Creating a New Path

Yesterday, January 11th, we had a high of 62°F!  Not good for the planet, but I enjoyed the reprieve from winter.  I accomplished a lot today.  I am so glad I went outside to enjoy the warm weather.

As so often happens, I start out just meandering through the yard and, unexpectedly, start some random project.  This time it was a path I had been planning in the back of my mind for a few years.

Instead of removing them, I decided to weigh them down to keep them off the path.

This is a slope on the property which I rarely have access to except in winter.  It has not been a priority (I tend to work on the meadow, woods, or pond)...but, I have been wanting to create a useable path there for a few years--right now it is a narrow footpath.

I am pleased with the results.  I probably would have finished the entire path,had I not found and uncovered a huge rock.  I plan to use it for my pond/streambed/waterfall project.  (I had really hoped to uncover several large rocks and mini-boulders while digging my pond.  Although I found rocks of various sizes...none were substantial.   So happy to have come across this one--despite the fact i will have to transport it a fair distance.

I love finding an exposed rock...and uncovering a very large rock that can be used for my pond/streambed/waterfall project.

I had really hoped to uncover a lot of useable large rocks mini-boulders when digging out for the pond (Phase II).  Unfortunately, although I found small rounded rocks to use in the streambed, but nothing like this!  Happy to have it, but, it will have to be transported a bit farther than if it were found on the site of the pond.

Working in Winter

With warmer weather during Christmas break, I was able to plant a few trees and shrubs two days ago.

I started the day reading on the couch, but got myself up to meander through the yard.  I ended up visiting some of the trees that I've put in through the years.  This ended up motivating me more than I'd expected.   I finally built a cage out of fencing for a hemlock that I put in the ground quite a few years ago.  In the past two years, the deer finally found it, or got access to it, and trimmed it for me. :(  I finally caged it.  It should probably be two or three times bigger than it is now.

That was enough to get me started.   I also put in two red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) that I bought in October (I bought three, but only got one in the ground at the time).

After this, I added a second hackberry tree to our woodland--this was given to me from our friend Beth who dug it out of her yard for me (it was a weed to her in their small city lot).  Thank you again, Beth.  :)

Lastly, I added a second silver maple (the stowaway in one of the home grown oak trees I bought at a yard sale).  I planted it within sight of our much larger silver maple that has made its presence known--and I am expecting it to shoot up and fill in nicely in the next few years (the new addition will be a younger version of the same...which will look more natural to me than two trees of the same age near each other).

 

I wanted to plant one of the oaks as well, but the soil in that pot was still mostly frozen.

All in all, not a bad day--and my back felt better being active.

Third Day in a Row!

The weather has been great...high 60s, I think (not sure if we hit 70 or not), anyway, I got out in the yard again today!

Finally I was able to remove a circle of fence that must've been used to protect a blueberry bush when it was younger, but several seedling trees grew up around it and through it. One of these trees is the dreaded invasive buckthorn. Luckily, It has been cut back over the years and never bloomed or went to seed. I got it out with the help of a reciprocating saw. Now I have another fence-round to protect any seedlings I plant (I'll make sure I remove it before something grows into it.).

Also, I dug up one piece of the Clematis virginiana that I'd disturbed while removing the fence and trees growing at the base of the blueberry bush. If this were in a more natural area and not so close to the barn, I'd be more likely to let the native trees crowd the area...but I'm glad the buckthorn is gone...and that I had only one!

Later, I removed more of the bush honeysuckle bushes and created a brush pile of sorts while trying to keep the bushes (that I'd ripped from the earth) upright--while keeping their roots from contact with the ground (just in case). I ran into my neighbors and had a nice conversation...despite the mild winter, we're all ready for spring. After that, I got a little more done. By then the sun was going down, but I had no desire to go inside. I spent a good twenty minutes or so walking my paths, then with the light really starting to fail me, I headed back to the house. What a great day!

Getting Something Done

Lest it seem that all I did was sit around counting birds today, I'll post some pictures of some of what I did in the yard. I finally got around to spreading some of the mulch that I got this summer. My goal is to smother the grass that is growing there and replace it with native grasses and wildflowers. Unfortunately, I noticed a few shoots of grass coming up through the thick layer of mulch even before I spread it around making it even less thick, but I still hope it puts a damper on the weeds.

Although I don't have a "before" picture handy, this is basically what I'm smothering in this section (Can you believe this was taken today--in February) :

One Year Ago Today

Having a three day weekend helps me be more productive. I got a few things done, but by the end of the day yesterday, I decided to put off planting the wildflower seeds I collected last fall. Yesterday, I was looking through past posts here, when I came across the first batch of seeds I planted--it was exactly one year ago today. So, last night, I was determined to get them planted. I was not expecting to have to shovel 10 inches of snow this morning and search through the snow for the pots I'd planned to use.

Luckily I found them, filled them with top soil and potting mix, planted the seeds, and took several pictures of the process. My only regret was that I should've used at least one more pot...I think I collected a lot more seeds this year, and the pots were pretty crowded last year!

I piled snow over top of them again same as last year. Here's hoping I have a lot of successful germination.


Stored seeds.


Lucky to find the pots buried under all that snow.


Fill with top soil.


Seeds added, then covered in potting mix.


As I did last year, I covered them all with snow.

Cleaning House

Actually, we did clean the house some today...and I'm cleaning the sunroom in hopes of getting an early start on the vegetable garden this year. However, this post is about cleaning out one of the bluebird boxes that, apparently, I forgot to do at the end of the season.

I found the old nest a couple of weeks ago when the temperatures were around minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. I was a bit concerned about the bluebirds and know that they could all have huddled in one of the nestboxes to stay warm. When the temperatures rose again, I opened the boxes hoping not to find any that had frozen to death. That is when I spotted the old nest.

Today, I finally got out there with bleach mixed with warm water. I removed the old nest and disinfected the nestbox. After letting it air dry, I went back out to close it up. It is now ready for the new season. I'm hoping the blues return and maybe bring their offspring to nest in our yard this year as well. Perhaps I should get another box or two up.

Best Intentions

Last week I bought some potting soil so I'd have everything ready for planting the wildflower seeds I collected this season. Today I finally went out to winter-sow the seeds as I did on Sunday, February 21, 2010 last year. (It was nice to be able to look back in my blog, "gardening journal", to see the exact date I planted them last year.) I remembered that I got a late start, but I was able to see just how late it was. This year I was determined to get them planted earlier (although I had great success despite procrastinating last year).

Unfortunately, it didn't happen. I went out and realized that the pots I planned to use are under the snow, so I guess it has to wait a bit longer. At least I tried.

It Feels Like Spring! :)

I was out in the yard yesterday, and I even sawed off three overgrown forsythia that I've been wanting to remove. After cutting them to the ground, I pushed them back some, but left them in place to provide cover for the birds. One or two branches that had been in contact with the ground had rooted which made it rather difficult to move this one unrelenting trunk.

It was around 50, and I had to take off my jacket and go around in a T-shirt, but it wasn't until today, which is colder, that it really reminded me of spring. I think the sun had a lot to do with it. :)

I planted two more dogwood in the area (a total of three) and a black gum seedling. I wanted to cut back the forsythia (and remove its roots in the spring) to keep it from shading the black gum. Although the deer don't tend to do more than "lightly" browse" the black gum seedlings I put in the first year here, I put more twigs from the forsythia around it to protect it. The sooner it can grow to sexual maturity the better. I want berries to feed the birds. Like hollies and some other trees, the male and female flowers are on separate trees. I have no way of knowing at this point if this one is male or female. So far I have seven black gum on the property--all of which I planted. I planted five the first year, lost one, and planted 3 more this year.




before

after

Barn Swallow Shelves

I have always loved barn swallows and after buying a house with a barn/garage, I decided I might have a chance at attracting them to nest here.  After reading up on how to attract them, I feel more confident in my attempt.  Although one suggestion is to leave a window or two open so that they can enter the barn to nest, I prefer to keep them on the outside.  The websites state that they will nest under eaves, porches, bridges and the like, so I'm hoping they will take a liking to my offering.  One site suggested that they do not like to nest on a continuous shelf, so I changed my original plan.  Actually, I think I like the individual shelves better.  At a distance they are barely noticeable and do not detract from the look of the barn.

After getting home from work today, I decided to walk the yard.  As often happens, this will spark a project.  Yesterday, after researching, I found some loose boards of old barn wood.  So, today, I thought there is no time like the present.  I got three shelves up before the light started failing me.  I will put more up soon.

I found this website very informative: http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/per/b4.htm

Late February, But the Seeds are Planted

I am such a procrastinator. Last fall, I saved a lot of seeds from several flowers: Erigeron (daisy fleabane), Penstemon digitalis, thimbleweed, butterfly weed, and an aster. I think at least some of them need a moist, cold dormant period for them to germinate. Finally, I got them planted today in potting soil. Hopefully, they will germinate and I can spread them throughout my meadow-in-the-making. I covered them in snow and put them in the greenhouse, because I'm afraid the birds could pick at them.

Also, I'm late in posting about seeing my first bluebird of the season. I saw one three days ago. Today I saw another male at one of my houses. ~smile~

More Rocks

These are some rocks I found after cutting out one of the forsythia bushes. Unfortunately, I found more rusted springs from a matress left by the previous owner...this is the third one I've found on the property. ...but, look at those rocks...stay tuned, *eventually* I hope I will create the stream bed and take pictures of how I've put these and other rocks to good use.

Attacking the Forsythia

A row of overgrown forsythia planted by the previous owners.

One bush cut out and pushed up against other one.

I added some branches to my brush pile.

I took a break from sawing one off at the base to take a picture.

The branches that touch the ground have rooted and grown into my path.

The previous owner had planted a row of forsythia, and, although I prefer the natural look to a trimmed hedge, they were so overgrown that the branches that touched the ground have rooted. They are growing into my path. Although the flowers are pretty for the short time they bloom, they always look out of place to me. They do not provide food for wildlife, yet I'm sure they provide some kind of shelter. In the two years I've been here, I've never seen any birds' nests in the mass of forsythia in the yard.

Although it is not as invasive as other things on my property, they are rather unsightly and not part of my plan. The fact that they are rooting and taking over a large section means they are taking the place of native plants that could be growing there.

I cut one bush the first year and another two this year. The first year, I created a brush pile in another part of the yard to provide shelter for birds and other wildlife. This year I added a few more branches to the brush pile but decided to leave the cut forsythia in place (although I did push it closer to the other bushes). Until I have something to put in its place, I decided to leave it in place.

I was lucky enough to find a few more rocks to use in my future streambed/pond. ~smile~