I saw this barn on our drive into St. Louis today, and thought it was perfect for my post today. It is truly a burst of color in this otherwise white and brown landscape.

I did some research to learn why barns are painted red. European settlers brought this tradition to America when they arrived here many years ago. Linseed oil was applied to barns to seal and protect the wood of the barn. These farmers found that if they added ferrous sulphate, commonly known as rust, to the oil, it caused the oil to take on a red color. They also believed that it gave protection against certain fungi and molds, which, if unchecked, allowed the wood to deteriorate sooner. So there you go, a pop of color and a bit of information!