From A to Zinnias

Our apples, just this week, became ripe and tasty.  I think these zinnias are, by far, prettier to look at.   The fall lambing is close...the ewes are filling out their Sheep Suits!

GREAT Pyrenees

Cool Water

The ewes, coming off pasture, are heading for a cool drink of water.  The two stragglers are kicking up a little cloud of dust.  Most of these ewes are wearing Sheep Suit Sheep Covers from Rocky Sheep Company, to keep their wool clean year-round. 

Country Lane

These Corriedale ewes are enjoying the sunny morning.  Finally a respite from the long hot summer.  The soybeans will soon be a sea of yellow leaves, then fall.  

Minerva

Beautiful Saturday Morning

What a glorious, bright Saturday.  Good morning!  This is our front yard, the sheep are grazing happily.....in the distance. Soybeans, to the right, are maturing and will be harvested the end of September.

Pastures

These sheep are grazing on established grass pasture.  This pasture needed improved with a higher protein legume forage, red clover. Frost seeding is one way to improve an established pasture with out harming it.  Frost seeding, in central Illinois, is done in Feb/March by simply scattering seed on the late winter snow.  As the snow melts and the ground freezes and thaws, the seeds work their way into the soil for spring germination.  Orchard grass and red clover have a high success rate of germination using this method of sowing.  Frost seeding established pastures like this improves the animal's nutrition.    This picture was taken a few years ago.  Since 2009 these lambs, now ewes, have been upgraded to a little better forage.