The last time we had a wet winter, the locoweed popped up in the pasture that spring and I went nuts trying to pull it all out so the horses wouldn't eat it. (You can read about it here.)
With all the rain and snow we've had this winter, it's inevitable that the locoweed will be sprouting soon, if it hasn't already.
Every green weed is a suspect at this point, and I'm getting lots of exercise bending over to inspect them. Once I have proof that there's a crop of craziness in bloom, Hank and George and Alan will be confined to the corral and the locoweed-pulling will commence.
Last time, it took me the better part of a week to comb every square inch of the ranch. I pulled it before it went to seed, so I've got to think there won't be as much this time.
I'm prepared for the mind-bending madness this year - how bad can pulling weeds be when I can listen to an audiobook on my ipod while I work? If I get through all 50 hours of "Gone With the Wind," pretty bad.
That sounds like a nasty weed to have around, but I do remember you talking about it before. Hopefully all of your hard work in pulling it before should pay off, and oooh, thank goodness for audiobooks!
ReplyDeleteThat's one thing I'm glad we don't have around here!
ReplyDeleteSo I had to look it up on Wiki. Swainsonine. Nasty stuff.
ReplyDeleteSure looks like it's similar to what we call Vetch or Crown Vetch.
I wasn't sure what locoweed was so I looked it up. Apparently it is quite poisonous to livestock. Sounds like an awful job trying to yank it all out!
ReplyDeleteWe have the same issue with mushrooms here. When it's wet they sprout like crazy so I have to scour the yard, pulling them up before our Pug, Winston, does. They make him terribly sick, but he'll eat anything!
Wow! It is a pretty weed, but scary... Good luck! I'm cringing from the idea of the labor involved in what you need to go do. Hope you've been doing stretches all winter... :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the 'crazy' weeds. I hate pulling weeds of any kind but it's got to be done I suppose. While you're listening to your book watch out for rattling critters.
ReplyDeleteAudio books on an iPod are a godsend for menial tasks!
ReplyDeleteWhat we did for our animals. It is unbelievable sometimes.
ReplyDeleteMy husband didn't think (hmmm, I could say something here) and put the branches from a wild cherry tree in our pasture. I hauled branches away for hours.
Your babies will thank you.
I sure hope it won't take the whole Gone with the Wind to pull all the weeds, your poor back!
ReplyDeleteOh no! I feel for you and for your back. We'll keep our fingers crossed that it isn't too bad for you.
ReplyDeleteHave you tried using the Weed Popper. They look dorky, but work like a charm.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gardenweasel.com/wp_original.html
It certainly saves your back!
Geeze! I know it's great to have a really BIG friend who has ADHD and a fondness for swinging large sharp objects. I gave my friend a Sickle last year because he had never used one and he whacked down all the weeds before they went to seed.
ReplyDeleteDo you know anyone that's OCD? I could come out and help and bring my sister.... she's so OCD she calls it CDO - she wanted it in order!
ReplyDeleteI did this last year with Curly Doc--fortunately it's a big tap-root plant that's easy to spot AND I only have a 2 acre pasture. I even paid kids to pull it one day. We filled my tiny trailer with Curly Doc and carted it to the burn pile. My FIL liked to eat it (not in big piles though). I'll bet I have the only 6 year old that can spot Curly Doc.
ReplyDeleteOh, sounds like a nasty weed. Here in California we have Yellow Star Thistle which is a very invasive weed and is toxic to horses. Sheep will eat it....so they are kind of on my list, but then I need a llama or larger donkey to protect the sheep....and the list goes on!
ReplyDeleteSounds back breaking and crazy making. Good luck and remember...Tomorrow's another day.
ReplyDeleteHumm.... the book listening and roaming sounds wonderful but the leaning over.... Have you seen Grandpa's Weeder?
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty cool tool that allows you to stay upright as you pull weeds. I'm putting it on my shopping list!
I've got my fingers crossed that it's not a bumper crop this year. Definitely doesn't sound like fun to deal with! Oh... and thanks for the recipe for Kale Chips. It's my new addiction! I wouldn't have ever thought of making them had I not read your rave review. My hubby is addicted to them too. I think I'm going to need to start buying kale in bulk.
ReplyDeleteDang girl, you're nothing if not persistent!! You go!! Luckily we don't see much of that here, but I'm glad you posted a pic of it. Now I will know!!!
ReplyDeleteWe're dealing with Fiddleneck(?) here, yellow flowering stuff. It's EVERYWHERE and I literally pulled it out of Quinn's mouth on our ride the other day. Scared me to pieces. He got a firm scolding, not like he cares or anything. All he hears is blah blah blah :)
How can evil be so pretty? Haha My Dad says weeds are just the ones you don't want - if that were so then my garden would be full of the stuff other people pull out! I love wild flowers.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should borrow a few more donkeys for the job? Certainly would make the task more fun :D
Lovely header pic! I'm going to be pulling Scentless Chamomile this year; it's not poisonous but it is noxious.
ReplyDeleteI have always felt pulling weeds is therapeutic - a good way to release any negative/hostile energy. But I'm inclined to think that much weed pulling will drive you to NEED therapy!! Good luck. Hope it is therapeutic and not therapy inducing!
ReplyDeleteOkay, so just this once, I'm glad I don't live in New Mexico. Good luck finding every little speck of that scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. Mind your back!
ReplyDeleteAlthough we don't have locoweed, we do have some invasive weeds. Like you, I think I pulled every last one last year, but I still need to get out there and do due diligence.
My back aches in empathy - oy! Unfortunately, ripping evil weeds out by the roots is the best way to get rid of them. I always wondered exactly what locoweed looked like (I'm in the southeast). Maybe there won't be too much of it for you to deal with this year (but with the ipod at least you'll be entertained as you yank, right? :o)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! How could I forget? My hubby and I saw a green weed emerging...the first green thing. DOH! It's locoweed. I'm heading out today (once the snow melts) to start the war: woman against locoweed!
ReplyDeleteOh, my...so much to look forward to when I move to New Mexico! Weed pulling, I thought I would be done with that, since there isn't supposed to be any PLANTS in NM...ha! OK, I will save these pics for my first onslaught against the evil weed. And a good reason to get a round pen right after we arrive too!
ReplyDelete