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February 9th, 2010

More wind and rain at the farm

Here in the northeast, it certainly has been an eventful winter, weather-wise. There has been plenty of snow and the week before last, we had plenty of rain accompanied with plenty of wind. The rain came down in torrents and the gale-force winds were rather frightening. I've mentioned before that my farm is something of a wind tunnel and I always worry about the tall trees on the property. I was very sad to learn that a beautiful, stately pine out in the woods could no longer stand up to Mother Nature. Please enjoy these photos of a rainy and windy Bedford.

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1 The wind was so fierce that it toppled a tall pine tree out in the woods. It fell across one of the carriage roads.

2 The heavy winds and the water-drenched soil proved devastating for this tree.

3 One of many raging rivulets

4 More downed branches for the crew to clean up

5 Now raging, just the day before, this was a calm, gurgling brook.

6 Another raging brook

7 An overload of water here

8 With all the moisture, this lichen is bursting with green!

9 The brooks were overflowing everywhere!

10 This brook is the result of water pouring off a meadow.

11 A giant puddle of standing water in a meadow

12 This brook is rushing through the wetlands.

13 A very soggy paddock

14 And a very soggy tennis court

15 These red tailed hawks certainly enjoy all the wind. They make quite a game of it!

16 The carriage road leading to the stable will need some repairs - it has significant erosion.

17 A rivulet even formed through this grassy area, raging towards lower ground.

18 The road I live on was actually closed to traffic because a tree had fallen across it.

19 There were many road crews out clearing that day.

20 This is the nearby Cross River Reservoir - Its frozen surface has been covered with of the newly fallen rain.

Posted on February 9th, 2010 in My Home, Photo Gallery | direct link to this entry
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February 8th, 2010

My horse, Meindert, needed a bone scan

Recently, Betsy, my stable manager, was out riding Meindert, one of my four Friesians, through the snowy woods along the Bedford Riding Lanes. Horse and rider approached a stretch that was a bit uneven and Meindert stepped precariously on a rock. The next thing Betsy knew was that Meindert stumbled and then fell backwards onto his right rear. Fortunately, they weren't far from home and they managed to return without further incidence.

Our veterinarian, Dr. Elizabeth Kilgallon, examined Meindert and thought it best that he receive a bone scan. She recommended Fairfield Equine Associates, a well-respected equine medical facility, located in Newtown, Connecticut, not too far from my farm. I am very happy to report that the scan showed no sign of injury and Meindert has returned to his happy home.

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1 This is my horse trailer getting prepped for the trip to Fairfield Equine Associates.

2 The name of my farm on the side of the trailer

3 Gyurme is loading up the trailer cabin/tack room with necessary supplies.

4 A view through the trailer

5 Here's Betsy leading Meindert and Gelbu leading Ramon.

6 The horses were a bit apprehensive to enter the trailer.

7 Betsy had to coax Meindert in.

8 Once Meindert was on board, Ramon followed.

9 Gyurme making sure the horses have plenty of hay

10 The ramp is lifted.

11 The back doors are closing.

12 While chewing a mouthful of hay, Meindert is wondering about this adventure he's on.

13 After a 40 minute ride, they arrive at their destination.

14 Fairfield Equine Associates

15 The grounds are neat and tidy.

16 Ramon is looking around with great interest.

17 Betsy lowering the ramp

18 Meindert backed off easily.

19 Being led into the facility stable

20 And into a stall

21 Betsy brought a large quantity of hay from the farm.

22 Meindert was confused about his new surroundings.

23 He began neighing loudly.

24 Betsy thought it best to have Ramon stay with Meindert for company.

25 Horses are, after all, very social creatures and Meindert was happy to have his buddy for the 2 nights that spent there.

26 This is Traci Oliveira - certified technician - she gave Betsy a tour of the facility.

27 This is a digital radiograph machine, which will be used on Meindert.

28 There he is on the roster.

29 The MRI room - those blue objects are very powerful magnets.

30 This sign says it all.

31 They do their own lab work on premises.

32 This is an equine operating table.

33 This conference room has a window into the operating room for learning purposes.

34 All kinds of charts and info about horses

35 This is an actual horse skeleton.

36 The skeleton was tagged with numbers and letters as part of an identifying game for children.

37 A good view of the spine

38 And rib cage and hind quarters

39 An x ray of an unfortunate horse

40 A cross-section of an actual hoof

Posted on February 8th, 2010 in My Pets, Photo Gallery | direct link to this entry
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February 5th, 2010

An escape to my greenhouse

You can see, from reading my recent blogs, that it has been a rather harsh winter here, where I live, as well as in many other locales. Bracing winds, heavy rains, and blankets of snow, makes one long for the arrival of spring. This time of year, it's always a pleasurable escape to visit the local botanical gardens. I look forward to the annual orchid show at The New York Botanical Garden, which begins on February 27th. I also love going to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where there are always exquisite displays. Of course, I am very fortunate because I have a greenhouse of my own, where Shaun Kass, my gardener, has been doing a fine job of nurturing my plant collection. Please enjoy this little escape tour.

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1 This unusual flower is called Scadoxus.

2 Another name for Scadoxus is paintbrush lily.

3 Shaun uses this very descriptive book for reference all the time.

4 It's called Container Plants by Byron Martin and Laurelyn Martin of Logee's Greenhouses. www.logees.com/

5 This beautiful plant is called Calliandra.

6 Its common name is pink powderpuff.

7 These buds are full of energy.

8 These giant elephant ear leaves add so much height and interest to the greenhouse.

9 With sunlight behind them, their texture is stunning.

10 Burbidgea scheizocheila - Golden Brush is a dwarf ginger.

11 It's flowers last for 2 weeks or more.

12 The very unusual flower of Aristolochia gigantea

13 A miniature spiny cactus garden

14 Shaun is rooting cuttings of Salix, or pussy willow - they will be planted outdoors near the wetland.

15 Some of the cuttings are already blooming with a fuzzy catkins.

16 These flowers are amaryllis Exotica.

17 Very beautiful, indeed.

18 This colorful leaf is coleus Odalisque.

19 These cuttings from it will root nicely. It is a trailing plant, good for containers and ground covers.

20 I love the vibrant orange of this Clivia, commonly called kaffir lily.

21 There are many buds about to burst.

22 The oxalis is even busy blooming!

23 The leaves of this begonia are covered with pink, fuzzy hairs.

24 I love the way they look in the sunlight.

25 The extraordinary bloom of a Lady Slipper orchid

26 And another

27 Shaun is testing how much light the orchids receive. You need at least 3,000 foot candles for orchids to bloom. He's happy to report that they receive about 5,000!