A paddock full of marshmallows
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325809)
Rockingham, Australia
October 22, 2017 4:20am CST
While travelling home from Perth, Western Australia, yesterday we came across this paddock of what looked like giant pink and blue marshmallows. We are used to seeing hay-bales wrapped in plastic sheeting but it is usually green. I thought this paddock looked very colourful with its multi-coloured mounds all over the place.
The plastic protects the hay from the elements but of course it has to be taken off before the livestock can access it. Hay bale shapes seem to go in and out of fashion. We sometimes see very big bales but at other times they are the small, rectangular bales that we are more accustomed to. Of late, these round bales seem to be flavour of the month.
30 people like this
30 responses
@peachpurple (13884)
• Malaysia
22 Oct 17
looks good to be eaten! Humans are clever at making mock things in the field
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Oct 17
Yes I think that here too the shape has gone more to the larger rounder bales of hay. They do look like big marshmallows lol
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
24 Oct 17
@JudyEv It really is a pretty picture.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
22 Oct 17
Our bales are usually covered with white plastic. There have been a few blue ones lately though. I tell my granddaughter they are big marshmallows too.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
22 Oct 17
@JudyEv maybe the plastic is recycled and the color is just because of that. I am just guessing.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325809)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 17
@ElusiveButterfly It's a good guess but I don't think they would recycle this plastic.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
22 Oct 17
That's a wise idea, it's so pleasant to the eyes.
2 people like this
@averygirl72 (37726)
• Philippines
23 Oct 17
They look really nice. I have relatives living in Perth
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37726)
• Philippines
23 Oct 17
@JudyEv They just went there last May. I wish I can go there someday too
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325809)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 17
That's cool. There are a lot of your countrymen there. Have you been able to visit them?
@JudyEv (325809)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 17
@averygirl72 Are they enjoying Australia? I'm sure they must get a bit homesick from time to time. Many seem to go into caring for the aged in our nursing homes and hostels. They are very caring people.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
22 Oct 17
they do look like them don't they... good enough to eat... did they make you feel like you wanted to go and buy some...lol 
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29128)
• United Kingdom
19 Nov 17
That's funny, over here they are usually black or sometimes white. You could use that for an April fool joke about the marshmallow harvest!
The size and shape of the bales depends on the market; most big farmers use the big round ones but since they need special equipment to move them a single person can't pick one up as you can with the old-fashioned rectangular ones, so those are sometimes made to sell to horse-owners and the like.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325809)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Nov 17
@Fleura 
I was just about to type 'isn't it?'. Yes, I'm one of the gullible ones! 
We had Friesian milking cows (they're black and white but seeing you used to farm I'm sure you know that) and my Dad used to tell my friends that they gave black and white milk.
I was just about to type 'isn't it?'. Yes, I'm one of the gullible ones! We had Friesian milking cows (they're black and white but seeing you used to farm I'm sure you know that) and my Dad used to tell my friends that they gave black and white milk.1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
23 Oct 17
They are white here. We have had so much rain that the field have been mowed over and over so this is a sight I seen all summer. I like the colors ones!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Oct 17
I often try to figure out the picture before reading. Hay, for some reason, did not occur to me.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
24 Oct 17
@JudyEv - No, I drew a total blank, including a blank on hay. I need to get away from the city more often.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325809)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Oct 17
They feed them to cows and sheep. What a waste!!!
@JudyEv (325809)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Oct 17
@Hannihar They are not really marshmallows. I did say the plastic protects the HAY from the elements. When the green grass dries off over summer, the farmers feed the cows on dried grass (hay) which they have baled during periods of plenty. So the grass is mown late winter/autumn then formed into these round bales. When the paddock grass has mostly gone, the plastic is taken off the round bales and the hay is fed to the cows. I'm sorry if I misled you.
@LeaPea2417 (36442)
• Toccoa, Georgia
23 Oct 17
That is such a cute idea for hay bales! I would have never thought doing that to them! They do look like big marshmallows.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Oct 17
That is a pretty awesome sight to see! If I had been driving by and saw that, I would have stopped and taken ab picture too! Not something you see everyday!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118448)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Oct 17
@JudyEv That setting would be a great way to celebrate Easter! haha
1 person likes this
