Horses, Fences, and Flowers

Crown Vetch grows along old fences along the borders of pasture land.

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Horse country 

My favorite country gate

Wildflowers a Wild Daisy

Prairie Wilflowers

 

This wildflower is a beard tongue. It grows in pastures and fields and in the right-of-way along highways in Oklahoma.

Fair are the meadows,

Fairer still the woodlands,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring;

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, 

Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

(From Fairset Lord Jesus, Volkslieder, 1842)

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Wild Prairie Roses

In a dry and sun-filled place like this along a fence bordering a highway, a wild rose bush will encumber a fence until it hides it completely. It is a beautiful sight in late May and early June. I found this rose along highway 16 in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.

An old fence post is barely visible. You can't see the barbed wire at all.

A rose bush can grow up a post or tree and overtake it.

This bush is brighter colored than most. It was at an abandoned homesite.

 

In shady spots, the pasture rose blooms. 

Its blooms are less profuse and  the simplicity is wonderful.

Finding a wild rose climbing a pasture fence, is like finding a friend in an unexpected place.

An Old Cellar

I passed this cellar at an old homesite many times before I noticed it. It is on a corner of an acreage, where the main paved road is intersected by a gravel road. The roof is concreted and arched. The front and back walls are bricked, as are the stair guards and the chimney.

Large trees have grown so close that they have probably intruded and caused the cellar to leak. In that case, it is likely to be half filled with murky water. I couldn't investigate the inside because of a fence around the property.

I think it was a tornado shelter, (the old timer's called it a fraidy-hole), but it probably served also as a cool place to store fruits and vegetables. There was no door, but maybe never was one. From the side, you can see how low the roof really is; and you get a view of the chimney on the back, added to assure plenty of oxygen.

I've heard that this spot was once the site of a small rural community called Pumpkin Center. A country store and early gas station, and a house or two were situated there where now only cattle graze in the hot sun.

Coneflower Prairie Squaredance

 

Gather up ladies ! Here we go. Find your partner and dosado!

 

Bow to your lady. Bow to your gent.

 

Circle left and there he went!

 

Throw your chest out and hold your head high!

 

Bow to your partner as he comes by.

 

With an allemande left and an allemande right.

 Swing your friend in the warm sunlight!

 

Gather her a bouquet, a lovely sight.

Swing your lady and hold her tight!

 

Forward backward dosado!

 

Promenade round and swing in low.

Bow to your partner before you go. We'll all have a great time; don't you know!