Kip’s Comments - August 14, 2023

The Beginning of Something Special or Outstanding in My Field or Sleep, Creep, Leap

Kristy and I want a buffer between our yard and the crops surrounding the house. To create that space we planted pollinator habitat under the CRP program. When enrolled in CRP you are required to plant a certain mix as determined by people far smarter than me. And, you must plant the seed by a certain deadline to be compliant.

Now think about the spring and summer we are having. Rain seldom falls and when it does there isn’t much. Hard and dry soil or not, I planted our acre of pollinator habitat. Under the conditions we have had, I was not and still do not expect much, but I might be surprised.

About weekly I stand out in the CRP ground (currently Kip’s gigantic weed patch) to look for something good that may have taken root. Tonight I found my first certain plant I seeded - one of my favorites from a prairie. We have at least one purple prairie clover maturing in our weed patch! I am so excited. Maybe, just maybe, this blossom is the sign of something good to come.

Folks familiar with this prairie planting process keep telling me that prairie plantings start slow. The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and on year three they leap. While I am anxious for that first big bloom, even finding the first lonely little blossom was fun. This could be the start of something special!

The picture doesn’t even show color yet. Still, I am excited to share the news!

Purple Prairie Clover - Image 835433