One of the frustrations about the building of the new house being put off for so long is that there are so many beautiful things to see here at home...but only at certain times. Certain flowers blooming--like the lavender, so much green everywhere, and now even the Petunia hanging baskets I bought for some inviting color when the house is looked at--some curb appeal, if you will-- are on their last leg. So I try to take pictures along the way in case the realtor can use them in the listing whenever that does happen! The grapes are coming along nicely here!
The lilies seem to have popped up and open overnight.
The white vervain, with its bedhead, gave one last push before leaves start to shrivel or give in to a powdery mildew.
This picture won't be used in a listing, but look at those eggs on the storm door glass. Man, nature is amazing!
Back to the land. I try to honor every trip.
It is starting to get really overgrown in the wildflower patch. I need a lawnmower that is 6-12 inches wide, maximum 😂 I also tried to map out where everything is planted, because my writing is washing off of some of the flag markers. But I had to hurry and it seems like some plants are missing, so I will need to come back to this another day.
But!!! LOOK!!! The Spotted Bee Balm love their new home!
And the Anise Hyssop!
And just like that, the new pond bank has filled in and the watershed flood water is receding, though that area will likely always remain marshy.
A pearl crescent has decided to explore the area too!
It's time to get back up front to work on the NIPSCO path, so I am taking in all of the plants one more time.
Blue Vervain
Flowering Spurge
Fleabane
Willow growing back on the edge of the ditch.
The NIPSCO path held up better than I thought it would for such a long period of time of letting it go. I'm sure Woodchuck occasionally mowed it along the way, and the most what needed to be cleaned was all around the willow barricade fence we made. He said that fence was really hard to take apart, BTW. The willow locked in once dried. Good! That was the point! I found some hazelnuts that survive, though most of the bushes have died even before we got the land.
I miss being in the water, and in the forests. I feel like so much of my work has focused on the open spaces as of late.
We created this path at least 2-3 years ago for NIPSCO to be able to bury the electric line. I hated taking out the big Blue Spruce, and am grateful to find that there are a couple of more near where it was. It makes me nervous having such an exposed area.
We were able to leave the willow fencing material off to the side to re-use once this work in this spot is done.
After he's backed the brush hog in.
He has to mow the whole path, even behind the barn.
It's the best we could do, to leave it open and accessible for when we need to let the workers in, but closed off enough to make it clear that others shouldn't use it.
I missed the flowering of the orchids, but am glad that I saw them! It reminded me to cage them in the hopes that they don't get trampled in the work.
I found this Arge Tiger Moth face down in the grass. I suspected he met the tractor, or a boot walking through. 😟
It was able to use some legs to hold on, but could not keep itself upright and its head is permanently tilted.
I tried to provide it with comfort in what was likely its last moments, by setting it on a tree stump and making a tent over it with a leaf.
I have a hard time staying focused if given a moment of down time on a project, say like when Woodchuck has to go get a different supply. There's too much magick afoot to stay focused on work! With all of the humidity and rain, there are tons of mushroom and fungi popping up everywhere! This one is like a chalice for the woodland creatures.
I am finding lots of spiders too, some of which are not native and I never know what to do about that. How much is known on this subject and how they affect the native eco-sytem? Hmmmm, something to eventually check into.
This is a Gea Heptagon. Originally from the Pacific Islands and Australia, but has been introduced here in the United States and Argentina.
We always have lots of Carolina Horsenettle, a member of the nightshade family.
Unfortunately, Tree of Heaven.
And these caterpillars are everywhere right now! They become a Pale Tiger Moth/Banded Tussock Moth
One would think that this is a natural feature on the willows, because there are so many of them all over the trees, but these are actually some sort of gall created by an insect.
I finally thought to look at/take a picture of the new pond bank from the other side of the pond. My goodness how different it looks all covered in vegetation! I tried walking it recently and gave up, it is so thick with plants right now. This is not something that can be mowed because it's too soft and it's not grass that's on it, but plants. When you walk on it, it's a lot like jello! Equipment would get stuck, sink, and I want the good plants for many reasons, including erosion control.
I did find some Skullcap along the pond and have to figure out what to do with it. I would love to leave some in this spot, but maybe take one plant and transplant it! I also need to figure out which Skullcap it is! Did you know that it is a member of the mint family?
There are some spots on the land that make you stop and inhale, and this is one of them! Such a blend of smells, it's hard to describe as anything other than wild, tropical, and heady. This spot, located on a corner just past the pond, looks like a mess! But to me, this is wonderful, because there a lot of native and beneficial plants in this one little spot. Deer also use this spot to bed down in. It's full of Pokeweed, Jewelweed, Boneset, and more!
The panicled-leaf ticktrefoil is EVERYWHERE right now, so I didn't worry about that one plant that Woodchuck ran over with the tractor, lol.
The watershed grasses are up over my head now! If we could see sunsets from here, it would make some amazing pictures!
The rosinweed and compass plants are still in full force on the watershed! They are one of my favorites to stop and look at.
All of the trees and bushes continue to thrive in the hot, stormy Summer conditions.
The primrose are in bloom right now
Today's bouquet of horrors. Queen Anne's Lace
While pulling some QAL in taller vegetation on the watershed, I ran across this plant. I most likely have seen it in years past and have forgotten about it. I really need to start a notebook to document all of these discoveries! Partridge Pea, native.
The ironweed is now blooming as well, though this one is just over the property line.
It's humid and getting cloudier. Little did I know what that was going to mean for us! It was right about this moment that I startled a deer cooling off down in the ditch. Sorry, little friend!
I have to slow down by water when pulling Queen Anne's Lace! I always pause and look at the leaves and flower heads. Water Hemlock.
Pierogi doesn't have a care in the world, and little does she know too that this is the last enjoyment of the air conditioning for a number of days! Before I make the next posting, I want to see if I can figure out why my videos won't load here anymore. I got some doozies to share with you!
