Brains and Brawn

A little brawn and a little brains goes a long way.  Luckily, I have just a bit of each.  :)

Back in January, while creating a terraced path, I started to uncover a huge rock.  It is a welcome addition to my pond/waterfall project.   However, it was in the ground pretty deep.   I dug it out little by little when the ground thawed in January and again in February.   Still I left it in the ground.  I guess I imagined reinjuring my back and not being able to complete the path or any other projects.

Today, although I didn't plan too,I got it out of the ground!  😁

Aside from using an iron bar and the power of a fulcrum, I used my body weight to lift it out of the ground...and filled the hole in one side to have a flat surface to flip it into, then I filled the other side, flipped it end over end and out if the way...until I am ready to move it to the pond. 

Rocks: Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

Over the past few weeks, I have been moving rocks from various spots on our property to use for my pond/stream/waterfall project.  In some cases, I am hauling them from clear across the property to the water feature--approximately 300 ft. away.

I realize, there are times that the rocks I am moving are possibly providing shelter to some critters--if I see ants nesting under something, I have, on occasion, just left the rock in place; if it is one I feel I really need, I will put another, less (desirable looking) rock in its place.

Yesterday, I raised this goldmine on our property.  I suspect that previous owners dumped rocks on the slope while clearing the field.  I only wish I thought to take a BEFORE picture before tipping the top rock on its end:

As I have done for years, I will rework a structure that I feel may be used by chipmunks or other wildlife--making sure they have holes to get in and under rocks...or making sure I create an overhang where there was one before. (I have seen evidence of nut shells and such under some overhangs, and I picture the little guys staying out of the rain munching away.)

I hate to think that I am destroying habitat while trying to create more habitat on the property.   I like to think I have created a balance.

As I have done for years, I will rework a structure that I feel may be used by chipmunks or other wildlife--making sure they have holes to get in and under rocks...or making sure I create an overhang where there was one before. (I have seen evidence of nut shells and such under some overhangs, and I picture the little guys staying out of the rain munching away.)

I hate to think that I am destroying habitat while trying to create more habitat on the property.   I like to think I have created a balance.

Although, I would have loved to take the top rock as well for the stream, I left used it to cap the newly reshaped rock pile.  I hope it functions well for wildlife.   I know it now functions as a perfect place for me to sit when I need a rest or just want to enjoy being surrounded by nature!

Putting things back together:

As an added benefit, I found that the formation I created can be used as a model for a drop off in my (future) streambed and waterfall.

Rocks

(This is from February.   I didn't realize I hadn't posted it yet.)

Winter always gives me a clean slate.  This time of year, when i can clearly see and access the rocks on our property,i move them to my water feature project. 

I am planning to create a natural looking rocky cliff behind my pond...with a place to sit. :)

Not Bad Idea!

It is our first spring day near 70°F...I am loving it. :)

I got some work done out front, and then took a break and walked down our wooded slope.  I don't explore this part of the property as much as I should; it borders our only neighbor on four sides.

On my walk back up the slope, I came across a section that has a patch of the dreaded Japanese knotweed.   I battle it periodically, but have yet to eradicate it.  This section is at the edge of the mini-woodland (reclaimed farmland--mostly locust trees, with a few sugar maples, elms, and wild black cherry).   It is also fairly close to where I dug my pond (Phase II...dug, filled with water, but the liner is not yet disguised).

So, it suddenly occurs to me that I could dig a vernal pond there--put down a liner, and fill it back up with the woodsy soil and fallen "driftwood".  This would give me more incentive to dig up the Japanese knotweed and smother any remaining roots that I may miss.  At least, I hope it would.  This would do double duty:  provide habitat while eradicating a horribly invasive species.

I had to get this posted...not that I expect to forget it, but one never knows.  :)

(I posted this while sitting on a fallen log on our wooded slope...I am enjoying the chorus of spring birds--especially the red-winged blackbirds' song which is the only one I really recognize.  I also had a few other visitors...and hot a close-up of one. )

 I laid an old carpet down a couple of years ago; it has kept it smothered...it is covered in rocks I have saved up for my streambed project.

I must say, a vernal pool would look much better than what I have now.

Hauling Rocks

After leaving the rocks I brought home (back in August) where I dropped them, today I began hauling them to the backyard slope...where, eventually, I will piece them together (the best I can) to create the look of a rocky cliff outcropping.   My goal is to create a rocky cliff with a stream and waterfall ...as l running through it.

Here are pics of the cliff where I got them...

Here is a little inspiration from a local, natural stream:

 Here are about 1/3 of the total I collected.   I dropped them mostly haphazardly on the slope above the pond.

Too bad I didn't get at least twice as many rocks...but, hopefully, the final result will look natural.

A few rocks seem to naturally fit together, but time will tell if I have an eye for piecing this puzzle together.

Native Habitat Design Plan

Even a week later, I never got around to taking after photos of what I did last weekend.

This weekend, I took the first step to creating a master plan for habitat.  It is not perfect, but this is what I envision the property to look like in the coming years.

I began by drawing in some changes over top of an aerial view 

of the property.  The driveway currently does not extend to the

barn, the stone patio has yet to be extended, and the large pond

 and stream are still in my head. 

The general placement of the trees and shrubs is fairly accurate.  I

plan to add the meadow and its paths.

March Madness

I am not a basketball fan, and I don't follow March Madness, but the title seems somehow appropriate to describe the past week or two.  After being cooped up all winter with little motivation to work on my project during the winter like I normally do, I got outside and got inspired.  Despite the temperatures being below normal over the past two weeks, I've been doing a lot in the yard...every day for more than a week...even after work, I have gone out and dragged myself in when the light was failing.

Mostly I've been focused on the pocket woodland (my "would-be woods" as I've often referred to it). Come summer, this sparsely treed area grows in too thickly for me to get through the paths--and my focus by then has turned to the meadow, pond/stream bed, and various other projects.  Winter allows me access to the "woods" and allows me a chance to assess my progress.  It also exposes the many rocks and boulders along the slope.  Some I want to showcase, while others I want to move to use in the stream bed.

The beauty of the boulders have really motivated me to get this section shaded enough to keep down the weeds so I can enjoy this nearly half-acre part of our yard year round.  I plan to add a lot of trees this year--mostly things I've already got growing, such as the silver maples that have appeared in the meadow, some black cherry trees that I have in pots and in a starter bed, sumac, quaking aspen, black locust, black poplar, (all fast growers) and various other tree seedlings.  I also plan to buy a couple of tulip trees whose flowers I hope to be able to view from above while at the top of the slope.  The slower growing oaks, shagbark hickory, and any others I want to add, will fill in under the shade of the pioneer species.

Crevices for wildlife such as salamanders--I found a few the other day.

Aside from all of my plans for adding trees, understory trees/shrubs, and wildflowers, I have been moving rocks--some quite large.  I am trying my best to maintain the holes, crevices, and possible tunnels for any critters that make them their homes.  At the same time, I am trying to stabilize the slope; many of the rocks are loose and doing nothing to hold back erosion.




I have grand plans for this section and plan to use my favorite park from where I used to live in Western PA as inspiration.  The slope, rocks, and various levels really lend themselves to viewing wildflowers at eye level (as well as at the foot of the path).  I hope it is not too long before I have pictures to post of a more established woodland, replete with wildflowers.

First I had to rake away last years growth to expose the rocks.

Imagine this as a full woodland with trees of various girths, 

understory trees, ferns, and wildflowers. 

"Before" photo..give me a few years for some beautiful "After" shots.

Another beauty for the stream bed.

Originally I pulled this out for the pond/stream bed...but, as I did

with a couple of others, I incorporated it into the hillside slope 

(see below).

The thin, flat rock just right of center didn't have the right presence...

So, I added the rock (from above) which, to me, makes the whole 

composition a thing of beauty.  Just wait until the woodland 

wildflowers grace the slope.  The funny thing is, in the back of 

my mind (although I can't be sure) I have to wonder if I didn't 

take it from that exact spot in the first place! :) 

Still Plugging Away

My schedule, the heat and humidity, rain, and an occasional lack of motivation have kept me from working on the pond and streambed project.  Today, after waking up too early and going for my usual walk, I began digging a shallow trench for the future stream.

Some sneak peeks:

The uppermost pond is built at the edge of a slope...not the most natural place for a pond.  Throughout my planning, I've struggled with how best to make this look like a naturally occurring pond.  Building up the slope seems pretty unrealistic to me...and, after sitting at the edge of the pond on the slope side, I've realized there is a wonderful benefit to having the slope there.  I can sit right at the water's edge without sitting on ground level.  This also allows for great chances for some good photos.

So, I think I've got a fairly good plan on how to incorporate rocks on the slope which will lend a more natural look while providing a natural "steps" which will allow me access to the water's edge.  After moving my mini-boulder and some other large rocks, I decided to stop and study the area some more.  This is a long-term project, but I'm happy to be making progress.

Hopefully, no more adjustments will be needed on these rocks, however, after studying it, I may very well have to rework them.  Either way, a lot more will have to be added to make this as I envision it: