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How could three little ol' sheep steal anyone's hearts? All it takes to find out is to meet Shirley Carter and her twin sons King and Hill Carter. They are our first "livestock" additions to Melrose.
Really they are more like huge grass-eating dog-like pets than livestock. We mean business with them, just as much as if they were meant for slaughter, which they're not and will never be. Every year they will be contributing their wool to us and every day they provide rich, odor free fertilizer to our roses. That's very important to us and the success of the plantation.
It was also important to Jacquie, who was head gardener at historic Shirley Plantation in James City County, Virginia. Jacquie heard several years ago about a young female Suffolk sheep at a different farm who had not reproduced and therefore was to be sent to slaughter. Having a kind heart, she rescued young "Shirley" whom she named Bahhbara, and relocated her to Shirley Plantation. There Jacquie was presented twin boy lambs as a grateful thank you present from the young rescued ewe.
And there the young family thrived. Things change, including Jacquie getting married and moving away to take a new job. Sadly, she had to leave Bahhbara and the boys she had hand fed behind.
Meanwhile, Robert and I wanted sheep. This past fall we went to Scotland and England where we absorbed everything we could about sheep. And of course old houses, magnificent gardens and roses. There's something so romantic looking about pastures of sheep around a manor house. At a party just after we returned, we heard about the little sheep family needing a home and accepted them into our hearts and home just this past December.
They've been very understanding about our lack of experience with sheep. Thankfully nothing too serious has happened. They've followed our big rule at Melrose Plantation to all our plants and animals: Do not leave the property without permission. Everyday we're home, we release them from their fenced pasture to fresh, unfenced pasture. Sometimes they wander into the gardens. They love to eat roses, but leave the boxwood, bulbs and iris alone. Usually we roped off parts of the garden and drape protection over prize antique rose bushes to keep them for being innocently devoured. The sheep really are sweet things and don't mean any harm. They seem happiest when we watch them, especially with the shepherd's crook, to keep harm from them. Tradition I suppose. Plus, I might be very nervous too if I was a defenseless but delicious meal to everything around me. Sheep don't have top front teeth like people or horses, so they can't even bite you if they wanted. It was scariest during deer hunting season when packs of dogs are let loose across anyone's fields, even when they're posted. Despite a solar charged electric fence (not very historic I know, but our sheep are important), we stood out for hours to protect the sheep from errant canines. They can't read posted signs so they're innocent, too. It all worked out for the best when the local hunt club posted a guard at our property. We all got what we wanted, except the deer, which is a different story.
We're happy with our new sheep and look forward to the possibility of more. Shirley was seen to be very social with some handsome rams at her former home prior to arriving at Melrose. We're hoping for an Easter delivery. It won't be the first time she's made a special delivery thank you at a new rescue home.