Category: Nature

The yard, pond, seasons, animals …

Winter in the Backyard

March 16, 2019 @ 1:24 pm

Winter fascinates. From the metallic dimpled icy plating laid over the back deck over night …

to the newly minted deer paths (more like highways – some serious hoof work) in all that vast whiteness down there …

Winter deer – tracks to trails

Leaving a weak, waning sunset, colder, to complete the day …

Author tgreen Category Nature

Pond – Late Spring, Early Summer

June 28, 2018 @ 2:18 pm

Catching up, since last fall.  The Minnows made it through the winter.  They patrol the pond, and are busy breeding under the water lilies – you see ripples coming from the edges of the lily pads.  Haven’t seen a blue gill yet – hmmmm.  Of course, there are frogs, toads, etc.  And flying birds.  And snakes.  And turtles.  And fishing birds – Herons.  The odd duck or two – they never stay.  And beauty.  So much so – I had to take some pics, and put em here.

Charlie says good bye …

Yard and Pond – Late August

August 28, 2017 @ 12:17 pm

Catching up – haven’t posted for a while.  Some pics from Jerie’s gardens and my pond.  In late August.  Been a balmy summer here.  A bit spoiled now.  We are.

The very black eye, of a Black Eyed Susan
The very black eye, of a Black Eyed Susan

Close up to Hens and Chicks
Close up to Hens and Chicks

Hens and Chicks ... AKA Audrey when in bloom.
Hens and Chicks … AKA Audrey when in bloom.

One dark red water lily blossom, reflections abound
One dark red water lily blossom, reflections abound

The dock reflected in the pond - icy clear
The dock reflected in the pond – icy clear

Phrags reflecting on the surface, dock in foreground
Phrags reflecting on the surface, dock in foreground

Jerie knows what these are .. I sure don't. But they are pic-worthy.
Jerie knows what these are .. I sure don’t. But they are pic-worthy.

The whole shebang
The whole shebang

Call these serenity shots
Call these serenity shots

An utterly gorgeous lily, from Jerie's side door garden.
An utterly gorgeous lily, from Jerie’s side door garden.

Blue Gills
Blue Gills

This ...
This …

Life Underwater – What a Minnow Sees

June 1, 2017 @ 4:28 pm

Wanted to see what the minnows breeding under the water lilies saw.  So, I stuck a GoPro onto the end of a long slender board (inside a waterproof case), started up the camera, turned on the video – and shoved it underwater.  Just to see if there was anything worth filming.  Had to shoot blind, as there was no feedback from the GoPro.  This is the result – somewhat edited.

In the first scene, there are two minnows, swimming under the lily pads.  Turns out these Fathead Minnows attach their eggs to the bottom of just about anything.  For my pond, lily pads fit the bill.  The male takes care of the egg bundles, after the female deposits them.

If you look carefully, you can see a couple other minnows as well.

Muskrats – the battle begins

May 24, 2017 @ 1:15 pm

Down at the pond, this morning …

I found some muskrat tells …

3 lily pads, separated at the base of the stem, from the tuber.  Meaning it was likely done by a muskrat gnawing on the tuber.

They were all in the same spot – the NW corner, where I’d found a single lily pad 2 days back.

So – I called the trapper – leaving a phone number this time.  And, he called back.  But … he’s out of town for 3-4 weeks, at a trappers convention, no less (who knew?).

So again – undaunted – I went down to the pond – and found two old traps.  Pulling one out that I’d set last winter (it was empty and sprung).

And I set one, and put it right here …

Just like this …

Hoping for the best.  I simply hate muskrats.