Wild Geranium

Wild Geranium now in bloom. Been dry lately; what remains of the lawn is looking a touch brown, and the invasive patches of creeping charlie that were exploding across the garden throughout the damp spring are dead. Native plants, even the water-loving Swamp Milkweed, seem to be doing quite well.

Pasque Flower has gone to seed. Have seen several baby Cottontails in the yard; one seems to have made a home for itself in the Wild Bergamot.

Eastern Bluebirds are back; a male's been staking out one of the houses, but no female and no nest so far. Huge bands of blackbirds; Grackles mostly, with the odd Red winged scouring yards and farmer's fields all over the county.

Relatively dry with temps jumping between the 70's and 80's, some 90's earlier this week down in the cities. Trill of the American Toad joining the peepers and chorus frogs in their chorus.

Mohican Viburnum

Columbine flower

Jacob's Ladder have been blooming for a few days now; Columbine and Mohican Viburnum just burst over the weekend.

Pond Stage 4


A Little Detail

Pond Garden Stage 4 is a go; so far I've covered about 28 square feet of overlayment covered in poultry wire (for reinforcement) and coated it with a mixture of cement, peat moss, the occasional rock or stone, and various decorations including sea shells and chunks of marble tile.

First ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year spotted buzzing about the Columbine. Add to that the first Baltimore Oriole seen in the Maple trees. Peepers not quite as prevalent as they were a few weeks back, but it may be due to the cold stint we've been having (frost in some areas last night). A male Eastern Bluebird has been hanging around the houses, but no nest yet. Red-shouldered hawk has been quite vocal for the last week.

Natives in Bloom:

• Canada Anemone


• Columbine


• Jacob's Ladder


• Rue Anemone


• Purple Pasque Flower

Wildlife Spotted:

• Baltimore Oriole


• Black-capped Chickadee


• Blue Jay


• Chipmunk, Eastern


• Chorus Frog


• Cottontail Rabbit


• Eastern Bluebird


• Goldfinch


• Grey Squirrel


• Loon


• Nuthatch


• Pileated Woodpecker


• Red-shouldered Hawk


• Red-winged Blackbird


• Ruby-throated Hummingbird


• Squirrel, Gray


• Turkey Vulture

White Oak Flower

While these may not be the more "traditional" blooms of the cherry or lilac most people are familiar with, they are flowers. The little bumps on the catkin above are actually the male portion of the flowers. When the male portion spreads its pollen, it is shed by the tree; you'll often see loads of male catkins on the ground in late Spring.

Pond, Stage 3


The bog portion of the pond

The pond is now at stage 3... the underlayment is complete, the main tarp has been laid down, and several overlapping layers of old liner have been added on top of it as overlayment. Have secured it to the sides mostly by way of bricks or stakes for nwo. We've added plant shelves, and have roughed in the bog section. The deepest section is around 3'6, not counting the 3 inches of dirt I have added for burrowing amphibians and reptiles.

It's been good weather for pond work; holding in the 50's in the afternoon. Quite cool for mid-Spring.

Cherry Trees in bloom

Cherry trees (seen here in this morning's mist) are currently exploding with white blossoms. Clusters of Columbine leaves are coming up in droves (no flowers yet), and we're just starting to get buds on our Prairie Smoke.

Temps have been cool; 40's in the morning pitching into the 70's in the late afternoon, with a good amount of stormclouds and light rain. Fewer birds than usual at the feeder, though they're all extremely noisy in the morning. Have heard a few Tree Frogs announcing themselves amongst the chorus of Peepers and Chorus Frogs which, since the rains, have extended from morning to late night.


Pond Rework, Stage 2 (now an unholy mess)

Pond is fully flushed out now, except for one plant shelf. Have started filling the finished parts with underlay; the stuff that keeps any rocks, roots, or burrowing creatures from puncturing the liner. Have used everything from plastic landscaping bags to carpet to bits of the old pond tarp and even car mats and used (clean) towels and rags for that purpose. Looks like an unholy mess, but it's the second R of reduce, reuse and recycle, and better serving a purpose under my pond than taking up space in a landfill somewhere! Will use a good amount of the old pond tarp as an overlayment; especially on the plant shelves (which you'll notice are given ample space below the rim of the pond, and in the bog section.

Purple Pasque Flower

Rue Anemone

Rain and slightly cooler temps. The first Pasque Flower just popped up this week, and the first of the Rue Anemone are starting to unfurl their blossoms, and the leaves of the Rue Anemone are coming up in droves. Spring Peepers and Chorus Frogs quite loud lately. Have seen plenty of Sandhill Cranes and Redwinged Blackbirds, though the Bluebird houses are still empty. Would like to take a trip out to the Maplewood Nature Center perhaps early next week.

Pond Rework Stage 1


Have been reexcavating the pond lately. Got a few of the neighborhood kids involved in pulling off the dirt and tarps; have reexcavated the East basin to 3.5', have widened the stream, added plant shelves, and will be adding a bog section to the West basin. Would like to add some bullheads and other natives to the feeder goldfish this year; kids have even offered to donate crayfish and snails should they catch any.

Eventual plans include a third stream with waterfall and an underwater fishcam. A small de-icer and a solar-powered aerator should allow the fish to overwinter in some degree comfort. Did catch a few dragonfly nymphs and various other waterbugs; added them to the rain barrel for now; will be emptying that into the pond when it's done.

What's Blooming:

• Purple Pasque Flower
• Rue Anemone

Wildlife Spotted:

• Black-capped Chickadee
• Blue Jay
• Chipmunk, Eastern
• Chorus Frog
• Cottontail Rabbit
• Goldfinch
• Grey Squirrel
• Loon
• Nuthatch
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Spring Peeper
• Turkey Vulture