22-SEP-2014
Sunflower
By Mid-September the Butterfly Meadow is alive with a great sweep of yellow sunflowers.
22-SEP-2014
Song sparrow nest at base of walnut sapling
When cutting back the sapling trees in the old field habitat (we don't want trees to take over one of the few remaining open areas at the FWG) I discovered a song sparrow nest in a fork formed by the sucker growth from previous year's cutting, about 1 foot above the ground. Song sparrows nest on the ground (we've found their nests ensconced in DSV vines), or not too far above it in shrubs or other sturdy vegetation.
Spotted tussock moth caterpillar (Lophocampa maculata), #8214
A beautifully coloured caterpillar which becomes increasingly common in late summer through fall and is found on a variety of vegetation.
27 Sept 2014
Carleton Serves crew
This year we were lucky to be invited to host a group of Carleton University students, who we were told were willing to do the hardest more grueling jobs. Hmmm, an opportunity to tackle dog-strangling vine (DSV)!
The students proved to be more than willing and very able. This photo was taken AFTER 3 hours work.
Prabha tweeted images of the crew and all the creatures we came across, and we also enjoyed music from an iPhone while we worked, turning a hard job into a very enjoyable day.
26 Sept 2014
White Pine stand "before"
This was the work area - thankfully in the shade as the day turned out to be quite hot. This stand of about 20 White Pine trees is just north of the Ash Woodlot. These trees were planted as foot-high saplings in 1996 by students in an environment club at Fisher High School. They are now close to 30 feet tall, but dog-strangling vine has covered the soil under the trees and the vines grow up into the branches as well.
26 Sept 2014
Cork elm covered in DSV
Another "before" photo shows how DSV can twine around the branches of trees and grow up and over shrubs and other low vegetation. Here it's covering the lower branches of a cork elm tree and some adjacent shrubs. The higher the vine grows the farther its seeds can travel as they are wind borne. Needless to say, we don't want this very invasive species spreading any more than it already has.
27 Sept 2014
White Pine stand "after"
The students spent the afternoon crawling around under the pine trees, pulling out DSV and untangling it from branches and "good" plants. Aside from mosses and the occasional Virginia Creeper, this area is devoid of vegetation. The trick will be to keep DSV from growing back. We know it is less robust in deep shade, but it still grows.
27 Sept 2014
Under trembling aspens
On the other side of the central path through the woods, trembling aspens are mixed with butternut and ash saplings. Two of our mysterious "crop circles" (small areas where DSV does not grow) occur here as well. The students were able to clear DSV from the whole area and start a ground story by planting some Large-leafed Asters.
27 Sept 2014
Safely bagged
The students pulled almost 20 industrial-sized bags of DSV. Bagging was necessary to contain all the seeds on these plants. Rather than "export our problem" we will likely just leave the bags carefully piled out of the way until the plant material breaks down to the point where we can dump it out and return those nutrients to the soil.
If you look closely, you'll see that's the cork elm that was previously covered in DSV. It and the Red Osier shrubs nearby are now DSV-free, as is the area in front. I'm hoping that a bit of chopping in the spring will defeat the DSV and allow us to plant some native wildflower in here.
The students also planted some Gray Dogwoods and Red Maples in the open part of the woods.
Thanks again to our wonderful crew of Carleton students. It was a pleasure to work with you, and you really made a difference at the FWG.
22-SEP-2014
Bumble bee on sunflower
Bees were hanging out under vegetation on the cool, windy morning a few days ago. When it is rainy, or there is other inclement weather, insects sensibly seek shelter as best they may.
22-SEP-2014
Lupine (Lupinus)
Butterfly meadow. A few lupines were blooming, several months later than their usual late spring blooming date. They are alongside the trail so possibly got mowed down earlier and are now having a second go at it.
22-SEP-2014
Banded tussock caterpillar (Halysidota tessellaris), #8203
These spiky caterpillars are very common right now and can be seen all over the region on a wide variety of vegetation. They can be this lovely yellow, and they can also be found in shades of gray and a pale tan colour. The black band along the back (the dorsal band) is sometimes very pronounced as here, and sometimes nearly absent.