Summer flowers

Months ago I spared a weed that I thought might be something more. It spread at the base and grew into this lovely patch of brown-eyed Susans. Last weekend my older daughter snapped these photos.

A closer look...busy, busy bee.

Solstice visitors

Two peahens showed up at the farm today, though they may have been lurking in the woods for a while. We've been hearing odd noises....

'Congratulations, you have peahens!' said the guy next door. I'm less than thrilled. They're pretty, but I'm not enamored of those special peafowl shrieks. None of the neighbors claim them, and no one has a clue where they belong. The geese are certain they don't belong here. There has been much squawking and flapping of wings. The dogs have kept the peace by flushing the peahens into the trees every time a disturbance erupts.

This close-up was the best I could manage to show the feathered topknot. It's not easy getting a nervous peahen to pose for the camera. 

Bath time

The geese took over the water tub in the cow stall and created a mud slick. So I moved the tub to the yard. Now they wander over several times a day for a swim. Two mostly grown American Buff geese will fit in the tub at a time, leaving just enough space for two more to dunk their heads. Thus far there have been no battles over whose turn it is. They're docile and sweet, quite unlike the geese of my previous experiences. They do make exceptions for pushy roosters and will yank a feather right out of any that bother them.