Snow in August

Why do some things look so different than they are? Why does life fool us at times, and why do we find pleasure in the folly? Perhaps because we need to suspend belief periodically and discover the unknown.

From a squint, this field of Queen Anne's Lace looks covered in snow, yet it is August. And why not? Suspended reality is relief, for a while. What conspires to create such a fantastic scene, as this blanket of white in August? We can't really know, except the great symphony of Nature is always at work, bringing the fantastic to the fore. It is fun to think of this picture as snow, or Queen Anne's Lace, or whatever one can imagine. In the end, all we can really do is appreciate it, for soon enough it will be gone.

Above are piles of crushed lime, which are being spread on fields at the rate of 2 - 3 tons per acre. The white pile is high-calcium lime and the darker is high-magnesium. Some fields call for both, though most call for high-calcium. This will enhance balance of minerals in the soil, stimulate new microbes, and generate growth of new and present species of plants. We will also apply organic chicken manure later in August. This combination should provide a surge in growth of grass this fall, allowing us to graze deep into the winter. Last year we grazed until Jan. 15; hopefully we can extend that by 30 days this year.

This wild hibiscus blooms in the heat of the summer in our wetlands, right around Susan's birthday. Every year more plants emerge. I consider it Susan's flower, as it is so like her untamed beauty.

Landis' organic corn, planted and cultivated with horses, is now about 8 feet tall. And his dairy calves, born in the spring, enjoy congregating, while digesting their morning feed of organic grain.

Whether snow comes in August or January, we still eat dinner fortunately. This one included: Grassroots sirloin steak (cooked rare), Keegan's grilled shrimp, green beans, fava beans, tomatoes, Grassroots pastured eggs, Blue Oven bread, and cheese. What a feast and what a pleasure.

We are grateful for snow in August, hibiscus blooming faithfully, lime mineralizing fields, tall organic corn, lounging calves, and good dinners.