Woodchuck and I headed to The Land as early as we could this last time. Temps were in the 90's and it's been muggy, and the sun was going to be blazing. Blazing sun. I will reference back to that later!
The plan was for me to continue to pull Lily of the Valley from the second CRP forest and to keep assessing it. Woodchuck was going to cut up some limbs and move them all out of the way from the beginning of what will be our driveway, for a pick-up truck to be able to drive back to the pond area. Then together we were going to try and access the WRP to assess the water quality on the pond there. It was my hope that we would not be dealing with the watermeal on that pond as well. (see previous post about toys!)
I felt the need to release on this day. A crazy schedule and feeling overwhelmed left me wanting to go cry in my forest. But as soon as I stepped on to the land, the urge went away and I was revitalized again. When parked and turning around to face the road, this is the sight that I see.
I ended up deciding to help Woodchuck move the limbs before heading out on my own. I was greeted by one of my favorite tulip poplar trees!
But my glorious moments turned to disgust just minutes later. I finally got the positive identification on some plants I've been watching. Multiflora rose. Elch.
Telltale signs of MFR are frilly little appendages coming off of the main steam where the leaflet clusters come out. Downward facing thorns are another telltale sign as well. Interestingly enough, the blossoms can look different all on one plant! I've seen three different looking blooms on one plant, assuming that they were in different stages of bloom, but I honestly don't understand the plant enough yet to know what that's about. Once you see one, you are checking everything for all of those factors! This bush stood at least 7-8 foot tall, with another one very close by and on the edge of the ditch where we will have a hard time reaching.
Sadly, I found several more of these plants throughout The Land. I was able to find some of their small saplings growing by the pond that I took the time to dig out. That was no easy task! But look at that healthy soil!
Even more sad is I potentially found one next to the WRP pond, but Woodchuck was running so fast across the land that I barely had time to snap a picture of it! We had another talk about slowing down for me. He doesn't want me out on The Land alone, but then when he's with me he won't give me the time to identify plants. As land owners working with the USDA and NRCS, it is our duty to do this, and we knew that taking this land on. He just needs a constant reminder and pretty soon, a swift kick in the ass. 😉
While he gave me the time to snap pictures of the WRP pond, he stood so far away that I could have fallen in with my backpack, phone, and walkie on and he'd be too late to grab me. I should have tied myself off to the potential MFR, since it was another tall one! I do not believe we are dealing with watermeal on this pond, however, there's something there. Either debris from the willows and surrounding trees, or duckweed. Pictures have been sent to the NRCS, and I will get a water sample if need be. I have to go back to this spot anyway to identify the damn tree. If Woodchuck would just give me the chance the first time we head out, it would save me a trip or two......
I only made it into the CRP to walk our friend around the land who had made the lengthy trip from where he lives to deliver us two used Jon Boats!
He even brought a little hitchhiking friend with him, who sadly had a couple of damaged legs but was still running around. We'll need these boats on the main pond to treat it for the watermeal, use sonar to see if there are any living fish left in it (doubtful), and to eventually place the solar fountain to keep the water from stagnating again. Compared to the boats, the oars were what really cost! And you don't buy them in pairs, you have to buy them individually. With a name like Woodchuck, it would have been nice for him to be able to make us some! 😁
I spent the rest of the time working in what I refer to as The Prairie. It is the only part of all the acreage that we own that isn't on any land programs. But it is just as much of a mess as the rest of the land. I dug up some MFR saplings, mullein, campion, and harvested some willow from the edge of the pond, and identified some other plants that will need to come out eventually. The sun blazes on this part of the land, and is where we would eventually like to plant a sunflower screen, pollinator garden, garden, have a greenhouse and more.
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