The Canadian Hemlocks I planted this spring didn’t seem like they would be this close to the water’s edge.
Hard to tell where the water line was when eyeballing the dry pond this spring.
Close But Safe
Not Meant to Be
The little dams I built throughout the woods suppose to stop the water and be big enough to not fill completely up, but I did not realize how much water can rush through the steep valleys. So I started building emergency spillways even for my little vernal ponds.
This vernal pond is a good example of what I want for my other vernal ponds that have water go over their dams. The water is going around the end of the dam and does not wreck the integrity of the dam. The depth of the water is around 8′ deep when it this full.
My Little Pond Network
I have a multitude of little ponds I built in a forest nearby the house.
Today every little hole was filled with water, giving a nice appearance of a network of vernal pools, stepping their way down the valley.
Empty Nester
The Herons are long gone and all that sits in the giant Cottonwood tree are empty nests.
The Heron Rookery will remain lifeless until next summer.
Green & White
The Maxie Pear has continued to hold onto leaves into December.
The leaves were reddish when young, but have greened up.
Blackberry Snow
The Blackberries continue to keep their green leaves in this mild weather.
The melting snow keeps the green in plain view.
Winter Scene
It is only the start of December and it is already beginning to look like Christmas.
So far we have escaped any large snow accumulations.
Calville Blanc d’Hiver
Calville Blanc d’Hiver apple tree still had the leaves on it when the freezing rain hit the other day.
The tree is bending to the ground, but now I shook some of the ice off, so it is straightening back out.
Iced Landscape
Some freezing rain has iced over everything on my Oasis.
Carolina Buckthorn
Carolina Buckthorn has looked lush green deep into November.
The surrounding snow has given these little seedlings an evergreen look.