Weeds A Tumbling

 

Across the land they roll, animated weeds a following the wind.  With a life of their own, the tumbleweed follows the path of the wind.  Pausing briefly on a snag.  To wait for the next change in the breezes.

Fences snag them, make a barrier.  For miles the fence line stretches across the prairie, loaded with tumbling weeds.  There are times the weight becomes enough to snap the wires and when it snows, more pressure is put on the fence.

During the dirty 30’s these weed barriers would collect blow dirt.  Forming mounds on the fence line.  The cattle could walk over the fence and wander over the other fences traveling with the wind at their back.   Miles away the cattle would travel, walking up and over the fence.

There were heavy rains late this past summer and the pastures grew tumble weeds by the gross.  Now with the dry weather of fall, the weeds have escaped to travel over the land to spread their seeds.

The Russian thistle came over with the German and Russian immigrants from the Ukraine region.   They brought their wheat seed with them and mixed in the seeds were the seeds of the tumble weed.  Today the German and Russian ancestors roam freely over the land, border to border, covering the prairie.

Mother Nature’s Breath

 

With all the rain we’ve had and the flooding, one would think it would be green and lush on the plains.  Well Mother nature has a way of reminding man that she is in charge.  We have had some heavy winds off and on over the past week and it has dried out the surface of the dirt.  Last week this drying showed up.

Fields were blowing and clouds of dust were reaching skyward.  There were flocks of tumbleweeds chasing each other across the land.  So much work goes into the land and then there it goes, up in dust. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUm4AUExeOw

Made a short video the storm blowing things around.  It was amazing the watch the tumbleweeds scurry over the roadways.  Just want to meet the bigger ones.  They can scratch real easy an or plug up radiators.

Had to use headlights, for visibility, not mine but so others seen me.  It was twilight at 3:00 pm.

The wind has settled down and there was rain later that eve.  So the dust is pretty light.  Yet when the storm front kicks through, it roars through.  Rearranging lots of things.  Then is part of the changing seasons.  There are glorious fall days and knifing winds cutting into the soul. 

Soon the goblins and spooks will be prowling the byways.

Have a great week.