June End's Greenery, a Beautiful Scenery.. jUNE '07

June End's Greenery, a Beautiful Scenery...
 
It's a tough time of year to sit in front of a computer monitor and bring any sort of organization to my outdoor-focused thoughts.  In February?  No problem.  With snow outside and temperatures hovering near zero, one could write enough columns to have them in reserve.  But now that I can look over my right shoulder and see deer in one of several micro-plots at any given moment any time of day, who in their right mind wants anything to do with a computer?
 
Proper introductions first.  Column readers, meet Micro-Plotter deer.  The does in the above photo are two of several regular visitors to our can-see-it-from-the-livingroom micro-plot (the one I keep looking over my shoulder toward).  The kids have grown fond of these deer and watch them out the window just before going to bed.  Of all the native browse and different seed blends they have to choose from they've taken a liking to our Clover/Chicory/Alfalfa blend.  This plot is in its third year now - quite productive, very thick and nearly weedless.  Next on these does' menus?  How 'bout a new annual assortment of peas, beans and corn?
 
One of our latest developments includes two seed blends of a new seed line.  They are our Ulitmate Micro-Annuals.  One blend is more oriented for human consumption while the other is tailored more toward wildlife.  Both blends work well in a wide range of soils and site conditions.  They also seem to hold up to New England weather quite well and are used by many wildlife species at all stages of growth throughout the growing season.  Attaining respectable heights at maturity, these blends also seem to provide ample cover where it might not otherwise be available.  Be sure to check out our Ultimate Micro-Annuals page for more details. 
 
A new memory-jerking addition to our site is a photo gallery of caribou pictures.  These pictures are a must-see for any outdoor enthusiast.  If you've never been on a caribou hunt I would highly recommend it for any one of a thousand reasons (even for the non-hunter!).  Truely a rewarding adventure every human should experience at least once in their lifetime.
 
I've been surprised by several people already this year asking me if it's too late to plant micro-plots or "whitetail gardens".  The correct answer is NO, certainly not.  In fact we often plant four (4) times between early spring (frost seed time of year) and late summer/early fall.  One of our most popular and productive times of the year is late summer where hunters or wildlife lovers want to plant annual seed that will help deer or wildlife prepare for winter.  In this case, be aware of how many days a particular seed blend needs to reach maturity and plant that blend accordingly.  Many hunters I know plant annuals toward the end of August or early September so they'll mature around mid-October or November.  Something to be noted, many annuals like brassicas/turnips can be planted late so they DO NOT reach maturity.  They will stay green and tender - even after several hard frosts - and continue to regrow in the spring (YES, some annuals will store energy in their roots and continue to grow in the spring!).  So there is plenty of time left in the growing season to create or re-plant a micro-plot!
 
Lastly, and possibly the most important change we've made recently, is regarding the flask/jug sizes in which our seed blends are available.  To suit a larger and growing audience we now offer our seed in larger sizes - up to 32 ounces.  If for some reason your situation dictates that you need a different size, contact us.  We'll continue to work with people as the need arises.  And when ordering seed, remember that our seed is PURE seed - no inert matter or filler.  Know the square footage requirements of your site and plant the pure seed accordingly.  Enjoy the new photos, 'cause you asked for them, and drop us a line with any commentary or suggestions! 
 
Keep spreadin' your seed,
 
Vaughn P.
 
President & Founder, Whitetail Micro-Plotters