Smothering Again

Despite varied success (and failure), I am, again, attempting to smother more of the field in my attempt to convert it into a native grassland.  Over the years, I have come to realize that I need a lot more native grasses to cover this area, and only intersperse them with wildflowers.

My goal has always been to keep each section in various stages of succession.  After twelve years here (we moved at the end of October, so our anniversary is coming up soon), the field is now in a late stage of succession.   I am happy to have the various goldenrod species; they are very beneficial to a wide array of species.  However, I need to create more biodiversity.

I took some time, last weekend, to clear another section and put down newspapers (many thanks to my husband, Jeff, for saving them for me and bringing them home from work).  I covered these with brown filler paper from our Chewy deliveries, branches, and (weed free grass clippings).

When the time comes, I will either sow seed or plant the plugs I will winter sow later.

It's small, but it's a start.

Getting There

Despite my continued frustration at my relatively slow progress trying to restore our property, I was happy to see how big one of our black gum trees (Nyssa sylvatica) is getting.  I am enjoying its fall color.

However, that is not what prompted this post.  While trying to get some shots of the fall leaves (with my digital camera, not posted here), something caught my eye.  My alder trees are finally making flower buds/catkins!  I have been known to get pretty excited when my trees become sexually mature!

These trees started as bare root seedlings that had been temporarily planted in a decaying mulch pile.  After too many years of not moving them to there final location, I finally moved them this spring.  The move seems to have been very beneficial to them.  They recovered quickly and are now about 5 feet tall...and making there first catkins.  I hope to protect them from the deer and see them bloom in the spring.  I am, also, looking forward to seeing their cone-like seedpods come fall and winter. :)

Late Addition

As things are getting ready to go dormant, I ended up adding a water lily (our native Nymphaea odorata) to the pond.

I have wanted one for a long time, so, when I found that I could purchase one from a native plant nursery (Edge of the Woods, in Allentown)--I jumped at the chance.  Actually, my dentist offered me some water lilies from his sound--I have yet to get them from him...and not sure if he has the native one.  (I do hope to get some blue gills and black nose dace from him eventually.)

Despite the weather dropping from the unusual highs of 70s & 80s for the past week or two to a high of 52°F, I waded into the water (with old shoes on) and put the potted water lily in place.  Hopefully, it will survive the winter and thrive next years--it is supposed to be remarkably hardy.

With the addition of the larger pond...and (the future) wetland, I have really expanded the variety of native plants to grow on our property.   I am so excited by this.  :)

Another Moving Rocks Post

 With all of the rain we've had--I swear it has been four months with only an occasional day with part sun...and, more recently one full day of sun...and, twice, two days in a row without rain (or only in the morning or overnight).  So, with that, and working my regular job, an interpreting assignment twice a week, and Jeff and I teaching a class one day a week, there has not been much time for me to do much of anything outside.  :(

So, I was so happy that the weather cooperated, today, on my only day off during the week...and thrilled that I pushed myself to change into work clothes and go outside.

I finally got around to hauling some more of the rocks that I got over the summer.  My goal is to create some natural-looking rock outcroppings along the slope that leads to my pond & streambed project.  I'm hoping I can create a cliff-like look.

Nothing is set in stone yet. ;) ...but I got a chance to play around with some possible groupings.  It needs a lot, lot, lot more work to make it look right...but it felt great to get out and WORK! 

I plan to put down some rubber roofing under the rocks, create cliff-like outcroppings, and a sandy soil over the rubber roofing, and add scree around the rocks.  Here's hoping that I can make it look natural...and create a nice-looking spot for a streambed and waterfall(s).

I stayed out until dusk became rather dark.  I've missed being out there...and I'm hoping to get in better shape again.  Here's hoping I can do more before the ground freezes here.  Then, once winter hits, I hope I enjoy the reprieve.

Trail Cam Pics from Autumn 2016

I was looking through the trail cams memory cards today...these are from quite a while ago, but I cropped and saved them today, so I might as well share.

Thank you again, Jeff, for getting me the game cams and for sharing the joy of what we find on them. :)

More Fox Captures from Game Cam

First evidence that there is more than one fox.  A pair? :)

More Fox Captures from Game Cam

"New" Visitor on Game Cam Pics

For approximately 3 months or so, I have been consistently using the game cam that was a gift from Jeff a couple of years ago.  Today, I looked through about two weeks worth of photo captures.  For the first time, in all of those months, there is finally a shot of a bear.  In our 8-9 years here, we have seen a bear twice--well, Jeff and I saw one a few months after moving in (it was eating from our bird feeder)...several years later, I saw one probably 10-15 feet away from me (this time no pane of glass between us).

I am excited to see it again.

I adjusted the brightness on this and left the time stamp.

After all of these months, I'm still waiting to see a turkey (or flock of them) go through.  I'll have to wait and see what the next few months bring.  Hmm...I have to wonder if I would see some babies in the spring--fox with its kits would be really cool! :)

A Rough Idea

What I started with:

Over the years of walking the property, planning, and dreaming, things are starting to come together into a plan.  Five years ago, when we first moved in and the property was new to me, I had a much harder time envisioning what it should look like.  Before moving here, I'd have expected to create a lot more woodland than the plan I have now.  When, a month or so after moving in, I saw a bluebird (in December), it began to dawn on me that I would want to keep the large open area...that is where I plan to create a meadow of native grasses and wildflowers.  Fruiting shrubs will border the meadow in places--perhaps with a shrub or two scattered into the meadow, larger shrubs and small trees (like dogwood and serviceberry) will transition the meadow into a woodland.  The fruiting trees and shrubs will support the bluebirds (as well as other birds and critters), and the wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees, will support insects which are vital to feed the young of most birds.  I think the plan that has developed so far is likely pretty accurate to what I expect the property to become.

Today, I finally got around to creating a visual based on the original aerial shot I created when I started this blog:

Snowfall

This is our second snowfall.  The first was just a little more than a coating.