Arrival of the Toads

  To me, there is nothing better than spying a couple of toads in the gardens.  I try to leave their "dens" (small dugout cubbies) so the critters feel at ease and will continue to reside amongst the vegetable plants and flowers.  Their voracious appetites for bugs works wonders in protecting the plants.  Not only will toads munch down insects, they will quickly down slugs and snails which makes me (and the plants) all the happier.  So, the toads stay...along with frogs, lizards and non-venomous snakes.  All of these are a true gardener's friends.

  On either side of the house, there is a small pond.  One, I named the "Frog Pond" for obvious reasons.  Frogs and toads love this safe place to gather, mate and lay eggs.  It is not uncommon to find thousands of tadpoles hiding under the lily pads and water hyacinths.  The other pond is much smaller so is named "Puddle Pond".  Puddle Pond is merely a catch pool for runoff from the house eaves.  I concreted a small "stream" alongside the length of the house and then down the hillside just a wee bit.  This small pond also has become a haven for treefrogs and toads. Once again, the hyacinths provide a thick protection from predators so the frogs and toads feel safe.  Both ponds are within the gardens so my critter friends do not have far to go to find their dinner.

  This is the time of year for those billion or so tadpoles to start morphing into their adult selves and leave the safety of their watery homes.  One has to be careful when wandering the gardens simply to avoid stepping on these tiny critters.  They are no bigger than a pea and, since the toads are dark in color, hard to see when in mulch.  Thankfully, they are a bit "squishable" and can pull themselves back together if I make a misstep.  

  One such tiny toad was making his exit from the Puddle Pond when I was out and about.  The tiny critter hurriedly hippity-hopped up the concrete "stream" to the chive row where it quickly disappeared under the leaf mulch.  The sighting caused me to smile as I whispered out well-wishes to the wee one.  Now, hopefully, it will avoid the ribbon snake that lives about ten feet further down that stream and the black racer that lives under the plant arbor just to the outside of the chive row.  Be safe, Little One!  You have a big chore ahead of you keeping my garden free from pests!

Pretty, Little Damselfly

   The little Puddle Pond that is literally just a drainage catch from the eaves of the house has become quite an active place.   During the daytime hours, birds and squirrels love the running water that is merely recirculated with a pump to run down the 40+ feet of gravel (aka Pebble Creek) and, by night, raccoons, possums, deer and fox come to drink.  But it is those steady residents of toads, frogs, turtles, snakes and insects that make the little pond the perfect place.  These are the critters that become so accustomed to my presence that they make no effort to flee when I approach.  We are friends...of sort.

  This morning, I was fascinated by the sheer amount of dragonflies and damselflies around the little pond.  Puddle Pond is a nursery for the nymphs!  They can grow to maturity in the relative safety found among the water hyacinths that threaten to totally clog the puddle.  While the hyacinths need thinning, I am hesitant to pull any from the water.  Too much life depends upon those plants!

  Most of the critters in the pond can do without the hyacinths but the damselflies would not be overly happy if I rip out the plants.  Damselflies need plants.  After mating, the female damselfly chooses an aquatic plant, goes underwater to cut a slit in the stalk and lays her eggs.  After laying her eggs, the female will crawl back up the plant and exit the pond.  The eggs are safe within the stalk.  Soon the eggs hatch and the larvae crawl out of the plant and begin hunting in the water.  The larvae are completely aquatic and feed upon other aquatic creatures.  It is not until they reach their final molt that they crawl out of the water, cling to a plant, shed then start life anew as a full adult.

  After finding so many damselflies flitting about Puddle Pond, my chore of clearing the hyacinths will be postponed.  I can deal with that!  Life goes on in the small Puddle Pond at the end of Pebble Creek in the midst of the Small Gardens at the top of the hill above the Bayou.  Being Queen around here gives me the luxury of making such decisions.

Eleanora is Happy!

   Ever since the weather warmed months ago, a female box turtle has been a steady occupant of the concrete pond that I dubbed as "Puddle Pond".  This little mud hole is at the end of "Pebble Creek" aka the drainage ditch.  The turtle and I have become quite friendly as, for a while, she depended on my help when she wanted out of the pond.  It seems that turtles are not adept at traversing gravel covered concrete.  She could get out of the water but not completely out of the pond area.  Each day, I would set her on dry ground under the blueberry bushes where she would burrow under the mulch during the heat of the day.  Each morning, she would be back in the pond feasting upon the tadpoles that were there by the millions.  I named her Eleanora simply because it hit me one morning that it was a fitting name.  She is quite the elegant turtle and needed an elegant, old-fashioned name so Eleanora came into being.

  I began to fret over my turtle friend.  It occurred to me that if I ever became incapacitated, Eleanora may never get out of the pond!  She would live in her own little paradise...until that paradise became her prison.  Something had to be done to help poor Eleanora escape under her own power.  I mentioned it to Son this morning and he set about making a "path" for Eleanora.  Knowing she could not navigate the gravel, he began looking for another possible exit.  Puddle Pond is edged on the back side with huge pieces of driftwood and old pilings so that became her path.  He slightly moved things about a bit to make her a "private" entrance into the garden beneath the blueberry trees.  

 Eleanora caught on quickly and was soon to be seen basking on the edge of the path.  She is also extremely happy to find that some fat earthworms had been uncovered when Son moved the pilings.  (At this rate, Eleanora is going to get fat!)  This evening, Eleanora is nestled down in a nook near the driftwood.  She is happy...I am happy.  All is well in Puddle Pond.

Something UGLY!

   I am not one to be overly squeamish of the odd things found around here on the Bayou.  There are some critters that I do prefer to avoid such as a cottonmouth, a tongue-eating louse and perhaps a few of the highly venomous spiders.  Other critters usually do not bother me...until...until today.  I found a couple of odd looking critters as I pulled the circulating pump from Puddle Pond.  Had I known these things were lurking among the hyacinths, you would have never caught me knee-deep in the water as I cleaned the pond during the summer months!  The water snake...fine.  These?  No way.

  When I pulled the pump from the pond, I noticed two flat critters stuck to the bottom. Uh, oh!  Even though I have never seen any before, I knew what these were...LEECHES!  Ugh!  Yeah, well...those things can go away...far away.  I am NOT a fan.  

  Now that I found two, it makes me wonder how they got in the little concrete pond, how many others are there and how do I get rid of them?  Perhaps, letting the pond sit dry for a few weeks would do the trick.  Since there are no fish in the pond (only frogs during the summer) and I am not afraid to put the hyacinths in the compost pile, a dry pond would pose no problem.  Bat, the cat, will have to find another source of water...like his drinking bowl!  

  As soon as this rainy season comes to an end, the pond will be drained!  I shall be leech-free!  The uglies will be gone....I hope!  Be gone, ugly leeches!  Be gone!

Pretty, Little Snaky!

   I had no intentions of doing a single bit of yard work today but wound up working myself to exhaustion.  It felt good after being cooped up inside.  Repainting each room in the Little Bayou House may not seem like an overwhelming chore but..hey, I am old.  So when the thought crossed my mind that I needed to pick more hot peppers, I jumped at the chance.  Picking those peppers would have been a perfectly nice outing if one thing did not lead to another.  I soon found myself cutting grass then cleaning the glorified gutter drain and catch pond...aka Pebble Creek and Puddle Pond.  (Yes, I find it fun to name every feature in the yard.)  I should have stopped before attempting the pond cleaning.

  While knee-deep in the small pond, I was scooping up the leafy debris that had fallen in the water.  Thinking it would be a quick job, I did not bother getting the rake.  I used my hands.  I am accustomed to dealing with things like this.  It does not make me squeamish to scoop out a handful of mud, algae and a dozen or so critters with each scoop.  All was going well until I went to clean under some rocks on the side.  It was there that I found the snake.  I was not even paying much attention when I noticed something long and slithery scooting into the water.  Ooops!  Well, now!  

  There was not much to do but keep cleaning even with the snake and I sharing the tiny pond.  I figured I had to at least determine what type of snake was living this close to the steps so...I kept work.  I had a strong hunch that this was a water snake simply because a cottonmouth would have held its ground.  So...snaky and I shared the tiny puddle until I had enough water out so I could find my friend.  Once its identity was confirmed (banded water snake), I felt more at ease and finished the job.  I did reassure the snake that it was welcome to stay in its home and not feel threatened.  Perhaps I should be a bit more careful in the future.  (And we all know that is not going to happen.)

Metallic Dragonflies?

   It does not surprise me to see hundreds of dragonflies around the two small ponds.  What are ponds for if not to entice dragonflies to lay their eggs in the shallows?  Personally, I figure we need about ten thousand more of the critters.  Perhaps, then, there will be less mosquitoes.  Since the "powers that be" (those in charge of the cities around here) have decided that mosquito prevention programs are not necessary anymore, there has been a literal explosion of the pests.  It has basically been impossible to spend any time at all outside without being eaten alive.  They are just that bad.  The dragonflies have their work cut out for them, for sure!

  At daybreak, I meandered about the place (swatting mosquitoes).  As I neared Puddle Pond, a slight gleam of silvery blue caught my eye.  A lovely dragonfly was resting in the sunbeams that filtered through the ginger plants.  Wow!  It was lovely!  The rest of my time outdoors was spent photographing the insect. My mind kept whirling with ideas of how to replicate this marvelous creature in some artform. Mother Nature sure can turn out some beauties!

Danger Lurks In The Shadows

   Puddle Pond sits at the end of Pebble Creek with both being nothing more than a drainage ditch with a circulating pump in the little pond.  The water in the pond is only about 18 inches deep so it is easy to keep clean.  Since mid summer, things have gotten a bit out of hand here with the water hyacinths growing to massive heights and thickness.  This is good in some ways but not so very good in others.  Good as it gives lots of places for the little froggies to hide from birds, coons and feral cats.  Not so good as it hides a different predator.

  This morning as I was wandering the Small Gardens, I happened upon a small ribbon snake as it was dining upon the little froglets.  The snake was taking full advantage of the coverage of the water hyacinth leaves as it picked off one after another of the tiny green treefrogs.  The pond is full of the frogs so it is only natural that the snake would be there.  As much as I like my froggies, this was not something that needed interference.  The snake was only trying to survive.  The froggies were doing the same.  They were trying to survive by climbing up high on the leaves in hopes that they could see the snake before it struck. This technique was working fine about giving them the advantage over the snake but, also, put them in jeopardy.  Any other predator now had a full view of the frogs.  I guess this was a matter of "you do what you gotta do".  

  In a way, it saddens me to see so many frogs perish but that is part of life.  If the little snake wanted to live, it had to eat.  Besides, there are thousands upon thousands of frogs in the two ponds and each night hears the froggy symphony of mating calls.  More eggs will be laid, more tadpoles will hatch and more frogs will climb out of the pond.  One little snake among thousands of frogs.  Seems fair.  Life goes on.

"Seeing the light?"

   Being back on doctor's orders to "be lazy" (to let a torn muscle heal), I feel rather useless.  I tinker around trying to prove to myself that I am still active. There is not a lot I can do.  So...at sunup, I pretend to "work" in the garden which usually amounts to picking a few tomatoes.  I "tend" to the flower gardens which means I spend more time talking with the plants than actually doing anything.  I mosey around acting like the farm girl.  Finally after all that "work" is done, I head inside to home can the fruits and veggies that Son helps me pick.  THAT...I can do!  Canning is not strenuous so, at least, I have that!

  This morning's early morning escapades took me to Puddle Pond in the Small Gardens.  I had intentions of picking the last few blueberries but the birds had beaten me to them.  Well, since there was not much else to be done here, I decided it was in my best interest to "sit a spell" on the tiny footpath bridge that spans Pebble Creek.  (For those who do not know, both Puddle Pond and Pebble Creek are parts of a glorified drainage ditch that runs down the edge of the Little Bayou House and catches the rain runoff.  This was my way of "beautifying" an otherwise ugly, washed out place.)  As I sat listening to the the water sliding over the pebbles, the sun started shooting beams through the tree limbs.  One beam settled nicely on a water hyacinth bloom and totally enthralled me. 

  While thoughts of being useless rattled around in the brain, the sight before me set things straight.  If a lowly invasive plant bloom could bring joy, then surely I could find some purpose in my day.  That thought set the wheels twirling!  What would be my goal for today...other than letting the body heal?  I felt immensely better.  I WOULD find something and go from there!  Thank you, Mr. Sun, for letting me see a clear path!

Underwater Spiders!

   This yardwork is about to get the best of me.  I am tired.  Today besides clearing a lumber pile left from storm debris, I cleaned Frog Pond.  That was no easy task.  I am having second thoughts of even having the little pond.  Perhaps it is time to get a few loads of dirt and just fill it.  No more cleaning...but that means no more frogs.  

  While I was knee-deep in the mucky-yucky water, a light movement to my left caught my eye.  Yep, a huge fishing spider was skipping across the water's surface.  The spider made it safely to the pond edge so there was no worries.  Not that I needed to fret over the spider as it is adept at taking care of itself.  A bit later, a thought came to me as I watched the spider cling to the slippery edge.  Perhaps I should extend a helping hand.  As soon as I dipped my hand in the water to lift the spider, it dove underwater!  I was able to watch the spider actually crawl on the pond's bottom!  How neat was that? 

  This is a six spotted fishing spider.  It is known to live around ponds and marshes.  These spiders can actually stay underwater for about a half hour!  Last week when I cleaned Puddle Pond, I was literally accosted by hundreds of baby fishing spiders!  More care had to be taken with the tiny critters than this larger one.  I felt bad that some surely met their demise due to my sloshing around in that pond but, hopefully, plenty of them survived. They are neat critters and are good to have in the gardens.

Never Trust A Frog!

  One of the pathways in the Small Gardens winds through the zinnia beds and opens right up to Puddle Pond.  From there, you have the option of heading back around to the veggie plot or cross the small bridge that spans Pebble Creek.  The zinnia beds are one of my favorite spots as they have been in full bloom for the past few months.  Not only are the flowers beautiful, they attract hundreds of bees and butterflies each day.  These critters also have the nearby water supply so they are happy campers.  Well, all except one.  One did not fare so well this morning.

  A Gulf Fritillary Butterfly decided to forgo the zinnias and head for one of the water hyacinths in Puddle Pond.  Those blooms are rarely visited by butterflies so I was a bit confused as to why it chose it as a resting spot.  True, it has nectar but most butterflies seem to prefer the reds and oranges of the zinnias over the lavender hyacinth.  The small butterfly alit on the flower and was immediately the catch of a predator.  One of the Bronze Frogs in the pond took advantage of the ready meal.  Bloop!  The butterfly was gone in a second!  Obviously, the butterfly needed to make better choices in life and paid dearly for his rash decision!  No more butterfly!  Sneaky fat frog!  

Cool Critters!

   While wildlife abounds here on the Bayou, I have to admit that lately I have been smitten with the dragonflies.  Perhaps this is due to the swarms of mosquitoes this summer and the dragonflies fancy for them but I find myself back by the little Frog Pond or next to Puddle Pond more than I should be.  I am mesmerized by the dragonflies!  It seems that there is something magical about these creatures.  They appear to be delicate and fragile but are some of the most fierce hunters (for their size).  They can out maneuver any other flying creature and, in a single snap, have their prey.  They hunt while on the wing then rest on a twig as they await their next prey to enter.  Fascinating!

Cool facts!

 ...Dragonflies have four wings that they can control separately.

...Dragonflies can fly sideways and backwards.

...Dragonflies' heads are basically all eyes.

...Dragonfly larvae can live up to two years underwater.

...Dragonflies can eat up to a hundred mosquitoes during a single day.

...Dragonflies actually catch their prey with their feet.

Only Room For One

   It has never occurred to me that box turtles are territorial to a degree.   Rarely have I ever seen any aggression displayed between two turtles so it surprised me to witness it today.  My weeding the garden halted when two turtles were literally "squabbling" over the rights to Puddle Pond.  Both wished to be in the small pond as the tadpoles are easy pickings but, obviously, the larger of the two did not wish to share.  She started out just nudging the smaller turtle as if she was trying to push her from the pond.  After that did not work, the larger started nipping at the smaller turtle.  Finally, the little one gave up and tried to climb out of the pebbles and into the garden.  Poor thing was not very successful at getting anywhere as the pebbles kept making her slide down the edges.  Ok, so time to intervene in this fracas.

  Picking up the smaller turtle, I moved her to a shaded spot about five feet from Puddle Pond.  She was not happy and was bent on returning.  Well, rascal!  You are going to get yourself in a snafu, if you are not careful.  To remedy the situation, a pear was offered to the exiled turtle.  That did the trick!  She was one happy camper now and did not return to Puddle Pond!  The larger one could still be seen chasing tadpoles through the water hyacinths, however.  She had to work for her supper.  Being rude never gets you anywhere!

Find your smiles

   It is far from being complete but the yard is finally getting to where I enjoy being in it again.   Due to hurricanes and health issues, the place had fallen into disarray.  It was disheartening and, to be totally honest here, I had no energy to even care about it much less fix it.  Also, to be honest again, it was the health issue that kicked me in gear.  Last July I had what the hospital claimed was a stroke.  My personal doctor has a problem calling it anything of the sort since all tests show differently.  Even a year later, there still has not been a clear cut diagnosis so I figure I would not fret over it.  It was during my "quarantine" (time where I was literally confined to what I started calling the "Small Gardens" by orders of Son) that I decided on a plan for the gardens.  Instead of a beautiful lawn and a few well placed flower beds, the entire hillside (over 4 acres) would be transformed into "rooms" with pathways connecting them.  I was not going to interfere with the wooded 4 acres but concentrate, instead, on what was cleared.  Starting with my designated area of the Small Gardens, things started being changed.  At first, I could not do much more than pull a few weeds or paint a gate.  Healing had to take place for me just as much as for the yard. It became a challenge that kept me pushing myself.   Get up, do physical therapy, work as much as I could in the yard, still do the home canning and then sit back and plan what was next.

  This morning as I was out at daybreak, a huge smile spread across my face as I found my first "enchanted" place.  I took the new pathway up the west side of the yard instead of the usual east.  I had just finished this area and wanted to "feel" the happiness.  As I reached the back side of Puddle Pond, rays from the rising sun started filtering through the shrubs. Wow! The enchantment was real!  I smiled.  I really smiled with pure glee at the sight.  No, it was not a massive, slap me up side the head change but was a wee nook of the garden that made me feel totally blissful.  My dream was happening!  

  Are the Small Gardens finished?  Nope and they probably never will be.  This is a work in progress. There is still an incredible amount of work to be done and I shall slowly get there.  The health has greatly improved in some ways but other things have been found that are setbacks.  Still, if I want to have a happy place, I have to keep striving toward it.  If ever the need arises that I have to be confined to the Small Gardens again, I want those smiles to come with each turn of a path.  The entire place will be filled with quirky finds such as the heron decoy (Hurricane Katrina debris) or the leftover Clue Hunt on the Bayou prop bottle tree.  Life is far too short to be stodgy and nitpicky about where the path takes you.  Just go and find the smiles.

Ms. Penny

   It was another busy, busy day of shredding mulch for the garden and cutting grass.  After about 3 hours of this work, I needed a cooling glass of water and a bit of rest.  It was during that rest time that an old friend came by to visit.  Ms. Penny, the box turtle ambled out from under the front steps of the Little Bayou House where she has been in brumation since last November.  It was good to see my old friend.  I watched as she slowly ambled to the tiny Puddle Pond where she could get a long awaited drink and some lunch which mainly consisted of tadpoles.

  This turtle has been coming around for years and years.  She is gentle and friendly but not so much as the turtle that hangs around the Frog Pond.  That one literally begs for handouts and attention.  Ms. Penny is receptive of handouts as long as you set it on the ground and back away.  She does, however, clear the Puddle Pond of all tadpoles.  This afternoon, she was still circling the edge nipping the tiny tadpoles from the sides of the pond.  It saddens me to know that hundreds of tiny future frogs met their demise today but it is a fact of nature that predators will be predators.

  Ms. Penny made her way out of the pond and back under the steps for the evening.  Tomorrow, she most likely will go exploring in the Small Gardens then visit the pond again.  She is welcome to stay and is always a delightful visitor.

Storms, Herons and Boredom

   I am grasping here, folks.  It has been two days since I have been able to roam the hillside and woods.  The storms seem to be everlasting so I am stuck inside much against my wishes.  When I do sneak outside for a few moments, it is to grab something from the garden for our meals.  (It is like going to the grocery store without ever leaving the Bayou!)  But, I am rapidly going stir crazy!  I need to be outside!  I am not sure how other folks can stay in their homes day in and day out.  

  A few days back, however, that sunshine was inviting me to get out and garden.  While most of the vegetable plot is in full swing, I am still revamping the other parts of the Small Gardens.  Storms and laziness on my part have put them into shambles.  One of the projects was to concrete the drainage ditch that I dubbed Pebble Creek.  The nigh on 70 ft of slope ends with Puddle Pond.  (Yes, these were named when I was confined to the Small Gardens for so many months.  Imagination, folks. It is called imagination.)  Son and I tackled the job and finished just before this round of storms.  This is another small pond dedicated to the frogs.  There are no fancy-schmancy exotic fish here on the Bayou.  It is either bull minnows or frogs.  I opted for the frogs since they help with pest control.  As I was cleaning up our mess from the concrete job, I stuck a heron decoy near the pond.  The decoy (along with two owls and a duck) was a deposited here by a past hurricane and has resided somewhere in the yard since.  It is only fitting to have it by Puddle Pond for a spell.  

  Once I get caught up on the chores, I plan to give our plastic bird its own makeover.  It definitely could use some paint and some new legs!  In the meantime, I figure the bird can stay where it is.  It wobbles with the southerly winds and sort of looks halfway real at times.  Maybe I need to toss the duck in Puddle Pond so the heron can have a friend.  Friends of all sorts are good.

Puddle Pond and Rainy Days

   For the past few days, the weather has been perfect for the garden even though it has been not so perfect for outdoor work.  Between the thick fog and drizzly rain, it was pretty miserable being outside for any length of time.  Early this morning, I slipped outside to put out a bit of birdseed for my critter friends,  As I sprinkled the seeds on the ground under the flower benches (hawk protection), I noticed that Puddle Pond was nigh on dry,  Strange considering the rainfall, as of late.  I made a quick dash for the water hose to fill the little pond.  There was no reason to let the recirculating pump struggle so.  As the pond filled, I stood under the arbor pondering the situation.

  The coons definitely play in the little pond and can be found there nightly.  Surely, they did not drink that much!  Another thought is that the deer came to visit last night.  They do come occasionally to check if any seed had been left by the songbirds.  Several deer may drink enough water to run the tiny pond shallow but it was still perplexing.  Then, a thought!  If it was the deer, my cabbages were probably gone! 

  I turned off the hose and meandered to the garden plot.  Nope!  Cabbages were still there!  Everything looked intact so I headed back to my dry spot under the arbor.  The baffling problem of disappearing water had to be muddled over and then fixed.  Puddle Pond needs its water!  The frogs will not be happy with a dry hole in the ground!  And...the rains started again.

The Refreshing Drink

   When I worked on building Pebble Creek and Puddle Pond, it was my intentions to make something pretty out of an eyesore.  Where the water drains from the rooftop, a trench was being washed creating a huge mess.  The trench was widened and filled with gravel.  Puddle Pond was dug, lined and filled with plants.  The idea of using a recirculating pump from Puddle Pond to the upper portion of Pebble Creek would provide a soothing sound to the Small Gardens.  I was working on the fountain part back around the first of July when my age caught up with me.  The body refused to go any further.  That led to my being confined to the Small Gardens, my "queendom" over the gardens and a long recovery period.  Pebble Creek and Puddle Pond were nigh on complete so my recovery was, at least, somewhat enjoyable.

  It was not until later that I noticed the water level in Puddle Pond was decreasing every day.  Something was amiss!  Thinking there was a leak somewhere, I was highly disappointed that my work had been in vain.  Not being able to tend to the problem at the time, I merely added water each day and hoped for the best. It would have to stay in sad shape until I was mended.

  Well, that was not the case.  Instead of a leak causing low water levels, the water was being lapped up by my critter friends!  By day, birds and squirrels come to visit.   By night, raccoons, fox and deer take cool drinks.  Footprints proved that many animals were appreciative of my efforts.

  I still have to add water each day but, instead of being saddened, I am elated.  The work put into the making of Pebble Creek and Puddle Pond have become far more rewarding since I know my critter friends feel safe enough to come for a drink.  The project is a success!

Just A Friendly Spider!

   Oh, the things we find!  Son has been doing a huge cleanup of the yard this past week.  With most of the termite-damage reconstruction of the Little Bayou House completed, it was time to regain the yard.  This has gone on for too long.  I had started the cleanup and relandscaping back before falling ill but that all came to a standstill during my recuperation period.  When he finished rebuilding the pier, Son took over the cleanup.  He has done most of the "heavy" work but has no clue how I want to "pretty" up the place.  His idea of the perfect yard would have no gardens, no ponds, no fences and definitely no decorations of any kind.  A clean, clear lawn would suit him fine.  Me?  I need the mystery that outdoor "rooms" create.  Winding pathways, dark, shady nooks, babbling water features (snakes and frogs included) and funky gates.  All of those things are up to me.  He does, however, call me whenever he finds some odd critter during his work.  Today, a spider put a halt to the chores.

  Son called me as he was clearing a pile of lumber.  "Hey, there is a bug."  I knew to grab the camera because it had to be something out of the ordinary if he brought attention to it.  Sure enough, it was an odd looking critter.  When I told him it was a Long-jawed Spider, he shrugged and muttered something about it had long legs not a long jaw.  Well, he had a point but the spider's name would have to stay.

  Long-jawed Spiders are pretty neat critters.  They have figured out that nighttime provides for the best hunting and so they while away the daytime hours in hiding (like this one).  In the evening, the spider will crawl out of its nook and spin a large web usually over water.  They depend on the morphing of water bound larvae to adults as a food source.  Mosquitoes, mayflies and midges all lay eggs in water. When the larvae develop into adults and leave the water, they become ensnared in the spider's web.  Spider is happy....I am happy....a lot less bugs.  

  Since Son wanted to complete his chore, I gently moved our friendly spider to a spot closer to the little Puddle Pond.  She can have lots of hiding places and will be able to catch any flying critters tonight.  Happy hunting, Long-jawed Spider!  You are welcome to stay here!

Going for a swim!

   Doctors' visits, errands and grocery shopping just about did me in for today.  Enough was enough.  I was ready to be home...back in my little domain where peace resides.  After a morning of being on the go and then a quick lunch, I headed to the Small Gardens to recuperate!  As Queen, I could lounge to my heart's content and there was nobody to see me being lazy.  Taking a book of the shelf, a glass of iced lemonade and, of course, my camera, I made myself comfortable in the big wicker chair.   With my feet propped up, it was time to relax...but the birds were having no part of that!  I had forgotten to feed them!  That would not do so bird seed was fetched and scattered on the flat top benches.  Just as I neared the Pebble Creek, something made a swirl in the waters of Puddle Pond.  Whoa!  Those tadpoles must have gotten huge overnight!

  Nope, a critter was, in fact, dining on those tadpoles!  A small box turtle was scooting around the mud bottom as she snared the soft creatures.  Well, here was nature being nature again.  As much as I love my little frogs, there were far too many tadpoles in the tiny Puddle Pond.  If they were going to grow to maturity, a few had to be eliminated.  The turtle was just thinning the crop.  I watched her for a few moments then settled in with my book.  

  Five chapters later, the turtle decided to climb out and come for a visit. She wandered right up to my chair and stared at me for a good bit before attempting to climb the steps to the french doors!  With the first step just a couple of inches higher than the doormat, the turtle was able to hoist herself up but that second step was just too high.  I suppose I will never know just why she wanted to go up the steps because she then tumbled down under the open step.   After a bit, I noticed she was nestled in among the potted plants for the evening.  I hope this little one stays in the garden.  I have enjoyed her visit tremendously!

Welcome to Puddle Pond

  Four weeks....just four weeks ago, I was in the midst of creating Pebble Creek and renovating Puddle Pond.  These two features of the yard make use of the drains to capture water from the rooftop.  Instead of letting the runoff wash gullies in the yard, I dug a trench, laid in pond lining and filled it with gravel.  This I called Pebble Creek.  With the help of a pond pump located in Puddle Pond and a long hose running the length of the "creek" water is recycled to make it appear as if the creek is actually running.  Along about halfway, a small foot bridge crosses Pebble Creek and allows for passage into the Small Gardens.  Since falling on bad health just as I completed Pebble Creek, this area has become my new domain.  It is where I must do my healing and I am fully appreciative of the hard work that went in to creating my special place.  I had pushed myself to create the space so I figure that I have every right to call myself Queen of the Small Gardens.  It was my doing and now I shall take refuge here.  

  While basking in the sunshine this morning, I saw that the frogs and toads that visit the gardens nightly have been busy.  Hundreds upon hundreds of tiny tadpoles are in Puddle Pond.  This makes me happy as I know that the project can be considered a success if the critters feel at home in it.  Most folks would have dumped some fancy goldfish or tropical fish in the little pond but it suits me fine to have local critters here.  The frogs are just as adorable and they help out in the gardens by eating a lot of unwanted pests.

  Puddle Pond is a delightful place to watch my little tadpoles as they grow and change to froglets!  It is only about 18 inches deep so the clear waters allow me to view the babies with ease.  Ahh, a bit of hard work has paid off.  I feel rewarded.