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Friday 27 August 2021

The fields of Prince Edward Island

Cycling along the Confederation Trail, my husband and I always notice the fields along the way. Potato fields are a common sight in a province which grows 25% of Canada’s potatoes. 





This year has been a banner year for potato growth since we had rain every two or three days during July. While it is drier this month, the crop is mature and more resistant to dry weather when the plants cover the soil, able to reduce evaporation. 





Similarly, the corn grown for silage looks like a bumper crop this year too.





Recently, we spotted something which was new to us on the fields near Miscouche, an area we frequent on our bike rides from home. 





The fields were white on both sides of the trail and in a field across the highway nearby. It looked as if the seeds had been sown all over the fields rather than in rows. Later we identified the crop as buckwheat. 


A single bloom might not have been all that impressive but the billions of the white blossoms over such a large area were stunning. 





Seen from our vantage point, looking through the wildflowers bordering the trail, the setting was picture perfect.





You never know what awaits in an area you know well.






32 comments:

DJan said...

What wonderful pictures! I love to see all those potatoes and know so much more about them after growing some myself. And those buckwheat field flowers are amazing! Thank you.

Pam said...

Great pics. Looks like McDonalds will be not run out of potatos...haha....

Linda said...

I love watching your landscape change from season to season. There is a comfort to it.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh my gosh what a gorgeous series of images Marie, all beautifully composed and such a pleasure to see 💜

Debbie said...

gorgeous!! the blanket of buckwheat is stunning!! the first image is beautiful as well!!

photowannabe said...

Buckwheat...amazing...Your photos are wonderful. I love the perfect rows of potatoes.
Sue

Elephant's Child said...

Definitely picture perfect. Hooray for bumper crops, and thank you for sharing the beauty.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Love the photos of the fields of potatoes, the crops do look like they are doing well. I am seeing a lot of corn fields and maybe alfalfa here. It is neat seeing the field of buckwheat. I have tried the buckwheat honey, I use it mainly as a sweetener for my coffee. Have a great weekend!

Anvilcloud said...

How time flies; we're getting to harvest time.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Spectacular sights. A lot of potatoes are grown around my area as well.

William Kendall said...

I saw a photo elsewhere today of buckwheat.

Boud said...

Until I started following your blog the only thing I knew about PEI was potatoes. You've provided an education, thank you.

The Furry Gnome said...

That's a great crop of buckwheat. I don't see it very often down here either. Are those blue flowers on those potatoes?

Red said...

You are taking good advantage of the wonderful trails. It's good when you can actually go through fields.

peppylady (Dora) said...

Idaho is the potato state, but it in Southern part.
Coffee is on and stay safe

Barbara said...

There is something heartwarming about a field of plowed rows.

Marie Smith said...

Furry Gnome,

The potato blossoms are purple. White and purple blossoms are the only colours I see here.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I was brought up around farming and worked on a farm till about thirty years ago, but now almost every year I spot something growing in the fields which I can't identify; even farming changes.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I don't think I have ever seen Buckwheat growing. At first glance it looks like Wild Carrot or Queen Anne's Lace.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

I really enjoyed your photos. There is something very peaceful looking at beautifully planted and well planned out rows of crops. I've never seen buckwheat growing and its white flowers are certainly exquisite in those large fields. Thank you so much for sharing .

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Great photos, the rows of potatoes are perfect! Buckwheat blueberry pancakes with real butter and maple syrup is divine.

Glenda Beall said...

Terrific photos of fields and flowering plants. I had no idea how buckwheat grew until seeing your pictures. You are blessed with wonderful scenes when you go out. Thanks for sharing them.

Liz Hinds said...

That potato field is beautiful!

margi said...

Wonderful pictures! Buckwheat field is amazing!

At Home In New Zealand said...

I have seen potato and corn growing here, but not buckwheat. The field looks like it has been snowing! Do the flowers have any scent to them?

Catarina said...

I have never seen a buckwheat field.
I would love to see these fields up close.

Marie Smith said...

At Home in New Zealand,

We couldn’t smell a scent from the fields and we didn’t get close enough to sniff the blooms. It would be incredible if they were scented.

Goldendaze-Ginnie said...

I've never seen buckwheat growing and love your 6th picture with the small house beyond the field of buckwheat ... a lovely coordination of subjects.

Sandi said...

The rows are so straight! It is nice to seem order in the world somewhere.

baili said...

my grandpa has many fields and there were various crops throughout the year but memories belong to cornfield is particular because it was perfect for hide and seek :)

thank you so much for these outstanding photos dear Marie ,they all worth frame and hang on wall :)

Rose said...

I would like to see buckwheat for myself...I had never even thought about how it grows or what it looks like.

Helen said...

Marie, I am just catching up, after travelling through western Queensland, over nearly 6000 kilometres of different shades of brown!
This post is a joy to see, as was our green view across the golf course, on my return.
I am wondering if the buckwheat fields are now yellow tinged, or do they stay white until harvest. They look very similar, except the white colour, to fields near my son in October, '19. We were unable to determine the crop's name.