Last night our mower came back from the repair shop (the mower had a spindle failure). I try to keep the areas along the drive neat and the upper pasture mowed. I like the look of a park like setting (Our house is in the woods and there is no lawn). We don't have sheep anymore so I have to substitute the mower. As I mow, I now look down watching for holes and bumps and broken branches. Ever since I dumped the mower over on top of myself. I am very vigilant and observant.
This is the mower. April 11, 2009, I was under the steering wheel with the emergency brake embedded in my thigh and the mower deck smashing my calf (today is April 12, 2011). My Hunny was on the big tractor and couldn't hear me call him. It is true what they say about adrenalin. I was able to lift the tractor off my thigh and start extracting my leg but alas my arms aren't long enough so I had to drop it back on me. It ended on my ankle. If I had worn my work boots like I usually do I would still be under the mower. Luckily I had on tennis shoes and when I pulled my foot out the shoe and sock came off. I had to walk up to the barn to find my husband. The only thing I thought about on the trip up was, thank goodness my leg isn't broken.
The reason for the accident, HIDDEN IN THE GRASS, when I backed up was a groundhog hole. The mower became unbalanced and started going over. Did you know you can't jump off a riding mower. Why, because the steering wheel sits in your lap, Trapping you. The gear shift and other arms are on your right, further trapping you in. Please be careful. Riding mowers can be dangerous on level ground.
There are great and good things HIDDEN IN THE GRASS. While mowing today. I saw lots of spring beauties and Blue wood violets. Then there were the surprises.
VIOLET WOOD SORREL
Oxalis violacea
All the parts of this plant are edible. I wouldn't recommend it though. It is named for the oxalic acid content in it. These can cause kidney problems in people predisposed to kidney problems.
FALSE GARLIC (crowpoison)
Nothoscordum bivalve
Lily family
Our pasture is covered with these. I do not mow where they are hoping they will propagate further, they are not a nuisance. For a couple of weeks in the spring they greet us. The only time they are truly visible is in the early morning when the sun coming up, it highlights them (they're on a slope which faces east.) When dew is on them they glisten like jewels. Each year they get frosted. This year will not be different, a frost is expected this weekend. The petals are a creamier yellow than they appear in the picture.
MAY APPLE (Mandrake)
"the Witch's Umbrella"
Bereridaceae
Barberry Family
It's just budded up. I wonder how long it will take to bloom out? Wonder if the extreme cold this weekend will harm it? May Apple is fragrant with a strange but nice flavor. May Apple seeds and rind, poisonous. The resin of May Apple obtained from the root, is used in the treatment of warts. In England it is called Manroot (mandrake) believed to be alive and it screams when pulled from the ground and can make a man permanently insane.
I have read (never tried to) that you can peel and deseed the ripe fruit and use to make jelly. It is said the fruit is good fresh but should be used in moderation. All parts of the plant except the fruit are POISON! We have a lot of the plants, I may try them this year. I am a big forager of what nature provides.
It's exciting, not knowing, each day what I might find HIDDEN IN THE GRASS.
Hope your day is beautiful.
Other blogs by me to visit:
Containing articles on cooking, crafts, quilting, stories, ect.
New article on "The Wedding quilt"
Not a garden blog. There are articles which have nothing to do with creating or gardening.
There are blogs on the new born baby kittens we found and are mothering. It is a blog where I will sometimes voice my opinions which will always be environmentally friendly.
The only thing hidden in my grass (after picking up dog poop) is the bark the pup chews on and ugly weeds. Yours are so much prettier!
ReplyDelete