Working at the Farm - Took a few I-Phone Pics

[Native Hunter]

Man those have done well! I be surprised if they don't bloom next year.

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Thanks Merle. Those were the two that took off the best. All the others look really healthy too.

I did notice that the Hunter's Choice pear grafts that I topworked into another pear had 4 or 5 black leaves today, but didn't look like anything serious. Definitely not FB.

 

[dogghr]

Houston, we have lift off! Me thinks you are part of an alien cult. Seems odd you always take pics of that Frankenstein tree looking into the western sky toward Mars. Awesome job, can't wait to see those produce at the same time. You certainly have a talent.

 

[Native Hunter]

Houston, we have lift off! Me thinks you are part of an alien cult. Seems odd you always take pics of that Frankenstein tree looking into the western sky toward Mars. Awesome job, can't wait to see those produce at the same time. You certainly have a talent.

dogghr, I keep seeing this little green colored guy hiding in the bushes when I visit that tree. Not very friendly - he just lurks in the shadows.

 

[THE LLC]

What did you graft them to? Did I miss that somewhere?

 

[Native Hunter]

What did you graft them to? Did I miss that somewhere?

I think I mentioned that earlier somewhere but will tell the story again:

A few years ago a guy offered me some small, dirt cheap apple trees, and I decided to take a chance on them. The varieties were unknown. Some of them turned out to be great varieties, but there were also some ornamental crabs in the bunch that made the tiny little crabapples of no value. So, those crabs are what I topworked and shown in the pictures above.

Another interesting story: One of those ornamental crabs had a damaged trunk. So, I cut it off at the ground line last year and let it put out sprouts. I had a year old sprout that I topworked, and it looks good too. Don't have a recent pic, but could take one later.

 

[THE LLC]

10-4. Thanks, and good idea!

 

[Native Hunter]

8-11-17 Update

The early brassicas I planted are already germinating and they have had two good rains with more forecasted. The clover, chicory and small amount of oats I mixed in are barely showing but should be showing well in about 4 more days. It makes me wish I had my main plot in too, but will wait a few more days.

Of course my managed weed plot doesn't need any rain or anything else for that matter. This weed plot has activity year round. In the spring, the wild lettuce, tick trefoil and a few others are popular. In the summer the jewelweed is the main attraction and the lambsquarters get attention too, and in the winter the Jap Honeysuckle and basal leaves of the goldenrod are popular. Everyone should have a managed weed plot.

I hope this little guy doesn't choke on the chicory before he has a chance to grow up.

This is my foodplot - get out!!!!

I can't get a good pic of this buck, but he appears to be a decent deer. He is too bashful to come to the plots at this point. He lurks on the east side of the place and no daylight pics yet. I have what he wants living on the other side of the place. He knows that and we might have a meeting in November.

 

[Native Hunter]

This poor deer is just the opposite. I could accidentally kill him with the lawnmower. I think he must be younger than I originally though. Runs around in daylight like a pet dog. Chicory addiction is a horrible thing...

 

[Native Hunter]

I've named the West Side of my place the Baby Factory. I quit trying to inventory. They are running everywhere. I don't even think the moms know what belongs to them.

Should be an interesting place in the second rut this year......

Anxious to get my last plot planted soon and set back for a while... Best wishes!

 

[Mennoniteman]

This poor deer is just the opposite. I could accidentally kill him with the lawnmower. I think he must be younger than I originally though. Runs around in daylight like a pet dog. Chicory addiction is a horrible thing...

Can you give us any tips on how to manage a weed plot?

 

[Native Hunter]

Can you give us any tips on how to manage a weed plot?

Really about the same as managing a foodplot. If you see something come up that you don't like, kill it by either spraying or pulling. Over time this opens up space for the plants you like and gives them an advantage. This helps level the playing field for plants being browsed too. It's like when you look at a fall pasture where cows have grazed. The good stuff is eaten back and put at a disadvantage while the ironweeds and stuff like that thrive. Reverse this cycle or at least even the odds.... The spoils of war belong to whoever or whatever has the advantage.

The honeysuckle will do better if you give it something to climb on so that it can get its head above the other stuff. Pushing an old tree top in the spot helps it. It also allows it to get its head above the deer so that some parts of the plant never get browsed.

Another tip is pick a spot the plants you want to promote like. This spot is a jewelweed paradise because of the water and rich organic matter. People try to grow things where they don't want to grow, and that never works well. It's what our friend D Gallow talks about when he speaks of working with nature rather than against it. Man what a difference it makes.

One final tip - for annual plants, learn when they germinate in your area. A few weeks before that time, spray any unwanted vegetation that is filling a spot that you know your plants will want to grow. When they germinate, they take full advantage of the open space and the difference is incredible. I could have a solid stand of JW at this spot by doing that, but I want some diversity, so I only remove the things that I see little if any value in.

Partridge Pea is an annual that the above method works well with too. At the places I killed the briers this spring, that space is mostly being taken by PP now. Not especially a great deer plant, but the quail love it, and my variety grows 6 feet tall and with the NWSGs helps to provide great fall cover.

Good luck......

 

[Goldentriangle]

Beautiful pics as always Native. New buck looks like a stud of a 9 point.


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[Native Hunter]

Beautiful pics as always Native. New buck looks like a stud of a 9 point.


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Thanks Goldentriangle. Yes, I think that deer is one I want to get to know better.

It's getting to be my favorite time of the year. Fall is in the air!!

 

[Native Hunter]

Just a few chestnut pictures:

 

[dogghr]

Just say no to wimpy pears.

This is the topworked tree I mentioned in an earlier post. I cut it off at the ground line and got a good sprout growing - then grafted to the sprout. This much growth since this spring.

Throw and mow plot for last July. I recently overseed with some grains and other stuff and then mowed with a lawnmower.

I couldn't stand it any longer. Got my final plot in today and glad of it. I had a REAL farmer offer to come and disk for me (my dad). I said yes. Let's get it done.

Yea, I did spill just a few seed. Always happens to me.

Throw and mow done a few days ago. Coming on good.

I bought this tree as a Dolgo Crab. Do you think someone might have messed up...LOL. It seems like a decent apple so I'm not going to complain.

That's all folks. Time to set back and wait for hunting season. Much more rain on the way.......

Three things....
First words out of mouth of that pear was "damn"
Second we've been lucky with rain patterns last few weeks after a dry spell which sure helps T&M plantings
Finally, you ain't never just sat around except maybe in a stand.

 

[Native Hunter]

Three things....
First words out of mouth of that pear was "damn"
Second we've been lucky with rain patterns last few weeks after a dry spell which sure helps T&M plantings
Finally, you ain't never just sat around except maybe in a stand.

Yes, I'm hyperactive and know it. It got me in a lot of trouble when I was a kid but helps with habitat work. I will just find work to do at the fringes now so that I'm not spreading scent at the wrong places.

As you can see from those tractor tires it was wet today. I like disking in dry soil better, but with more good rains forecasted soon (including tomorrow), it looked like the time to move. It looks like the rains we are getting have been heading your way about every time lately.

That pear is from a tree that died and came back from a rootstock. It started bearing last year and had a few again this year. Most of the time a rootstock pear is not good, but this one is an exception. It is larger than Kieffer and much earlier - ripening right now.

My theory is that rather than using a known rootstock that the person who grafted it grew seedling pears as his rootstock and grafted to them. The seedling probably had good parents and hence a good offspring. It could even be an offspring of Kieffer and another known variety.

Take care my friend!

 

[Native Hunter]

Nothing much going on with me lately as far as habitat work. I've just been enjoying a few pears and apples + doing a few miscellaneous tasks getting ready for winter.

It is quickly becoming my favorite time of year. I just thought I would share some of nature's handiwork going on right now at my place.

At this time of year it's hard to tell if I have a tree planting or a flower garden. I really didn't have to work too hard to create this. Just some of the techniques I have mentioned in the past. PS: That is a seedling female persimmon that I set a few years ago - starting to bear really well.

JW is really pretty right now. Deer love it.

NWSGs and plots

That's about it for today. Weather changing quickly here - cool temps on the way. I love it........

 

[Merle Hawggard]

Native, we were walking around an old field a spring creek runs through last week when something caught my eye.
I told Chuck "That's jewel weed! I've saw that on Native Hunter's place!"
Pictures are beautiful as always and thanks for the free education.

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[Native Hunter]

Native, we were walking around an old field a spring creek runs through last week when something caught my eye.
I told Chuck "That's jewel weed! I've saw that on Native Hunter's place!"
Pictures are beautiful as always and thanks for the free education.

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Glad you found some Merle. There is also a yellow variety but I have never seen that here. Have a great week.

 

[George]

That has to be the nicest spot for a deer to live in Ky.

G