Exposing my Pride and Joy

I love boulders.

We were fortunate enough to have some very large rocks (and dare I say at least two that qualify as boulders) on our property.  It was actually one of the selling points (at least for me) when Jeff and I bought this place.

One, in particular, is HUGE.  For years now, I have found myself calling it "my pride and joy".   Early on, maybe our first few years here, Jeff made the brilliant suggestion to dig out some of the soil around it, to expose more of it--since I liked it so much...and the top part was had only several inches showing above the soil line.  Excellent suggestion.

At that time, I did expose more of it along the top.  Yesterday, as so often happens as I meander around the property, I found myself digging out part of the lower portion--and, in the process leveling off the slope below it.  It is not obviously terraced, but perhaps terracing is a fair description...although the goal was to expose more of the boulder.

I cleared out the soil in one spot where I could get under the rock.  Hopefully, I created a spot for a critter to use in some fashion. 

When I was finished, apparently I only dropped the soil level about 6 inches.  Doing much more would have looked odd and messed with the path as round it.

Six inches is enough to show more rock once the wildflowers grow up. I planted:

golden ragwort (Packera aurea)
Greek valerian (Polemonium reptans L.)
wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
white violets

....and, I replanted the asters that were already there among the weeds.

I plan to add others that are appropriate to that area.  Columbine comes to mind.  Last year, I actually sprinkled seeds in the cracks and crevices of the boulder (and maybe added a seedling).  Many years before, I added a starter of some fern kindly shared by a friend.

It is time I begin to showcase this beauty.   :)

Bluebird Sighting

The other day, I thought I caught a flash of blue when I saw a bird flying to a bush.  The distance and lighting made it difficult to be sure, but yesterday, there was no mistaking it--a male bluebird.

Despite him letting me get somewhat close, I still didn't get the best shots.  There should be ample time for that when they start nesting.

It definitely seems like spring now! :)

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.

New View of my New Path

On a few warm days in January, I started creating a path on a slope.  I found a huge rock at one point and came close to digging it out, but decided to put it off for another day--I think I was afraid I would screw up my back again and never finish the path.

I had a couple more days in February where I could work the ground.  If I recall, I finished it early March.

Here it is with an aerial shot.

(Well, I guess it isn't finished until I get that rock out, fill the hole, remove the garbage that I found, and, hopefully, seed it with something native--maybe path rush.)

Thank you, babe, for the aerial shot. :)

The other day, I added some elderberry cuttings along the slope--hopefully, they will root with no trouble and grow in in the next couple of years...along with some other native shrubs.  I have some silky dogwood still in pots that I can add...and I hope to buy some other species.

Photographing Birds

With a warm, early spring, I have been doing a good bit outside (which I have yet to post about :-/ ).

Yesterday, we had some snow for the first time in many weeks--luckily the temps were above freezing.  Anyway, I had an opportunity to take some pictures of the birds coming in to my seed offerings.  This was a good day...several fairly exceptional shots--normally I get nothing special or only one.  I posted them on Facebook, but, I refuse to abandon my blog.

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. :)

Finally! (Late) Winter Sowing.

Last week, I finally started sowing some of the native seeds I collect every year.  This year, I am over a week later than my latest sowing (back in 2013, I think) wen I sowed at the end of February. 

It has been unseasonably warm for a while...I hope they get the freezing and thawing that some may need to germinate.

As usual, I am was very spotty on labeling whati collected...and, likely, even worse at labeling the trays.   But I did label a few.  I also did my signature move of double sowing some plugs with species that tend to grow in the same conditions...and I did several mixes (most notably "wetland mix"). Finally, I took the way way out and threw the more common species into a large container of damp potting mix--these I will likely hand sow on prepared ground later this spring.