sadly the spider disappeared. I was pleased to see its replacement appear. It’s already been able to capture a June bug in its web, pretty amazing considering the beetle is four or five times the present size of the spider. That should be the equivalent of having a side of beef to feed on. As long as the spider doesn’t get squashed by the door it should make for interesting observations in the months to come.
The State Fair was cancelled last week amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It was obvious early on to most of us who have been exhibiting there that it likely wouldn’t happen. Just the sheer volume of people who go through the gate on a daily basis and ensuing wall to wall crowds wouldn’t allow it. Social distancing in the show ring would’ve been problematic as well, especially with sheep where the judge handles the animals while the exhibitor holds them. There were subtle signs along with many of the large livestock shows and sales already cancelled. It was disappointing at the ranch as a lot of hard work had gone for naught. The yearlings we’ve been feeding since last year may as well go out to pasture. For the first time in years we had fall lambs, born without the use of hormone treatments along with plenty of January, February and March lambs to fill the age brackets. Unfortunately they won’t get a chance to experience the State Fair. Maybe next year.
See you next week…real good then.