Month: August 2024

Pioneers heading across the Iowa prairies in the mid-1800s before roads existed might have looked for this plant called a compass plant that has leaves oriented in a north-south axis. Somehow they became aware of this marvelous plant with yellow flowers and how it could guide them in their travels.

It is a member of the sunflower family that can grow 12-15 feet tall by late summer, with a taproot of 12-15 feet. Below is another view of this amazing perennial, which does not produce flowers until after the second or third year of growth.

If you need a lawnmower, maybe a couple Babydoll Southdown sheep would be just the thing you need. This breed, a miniature version of the Southdown breed of sheep that originated in Sussex County, England, is often used in orchards and vineyards because they don’t disturb trees or other vegetation, but instead eat weeds and unwanted grasses.

They are popular as pets and for 4-H projects, are 18 to 24 inches tall, and weigh between 60 and 125 pounds. To protect them from predators they must be kept in a barn or a predator-proof area at night.

These sheep live in the 1948 gambrel barn in the Hudson area of Blackhawk County, which is also the home for chickens and cats. Pictured below is the barn, owned by Kent and Diane Wolfe.