Our Walk: Things We Saw

Late this afternoon Benjamin and I took a walk. At the end of the driveway I asked him, left or right? He said 'right!' So we turned right on the county road, heading north. Benjamin was full of energy and led the way at a brisk pace.


It was a beautiful day for a walk. We made many discoveries along the way, including a robin's egg, several ant hills and many pretty rocks. I must remember to empty his shorts pockets before they go into the washing machine.


The crops are growing well, thanks to some well-timed rains this month. Our local paper always (and I mean ALWAYS) does a front page feature about how high the corn is at the beginning of July. The editor is fixated with the phrase 'knee-high by the fourth of July.' He'll be happy this summer, since the corn is well above knee height.


We saw lots of flowers blooming along the roadside. Purple alfalfa, yellow sweet clover and light pink roses. Since I started working in natural resources, I have become jaundiced regarding wild plants -- I can't look at a field of wildflowers and grasses without taking inventory of the native vs. non-native varieties. I wish I could go back to when I was able to look at a field of flowers and marvel at their beauty alone.


We passed the slough just to the north of our property. In case you've never seen a 'slough' before, this is what one looks like. They are an oasis for wildlife in a desert of agriculture.