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July 01, 1982 - Walking Summer's HayfieldsPage 12 Walking Summer's Hayfields I never tire of walking through pastures. As a matter of fact, I hardly ever tire of just plain walking. Today's world is one that has robbed us of most of the simple pleasures. The softness of the ground and its ever - changing patterns makes a simple walk a mini - adventure to me. Just now I walked up back to the shack to write a bit -- leisurely strolling from one interesting area to another. Popping up like green towers were the healthy dock seed heads. The plant seems to be most efficient in reseeding itself and I find I am continually at battle trying to rid the pasture of it. The plant sends down a long taproot that anchors it well in the ground, but it can be pulled out if the ground is wet. In the long run, I know who will win. Yet I try to hold it down. Another pesty one is the milkweed that is just now starting to flower. This one I tolerate along the hedgerows, but again not in the pasture, for if one seed pod ripens, the pasture will be covered next year. It wins a place in my heart because of its handsome seed pod, which bursts with silvery, silken gossamer. Seemingly it has no weight at all as it drifts off to spread its clan. They are a marvel to behold. Years ago when I planted the pasture, the land was eroding terribly. Up one side and down the other, the tenant farmer plowed. When it rained, the soil was washed off the sides in long, rutted gullies. Today all that has stopped and a tough, thick mat of grass and clover mixed with an endless flow of migrant plants makes the pasture a delightful place to be. Most of the dominant timothy has gone, for the animals seem to eat it first; probably because it's the sweetest. Like so many others, I, too, have often enjoyed pulling the heads from their sheaths and sucking on the stems. A straw in your mouth surely gives you away as a `country bunkin.' Variety Makes Pasture There are lots of other plants I'm not so sure of that make up the tapestry of our pasture. Besides the myriads of grasses, there's the common daisy and a smaller variety which I haven't been able to identify. It's about a half an inch across, with many flowers on one stem. It, like other migrant plants, has found its way from across the ocean in the grains from Europe. The common white yarrow or the occasional pink strain can be found along with the big, bushy, pink field clover and the small common white clover we associate with our lawns. Mix these all up and add a good sprinkling of ripened seed hc.pm� @W M EQ1flTq heads from the many varieties of grasses and you'll see before you our pasture. Right now one of our horses is nibbling away below the window where I'm writing. The nose of a horse is something to watch as he feeds. It sort of swivels around and As the long muscular lips reach and grab the grasses, the head gives a slight jerk that helps rip the greenery away. The nose and lips must be supersensitive, for the horse can feed around plants it does not want. Years ago when pastures dotted our countryside, many birds nested in them. Many of our sparrows, redwings, meadowlarks and bobolinks, to mention just a few, were found calling from the fenceposts and busy within. Today the redwing is our only truly common pasture resident. The bobolink is no longer commonly found on Long Island. However, often we get reports of flocks of then passing through during the spring and fall migration. Their black and white coloring catches the eye and their joyous song is the hallmark of an era once common on Long Island. The meadowlark, with its bright yellow vest and black V, is found sparingly throughout the year. Years ago it was the glorious singer from the fenceposts. Times change and with it the natural world. Pasture Is Home to Many Besides the ground cover and its birds, the pasture is the home of rabbits, moles, mice, snakes and probably a good deal more. Often out of the corner of my eye I'll catch a fleeting glimpse of a rabbit as it disappears before me in the greenery. Add these to the birds and animals that live and hide in the wide hedgerow surrounding the pasture, and you can see what a haven this can be. As I sit here with the red sun low in the west, a family of crows is calling up in the woods by the house. They have silently raised their clutch of young right under our noses. I'd see the adult birds on occasion flying in and out of the woods with an air of secrecy about them. Never a call would be heard during nesting time. Now it is different. The young have TWOM EY LATE rclal & Rtnt 1'N'UMEI' I'IKIi LATIIii SHEA t IIitIS KE, p )IIN Sill"A ATTORNEYS -AT -LAW Real Estate Transactions - Business Matters Family &c ('general Practice - Litigation and Matters in the Public Interest 10 Main Street 33 west Second Street East fiampton. N.Y. Riverhead, New York 324- 1200 727 -2180 �M July 1, 1982 MILKWEED - -This plant just now beginning to blossom would take over a pasture if its seed pods were left to spread. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh fledged and it's time for them to move. Most birds and animals have brought forth this year's progeny. Some did not make it. Predators, bad weather, accidents; all have taken their toll. Yet some will survive to carry on their cause. If we in our world of tomorrow can just give way a bit and let the natural world do its thing, then we and our children's children will enjoy a good life in the country. 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Y. 11704 /�`''j -'' � SKUBOTA TRACTORS (516) 643 -2605 I1USELE:l Turf Equipment �M July 1, 1982 MILKWEED - -This plant just now beginning to blossom would take over a pasture if its seed pods were left to spread. Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh fledged and it's time for them to move. Most birds and animals have brought forth this year's progeny. Some did not make it. Predators, bad weather, accidents; all have taken their toll. Yet some will survive to carry on their cause. If we in our world of tomorrow can just give way a bit and let the natural world do its thing, then we and our children's children will enjoy a good life in the country. PAULSTOUTENBURGH Although we've moved our main headquarters to Smithtown, tractor parts and service are still available at Edwards Ave., Calverton Wre looking; for work. EMBOTA 727 -1881 ISLAND FORD & MUNICIPAL MACHINERY Terry Road, Smithtown 979 -6900 See our selection of NEW Kubota Tractors In our showroom NP■i■■■■■■■■0■■■■■■■■ CHAROS SOUND INC. 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