dogghr
Well-Known Member
Poor shallow shale soils w limestone bedrock within 1-3 feet. I started another thread so as not to hijack this one.
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Take a walk with me through the prairie......
- Thread starter Native Hunter
- Start date
Poor shallow shale soils w limestone bedrock within 1-3 feet. I started another thread so as not to hijack this one.
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Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I did some walking this weekend and noticed this grass that has now made a seed head. This is Timothy. It is a cool season grass that is introduced and not native. However, it isn’t aggressive and is never a problem. Deer don’t eat much grass, but this is one they will occasionally browse – especially when young. Timothy is also known as a grass that is preferred for horses. I planted some several years ago and see it pop up in different places from time to time. I never notice it until it makes a seed head.
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Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Lak, the Timothy heads somewhat resemble cattail heads in shape, but they are much smaller.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Thank You Willy for the positive feedback, and I'm glad you are enjoying the thread. I've slowed down on it a little lately but will try to add a few more species this summer as we go along.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
I grew up cutting, raking and baling timothy hay, usually mixed with red clover. Timothy probably is the #1 preferred horse hay for the Amish, because too much clover and alfalfa makes a horse sweat a lot when they run or work and isn't the best for them.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Timothy and red clover make some fine hay.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
And those two compliment each other as a soil balancer, and the one uses somewhat different nutrients than the other.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
The plant for today is Violet Wood-sorrel (Oxalis violacea)
This is a plant I sometimes find near the edge of the prairie close to the woods. This is not a plentiful species, and it seems to be choosy about where it grows. I don’t know if deer browse it or not, but I have read that rabbits occasionally browse it even though it is mildly toxic because of the presence of oxalic acid. It is also a beneficial insect plant, and the seeds are eaten by a lot of different birds, including quail and dove. That’s it for this week. Another plant coming soon.
This is a plant I sometimes find near the edge of the prairie close to the woods. This is not a plentiful species, and it seems to be choosy about where it grows. I don’t know if deer browse it or not, but I have read that rabbits occasionally browse it even though it is mildly toxic because of the presence of oxalic acid. It is also a beneficial insect plant, and the seeds are eaten by a lot of different birds, including quail and dove. That’s it for this week. Another plant coming soon.
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
As said, see Timothy and RC here especially for horses. I seldom see it on my place. I'm just shocked you are allowed to plant anything like that other than the KY Devil seed, if you know what I mean. Great thread as always.I did some walking this weekend and noticed this grass that has now made a seed head. This is Timothy. It is a cool season grass that is introduced and not native. However, it isn’t aggressive and is never a problem. Deer don’t eat much grass, but this is one they will occasionally browse – especially when young. Timothy is also known as a grass that is preferred for horses. I planted some several years ago and see it pop up in different places from time to time. I never notice it until it makes a seed head.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I know you have been laying awake at night - just hoping I would post your favorite picture in the world. Here is your GRASS PORN for the day you dirty old man....
PS - I can bring you some more seed if you are running low......
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
You never disappoint. Can't believe you still have that pic. Plenty of that getting mowed for hay at the moment. Cattle do love it, but dang is it ever a monoculture most times perhaps with some clovers mixed in. You've proved it can be transitioned into a beautiful native grass field.I know you have been laying awake at night - just hoping I would post your favorite picture in the world. Here is your GRASS PORN for the day you dirty old man....
PS - I can bring you some more seed if you are running low......
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
And we must remember too that nothing is better to plant on a pond dam to prevent erosion. A place for everything and everything in its place - a good rule to live by.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
I agree with you, it should be considered invasive for the following reasons i copied off the web
Fescue is not palatable or nutritious for most forms of wildlife, including deer. When deer are observed in fescue fields, they are most likely picking clover or other forages in the fescue. ... There are other good reasons to kill fescue and replace with either nutritious crops or cover like native warm season grasses.
P.S. Before you reignite the Civil War, I'm just having some fun. I know Kentucky is mighty proud of #31
BenAllgood
Well-Known Member
When I first got my place, I called the local fertilizer/sprayer company to ask if they could spray all of my fields to kill the fescue. The guy asked why in the world I would want to kill it because that was the salvation of Kentucky. True story.
dogghr
Well-Known Member
Well do remember that the early settlers and Native Americans fought fiercely over the Canelands that both knew were valuable for their early farming. And then as we often do, they burned and cut it all and planted the infamous monoculture KY fescue. Gotta love Daniel B. We just raggin you Native, your land is a paradise. It just needs some Bison for mob grazing.
Native grasses can be established with occasionally mowing/about every 5 years, and /or spraying occasionally . I have plenty of both separating my planted plots.
Native grasses can be established with occasionally mowing/about every 5 years, and /or spraying occasionally . I have plenty of both separating my planted plots.
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Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Yes, I know you guys are just having some fun with me. PS - I killed all of my fescue years ago and now manage close to 60 acres of NWSGs and forbs on my 100 acre property.
You guys might be interested in what my dad (now 86) told me about KY31 fescue - Back in those days, there was almost nothing but a monoculture of broomsedge and a few weeds growing in the fields in our area. The soil was very acidic and just right for the broomsedge. Every year in the spring the farmers would get together and help each other burn off the broomsedge. For a few weeks after that it would come back green and tender - and the cows would eat it well. Then suddenly it would become unpalatable and there was nothing left for them to eat except for what they could forage out of the fence rows and woods. The fields became essentially useless for the rest of the year.
When KY31 came along it was like a new world for the farmers. Even though it would have preferred more alkaline soils, it would flourish in their less than perfect conditions and feed their cattle all year long. Farmers were able to greatly increase the carrying capacity for cattle on their land and even have an excess for some hay. And although KY 31 isn't the perfect cattle feed nutritionally speaking, it got the job done and almost nothing (except for Johnson Grass) can compete with it. It's not good for wildlife and less than perfect for cattle, but it has been an important forage now for decades.
PS - I do keep a bag of seed and once a year go and sprinkle some in dogghr's Buffalo Plot so he won't run out.....
You guys might be interested in what my dad (now 86) told me about KY31 fescue - Back in those days, there was almost nothing but a monoculture of broomsedge and a few weeds growing in the fields in our area. The soil was very acidic and just right for the broomsedge. Every year in the spring the farmers would get together and help each other burn off the broomsedge. For a few weeks after that it would come back green and tender - and the cows would eat it well. Then suddenly it would become unpalatable and there was nothing left for them to eat except for what they could forage out of the fence rows and woods. The fields became essentially useless for the rest of the year.
When KY31 came along it was like a new world for the farmers. Even though it would have preferred more alkaline soils, it would flourish in their less than perfect conditions and feed their cattle all year long. Farmers were able to greatly increase the carrying capacity for cattle on their land and even have an excess for some hay. And although KY 31 isn't the perfect cattle feed nutritionally speaking, it got the job done and almost nothing (except for Johnson Grass) can compete with it. It's not good for wildlife and less than perfect for cattle, but it has been an important forage now for decades.
PS - I do keep a bag of seed and once a year go and sprinkle some in dogghr's Buffalo Plot so he won't run out.....
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