Thursday Hikers

All of Tony’s land is in Conservation Restriction, as well he times the haying of his fields so the ground nesting Bob O Links (who arrive from Argentina in May) can nest successfully before the field is cut. First photo is a far off view of a (black) Bob O Link atop a bluebird house where it just sat a while, no bother at all to the box nesters inside the house. The Bob O Links will depart early in July. We hiked along his streams where Pylora are just in bud and there are lots of blueberry bushes (which he leaves for wildlife).Then uphill and across the road to the other piece of his property but stopping to see his horses. Then the gorgeous climb up along the waterfalls and to the beaver pond where last year we marveled at the prolific Fringed and Bottle Gentians Just now the Lady Slippers are absolutely all over the place. Old stone walls along what are now well traveled horse trails (!) brought us to a really huge outcropping of Maidenhair Fern. It was stunningly beautiful. Then back to “base camp” for the celebration of Tony’s 82 birthday. It was a “Pot Luck” celebration with asparagus/pasta salad, green salad, chicken salad, whole wheat peanut butter sandwiches, baked chicken thighs, bean salad, local sour dough bread and butter, lemonade, and a rhubarb birthday “cake” made with rhubarb from my garden. To end our great day, and at Tony’s whistle, the horses galloped in from the far field so we could get close up with them.
Don’t forget to check yourselves for ticks 🙂 Love, Penny