May 2015 – Page 2 – LandRemedy Blog

May 2014 – Knotweed Recedes in Importance

photo of weeds — Knotweed resprouts are not as numerous as other undesirable interlopers we weed from the slope these days.

photo of knotweed — A wimpy knotweed resprout. Its days were numbered.

photo of dogwood, knotweed — These resprouts, in front of the silky dogwood, managed to get taller. We removed as much of their rhizome as possible.

April 2014 – Phragmites Revisited, Again

The east end of the pond is the shallowest. One day, the wind blew all the dead stalks into that area, so I gathered up as many as I could into piles. Then someone with more muscles came along with the tarp or tractor, and hauled them over to the burn pile.

photo of stalks — More dead phragmites stalks

another photo of dead stalks — More dead phragmites stalks

photo of dead phragmites — When they’re wet, they’re heavy, so I make smaller piles.

photo of another pile — another pile of dead phragmites

photo of alders — Pruned alders at the pond’s E end

November 2013 – What a Turkey!

photo of turkeys — Actually, two turkeys! A rafter of 5 browsed our front yard that day.

Sawfly Larvae on River Birch

Rather than use chemicals, I hit these up with a good stiff spray of water from the hose, and they all went flying off. I hope this works!

September 2013 – Phragmites, Revisited

At the end of the summer, the level of the pond has gone down, exposing more dead phragmites stalks, and some new resprouts. There is so much of this dead material! We’ve got to get as much out as possible. It’s hard work!

photo of phragmites again — North side of pond, dead phragmites stalks and some green ones that dare to still be alive.

photo of progress — Later that day. Making some progress.

photo of frog — This frog kept me company.

Inspiration from Canterbury

Through happy circumstances, we ended up in England twice within one year!

photo of willow — You could tell that some old willows had been pollarded for years.

photo of pollard — Looking up from deep within a willow, at a thick, pollarded branch

August 2013 – Baby Turtles Hatch on Slope

I wanted to plant a willow on the slope, near the area where the turtles had been laying eggs. Instead of a shovel, I used my hands to dig a hole, very carefully.

Sure enough, dozens of baby turtles had hatched. I carefully put them into a bucket, and brought them down to the pond. The immediately made a beeline for the water!

Photo of baby turtles — Baby turtles and the tip of my sneaker

August 2013 – Silky Dogwood with Berries

photo of dogwood berries — Bet these berries look mighty yummy to a bird!

August 2013 – What is This Stuff? …Part Four

photo of weed — Oh my, what is this? Lactuca serriola, or prickly lettuce. Looks might weedy. Not necessarily that great of a plant.

August 2013 – Another Plant Appears on Slope

photo of horseweed — What is all this tall stuff, I wonder (sorry about the camera strap in the way.) I think it’s Conyza canadensis, or horseweed. It’s growing over where the big patch of knotweed was, and it worries me, because there’s a lot of it, and it’s flowering. It’s supposedly native. I leave some and take some away, trying to honor some of nature’s balance.