Harvesting the Prairie Grasses

Fall is the time for prairie seed harvesting in the Metro Parks and yesterday afternoon's conditions were ideal. The prairie grass seed (big blue stem and Indian grass) is harvested using a specially built seed broom, which rotates and flips the seed into a hopper after which it is then loaded into a truck and taken to one of the park maintenance buildings where it is spread out and dried. On a typical day the yield is around 40 bushels. Timing is critical in this process as if the seed is picked too soon it won't come off the stem and if it is too late in the season there is nothing to pick as the wind blows the seed off the stem onto the ground.

 The seed picker underway

 This photo shows an area where the seed has been picked vs. where it has not been picked.

 The truck bed is lined with a tarp that will enclose the picked seed so it doesn't blow off the truck during transport.

 Close up - separating the chaff and grain. 

 Loading the truck

 Ready for transport

The seed in the drying area which will be used to establish additional acres of prairie.

The Apostle Prairie

We took a walk at Sharon Woods Metro Park on Sunday morning while the dew was still wet. The Apostle Prairie (named for James and Andrew who planted it) was in its full glory.  We went back later in the evening and I got an image of the tall flowers with the sun behind them.

Luminescent Panellus

This luminescent panellus mushroom is nondescript by day but a dazzler by night. The first time Andrew saw it was in the Red River Gorge in KY in the early 90's. He has been looking for it ever since. He and his colleague were doing a biotic survey on Friday when they found a small quantity -although it is fairly widespread through this area of the state. It looks like a lot of other fungi though, It making it hard to be sure of unless you observe the glow.  According to research we found in our field guide it has some medicinal value (although we don't advise eating any wild mushrooms found outdoors as they could be deadly poison). The luminescence is only visible in pitch darkness. Andrew photographed it in a dark room in the house last evening.

Stormin Norman

Our big 22 lb. lovable galumph of a Flemish Giant, Stormin Norman, died unexpectedly last Sunday. Based on our observations and his behavior we have determined that he had either a seizure or an aneurysm on Sunday morning. He managed to rebound slightly during the day on Sunday but I knew he wasn't going to get better when he refused his favorite treat-a kale leaf, at dinner. He died peacefully during the night, surrounded by his rabbit friends. We figured he had internal bleeding.  It was a blessing that he went this way because mercifully it saved me a trip to the vet that morning for what was likely to be the same outcome.  He was only 3 but in that short period of time he managed to win the hearts of everyone he met young and old alike and he never failed to garner a smile of admiration upon his introduction.   Norman was a gentle giant but most of the time he did not tolerate being held for long and he would let you know when he had had enough with a small nip to get your attention.  My friend Maureen reminded me that the day I got Norman (when he was just 7 weeks old) he bit me on the chest. We were at the OSRBA Convention in Columbus in May 2010. My other friend Lisa and I had just picked Norman out of a group of three males that were sale. I payed just $10 for him as he was bred to be a show rabbit and he had marbled eyes which is a DQ (disqualification) for a Flemish on the show table.  Heck I didn't even know what marbled eyes were other than something to do with the color and I thought Norman looked just perfect. Little did I know then how much he would come to mean to us. My friend Maureen referred to Norman as a little turkey (after he died) which just tickled me because he was just that. He actually never stopped biting me right up to the end and I still have a tiny bruise on my leg to show for it from last Sunday. One thing we have learned from our experiences with Norman is that the Flemish Giant is a wonderful breed to keep as a pet.  They are so docile and easy going and Norman got along famously with our Bichon Frise, Daisy.  Although we know there can never be another character quite like Norman we plan to get a baby Flemish at some time in the near future.  Below are some of my favorite photo of Norman. RIP Big Norm. 

 Baby Norman

 Disapproving Norman

Playful Norman

 Congenial  Norman

 Nosy Norman

Cuddly Norman

 Ornery Norman

 You can't see Norman in this picture because he is "hiding'-much to the delight of our nephew

 Captured Norman

Our buddy Norman....

3x5 Folded Card

3x5 Folded Card

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Meandering Around Ohio

The last day of August was meandering kind of a day; we visited with mom's family at Uncle Dave's fabulous new retirement digs on the Stillwater River, stopped to see Ludlow falls and went antiquing in Urbana. My uncle at age 75, recently retired from the Priesthood and moved to a "compound" with some other retired Priests. They each have their own apartment and garage and share a chapel, rose garden, picnic grounds and their very own prairie aside the beautiful Stillwater River.  We had a family picnic and Uncle Dave took us for a tour of the grounds of his golf cart.  He was having the time of his life.  I am so happy that he has such a wonderful place to live in retirement because he has given so unselfishly of himself to his Parishes, the Boy Scouts of America, the community and his family since 1962. After the picnic we stopped at the famous Ludlow Falls. Another piece of Americana trashed to hell by those who don't know what a treasure they have. Last time I was there in the 70's the falls were iced over and lit with beautiful Christmas lights. I read on Google after our visit that the haven't done the holiday lights for many years due to lack of funding and I vowed to never again return to any place that I once held dear as I have been burned of late of these trips down Memory Lane.  Lastly we stopped in the charming little farming community of Urbana, Ohio and did some photography and stopped in a couple antique shops.  It was a wonderful relaxing day and our first official outing in our new F-150 pick up truck.

 Uncle Dave

 Andrew & me

 Me and my brother

 dad & mom

 "uncle" Kirk

the "boys"

Ludlow Falls

Scenes from Urbana

Ford Tough

Out with the old and in with the new.  Seventeen years of reliability from our '96 Ford F 150-over the river and through the woods all over the USA.  No question about our choice of a replacement-a 2013 Ford 150.  All we need now is a cap and a canoe rack and we are ready to roll again....