pics from a pasture tour

It was a sunny warm day here in central IL. Fairly typical summer day I would say. After taking care of chores we were off to move some hay that we had baled last week.


This is the first time in three years we have been able to get much hay up without getting rained on. Forgot how nice it was to make hay without constant storm clouds brewing.


After a long lunch at the local ice cream place I thought we should go check on a couple cows pastures. This is a flood gap on Coal creek. Its a half mile off any road. But as you can see that is the concrete to a old bridge, long ago the road was closed but it gives us a place to hook the gates.


This is the same creek just this is the outlet of this pasture. This bridge is over 32 foot across and the water will back up here in a flash flood. Hard to believe how much water passes under this bridge at times.


Saw this tree while checking fences. Always wondered what these trees are. Some kind of Locust tree??? Pretty scary looking!


Found this little group right away when we got in the pasture. Looks like a couple cows on baby sitting duty.


Lets see...its sunny and hot...hmmm....where could the cows be? They are so predictable.


This stately Cottonwood tree towers over the pasture easily reaching 60 feet or more. It was the target of a bolt of lightining about a month of go. There is bark strew 40 feet away.


The family that own this farm took out a half mile of hedge last fall and built new fence. They saved a few corner post.







We rent this off of a family that got out of the cattle business. They have taken tremendous care of it and it shows.





Its 187 acres of open pasture and old growth timber. Beautiful grass, lots of shade and water. In the background of this picture you can see their homestead and base of operations for their grain farming operation.

It was a pleasant afternoon. It was good to finish evening chores and get inside but I always enjoy being out working.


Naturally wrigley is sleeping right beside me as he is wore out from the warm day. He likes the central air as much as anybody else, but I've got a wrigely tale for ya!



Do you see who is behind the wheel in this pic??? Well it was a coupld weeks ago and we went up north of town to check on a pasture that is down about a mile of dirt road. It was a touch wetter than I was expecting it to be but I told wrigley to becareful and NOT to slip off the road into the ditch or we would be stuck. As you can see he isnt much on taking instructions so he is grounded from driving currently. It is nice to have good neighbors that will come save you when you do someting stupid. Thanks tom!
Take care everybody. Hope you all are having as much fun as we are here!
bill

you have a beautiful place

The tree in the pic that you asked about is infact a locust tree. That's we call em atleast. If you have any of those you definetly want to get rid of em. I go out twice a year in the pasture and cut several about 2 foot tall ones down. Suckers grow like weeds. Very nice farm pics

Ha guess I should put a reason why you want to get rid of them. If your cattle get to it they can get the thorns in their hooves. BIG pain. Also they go through shoes pretty easy... long story ha

Some serious looking thorns!! Bet they would make even the tracks on a caterpillar go flat!!

Don't be too hard on Wrigley...he's just doing his job and is a good pup-dog!!

They also go through a tractor tire.

That Wrigley is a smart dog. He isn't going to get his feet muddy.

Around here we call them honey locust. When they are in bloom they attract bees. Sure makes for good honey but if the bees hive is that tree tou will never get it. makes good fire wood but you sure earn it.
gitrib

That is nice country there Bill.

Nice pics !! I always enjoy your Photos & Commentary. You have a good eye for nature, consquently I never pass on your post.
Thanks
Led

That tree is a thorny locust. My Dad fought them all his life, and we don"t have as many as we once did. Then a city slicker bought the place across the road 15 acres. Ordered 1000 trees, and about 1/2 half of them were thorny locust. The next two owners were fighting them again. Now the city slickers exwife owns the place don"t know what will happon.

Honey locust here. They give off the most gorgeous aroma for about three days while in blossom. Someone years ago promoted/planted them for a "natural" fence. A local contractor told me he's had the thorns penetrate hydraulic hose! A tree cutter told me just a scratch from those thorns and he always got an infection.

And those thorns don't rot very well.

Up in central New York I grow locus for fence post. More money in them than christmas trees.

and lawnmower tires.

Great pics. Give Wrigley a treat!!

Great pics, keep them coming.

(quoted from post at 10:47:27 07/11/11) Great pics, keep them coming.

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ocust......cut 'em, herbicide 'em, but the darn things will still come back from their roots!!! I keep fighting them though, because I really hate fixing big tractor flat tires!

I think you got a honey locust three there with those torns. I'm fighting those dang things myself.


Your place looks like paradise compared to the dustbowl I'm in right now. Thanks for the pictures and count your blessings. Looks like a good living to me.

Thanks for posting, I always enjoy your farm pics. We had some pastures like that, with trees and shade. We always reserved them for later in the summer, because the grass was not as mature as those in the sun, and it gave the cattle a good place to get away from the flies.

Our best to Wrigley, of course. Friends used to have two Jack Russells named Wrigley and Barkley. Aptly named, especially Barkley.

Good pictures Bill - BUT I think Wrigley was setup!
He can plant pretty straight corn/bean rows from what I've seen.

Really enjoy your photos.

Thanks for sharing them with us.

Sure is nice to see some "green" pastures.

Be sure to pat Wrigley and tell him he"s a good dog.

Hey bill how do you like that John deere buck?