The idea that farmers can take the winter off is a myth. The winter is a busy time for farmers, too, as they make plans and preparations for a new growing season, decide what crops they'll grow and procure their seed and inputs. Still, with spring, activity does pick up as they begin to prepare their land. At the same time, the warm weather warms hearts, too, and farmers say they love their time planting in the spring.
We recently took the opportunity presented by the warm weather to snap some photos of springtime scenes in the country in the Carolina-Virginia region, including some farmers' activities - and sometimes activities undertaken by Mother Nature on her own. Enjoy.
This rural homeowner has created a delightful fishing scene beside his (and/or her) home. The gourds are birdhouses for blue martens.
Farmers, along with their tractors often meet up in the field for conferences. With a cell phone call an impromptu meeting can be set up in an instant, and planting strategies can be quickly made or changed.
It's time for land preparation. Nothing smells as good as a newly disked field.
A high perch comes in handy when you want to check things out. A good set of eyes and a "bird's eye view" is all that is needed to find a fat and delicious field mouse for dinner.
The weather is right for water sports again. Kayakers who may have felt pent up during the winter can get out in the open again with the warm weather.
Color suddenly sprouts out of what seems like nowhere in Carolina.
When you're driving a tractor at this time of year you can sometimes be interrupted by unexpected scenic beauties outside your cab.
It's an age-old story. The new sprouts alongside the old – sometimes from it.
Dogwoods and flowering fruit trees are delightful expressions of color in the spring.
Trees like this peach immediately sprout new buds with the first warm weather.
If you're a farmer, breaking new ground in the spring can be one of life's greatest pleasures.
Green is popping out all over. Landscapes dominated by dull reds and browns suddenly intensify with color as the temperatures warm.
This rural homeowner has created a delightful fishing scene beside his (and/or her) home. The gourds are birdhouses for blue martens.
Bream are "good eating" for supper. This fisherman had caught a cooler load of these fish, sometimes called bream, brim, bluegills or panfish, by simply dropping a baited line over the side of a rural highway bridge. Many different kinds of bait are used and some say bream can sometimes even be caught with a bare hook.