| Living in the country has its good points and bad | | | | for horses and goats, the plant is harmless. |
| points, its ups and downs, its recreation and | | | | Allowed to progress to seed stage, it will sprout |
| chores. Quiet, peaceful days are only punctuated | | | | green awns that are still rather harmless. |
| by the chirps and songs of birds; nights are silent | | | | However, if the weed is allowed to dry out to its |
| save for the occasional horse sneeze. The | | | | dreaded golden state, the awn becomes a tiny |
| country is beautiful, the views breathtaking to see | | | | missile launcher; brush by it with new socks on, |
| - but the upkeep of country property can be a | | | | and you'll have foxtails in the terry cloth until the |
| challenge. | | | | socks are worn and done. The firing action is |
| The biggest challenge (and I dare anyone to find a | | | | what also lobs the seed heads into the ears of |
| bigger one) is springtime weeds. Not those odd | | | | dogs and cats - to nestle there against an |
| offenders who sprout up amidst a well-kept lawn | | | | eardrum until the veterinarian's probe and forceps |
| (we don't have a lawn); real weeds. The | | | | remove it. |
| obstinate, aggressive, vengeful type. The kingpin | | | | Mind you, the offensive arsenal of weed poison |
| of weeds is wild barley, or foxtail, where we live. | | | | (not popular if one has animals in residence) and |
| You poison it, it grows back. You cut it down, | | | | weed trimmers is only partially effective. Cut the |
| three grow back in its place. You hit it with a | | | | plants down, more grow in their place, with more |
| weed trimmer - it takes revenge. | | | | awns than before. Sometimes the foxtails will fly |
| The foxtail's primary weapon is its seed heads or | | | | up into the trimmer operator's ears and nose. It |
| awns. They transport the seed into fur, wool, | | | | goes without saying that sturdy pants and |
| socks, hair, tires, noses, toes, or any other vehicle | | | | smooth boots are mandatory. Those seeds fly |
| the foxtail chooses. The barbed fibers in the seed | | | | off of a trimmer's head and stick to anything in |
| head act like tiny fish hooks, driving the seed | | | | firing range. |
| head further into the soil, skin, or hair. It is quite | | | | The coup de gras for high expense regarding this |
| common for veterinarians to remove foxtails | | | | nasty weed is its final vengeance: weed trimmers |
| from the ears, noses, toes, and body tissues of | | | | tend to hit and launch rocks. A broken window |
| animals (mostly dogs and cats). It can be an | | | | here and there in the house seems to have the |
| expensive procedure - and is almost always very | | | | foxtails laughing. In one reported household, |
| unpleasant for the animal involved. | | | | foxtails have run up a $1,000.00 bill due to vet bills |
| The best defense against this weedy menace is | | | | for foxtails in dogs' ears, and (so far - spring isn't |
| prevention. Cut or mow the weeds (or hire goats | | | | over yet) one broken window. Yes, indeed. The |
| ... we're not kidding). Early in the spring, when the | | | | foxtails are laughing. |
| wild barley appears as innocent and tasty grass | | | | |