Thrilled!

I have had bluebirds nesting here since our first spring here.  After spotting them a month or so after moving in at the end of October, I put up nest boxes, and have had them here ever since.

In all of that time, I have never seen or photographed the babies fledgling from the nest.  Only once did I capture a shot of the father bluebird feeding three very young fledglings atop a utility pole!  Although, on occasion a baby or two has died over the tears...and, last year, the whole young brood was killed, I always assume, if they make it to the age when they are ready to become fledglings, they survived.  The nest will be empty with no signs of foul play...but I almost never have solid proof--seeing them fledge...or seeing them in the yard.

Today, I spotted some activity outside the bay window at the shrub dogwood there.  Their berries have been ripening for a week or so.  I thought it likely was the catbird, that I have heard in the yard, but, when, I grabbed the camera and zoomed in, I realized it was a bluebird--a juvenile bluebird at that!  :)

It is nice to know that he or she is likely one raised right here on our property.  :)

Pond Progress

The spring rains did me in.  I had the hardest time trying to keep up with mowing.  There were too few days without rain--and of course, the grass grew fast and high, so it always needed mowing.  The mugwort (my nemesis) took off this year, too--to towering heights.  Eventually, I got around to sickling the mugwort on the slope.

My pond project kept getting put off.  Originally, I had planned to dig out a "spillway", in early spring, to make the pond look more natural...and to make it look bigger as well.  Having the pond appear to spill into a wetland would allow me a larger spot in which to grow water-loving natives (like Iris versicolor, swamp milkweed, and marsh marigold).  That section has yet to be dug out.

Since, I still haven't hidden the liner, perhaps that isn't a bad thing (but, I would rather have had it dug, planted, and functioning--I can hide the liner as I find the time).

Despite having had lower back pain for three weeks prior, last week, I finally started digging out a section of the pond that ended up shallower than I had originally expected (and the surrounding bank much higher than I had intended).  I thought there was a good bit of excess liner, that would allow me to extend the depth and length of the pond on that end.  I was wrong...sort of.

I was able to make it deeper...and a little bit longer...but not as wide as I had dug out for.   I had held the water back with the liner and a 2X4...but, when I was nearly ready to rework it, it started spilling in onto the old carpet I was using for a protective underlayment!  There was not enough liner for that section.  Soon, I was standing in  inches of water, my shoes and socks soaked.

I ended up bracing the liner and holding back the water again...and leaving the whole mess for the next day.

The following day, I decided to add another piece of liner to the newly created section...I made a higher section

that will make it seem like a natural shelf worn out from running water--an extension of the stream (that I will later create--"Phase III").  It will hold water which will end up making the whole section look more natural.

I was thrilled to have a curious frog or two come watch what I was doing!  Up until now, the five or so bigger frogs, jump into the depths at the hint of my approach.

Even while standing, unexpectedly, in the pond water the day before, I knew digging out more than I needed would end up being worth it.

There is a long way to go...and what I have done will get tweaked, but having a natural-looking pond and streambed is just a little closer to a reality.

Monarch Firsts (for Me)

Our property has hosted monarchs before.  I recall my first two larvae after putting in butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) probably ten years ago.  After a few years of seeing them, they seemingly disappeared from our yard for about three years (while their populations had really plummeted).  After a bit of a rebound, I have seen them in the yard again.

However, this is the first year that I not only got some photos of them in flight, I also witnessed a female laying an egg--twice (on two separate days).  :)  I found it very satisfying.

In addition, the adults used to seem like rare visitors, but this year, over the past two or three weeks, I seem to see one in our yard each day I go out!  Cupplant has proven itself a great favorite with not only the monarchs, but other butterflies and smaller pollinators. 

The milkweed that I winter sowed (and, later, posted about planting out in the meadow) are pictured here, in pots with the monarch making good use of them.

Tiny Reclaimed Area

My biggest obstacle toward converting our field to a native meadow has been preparing the area.  I have tried smothering huge sections with cardboard and leaves, and, later, sowing eith a custom meadow mix...with mixed results.  Limited results.  I think I need to smother longer.

Last year, I smothered a small section with an old air mattress we used to use for camping--it had a leak.  Around that I used newspaper and leaves.  It is a small section, but a perfect place to plant some of the plugs I grew.

Knowing that rain was in the forecast, yesterday, I got a lot in the ground.  Mostly redtop grass (I think) and milkweed, but I also added a few others, including Penstemon digitalis.   Over the years, I have realized I need more grasses.  I planted the little I had.

It is small, but it is a start...reclaiming the property a little at a time.   Not very attractive...yet. 

Step by Step

Most years, I winter sow my collected seeds...and often don't get them in the ground until late fall.  Far from ideal, but other projects and chores seem to take precedence.

This year, after planting a few out, I potted up many of the others.

They began to thrive in their larger containers...and now, I am trying to get them out in the ground.