Time for a few Scenes from the Ranch from May, which already feels like a lifetime ago. This time of year is a whirlwind of activity on the ranch. The days are jam packed with projects – from harrowing fields and irrigating them to planting cover crops and stringing up electric fence for frequent cattle/horse moves. Then if I have a sliver of time left I work on planting a vegetable garden. It’s a good thing it is light until 10pm or we’d never fit everything into the day!
May kicked off with our branding. We had a great crew of helpers to rope, wrestle and work the calves. It is a thrill to watch Faith and the Fauth kids hone their roping skills every year. I’m so very grateful to our community for helping us celebrate spring with this annual work party… truly a good combo of work and party!
This year the Kirst girls didn’t just observe the branding, they actually helped with a few things. The youngest stepped in to learn how to give vaccinations with me. I am glad I can share this timeless tradition with so many young people.
May is a month of abundant flowers and the pollinators kick it into high gear. The bright yellow prairie golden bean is one of my favorites. The bumble bees love it too. This one paused just long enough for a photo between visits to the fragrant blossoms.
A swarm of honey bees left the hives and took up shelter on a sagebrush. The swarm was surprisingly loud, and upon inspection I could see thousands of wings beating as the whole mass squirmed, continuously rearranging itself. I called the beekeepers who said that swarming is common this time of year. A queen may decide to leave the box, splitting the colony into two and bringing hundreds of workers along with her in search of a new home. The beekeepers came the next day and worked to settle the swarm into a new box.
Coulee Creek Ranch 