Landscaping Project Updates

The Prairie Restoration project continues around Bon Bon Pond.  This past weekend’s cool temperatures allowed a lot of work to get accomplished.  Most importantly, the three eyesore brush piles by the barn are now history—or rather mulch, thanks to a rented wood chipper. We chipped most of the day on Friday and I’ve got the sore arms to prove it.  The procedure wouldn’t have been too bad but since the mess had been there for a while the weeds had overgrown and enveloped the piles.  Try to grab a dead branch and you were pulling against entangled bromegrass. Not an easy task.  The resulting mulch was placed around the Potentillas.  These plants were transplanted last fall from a shaded garden and are doing well in this full sun area. Potentillas are favorites of bees and butterflies so I’m hoping to attract more of both to the area.  An added benefit to these beautiful bushes is they are not food for the deer.  Plus, when established, they are drought resistant and require little care.  This autumn we plan to move the remaining backyard bushes to border the little shed where they should be blissfully happy in full sun. 

More work remains to be done around the barn yet this fall.  The huge box elder behind the barn was damaged in a storm last winter and needs two mammoth branches removed.  Also,  the area facing the water requires more attention in the form of brush and weed removal.

It’s been great fun to watch my wildlife’s response to our reclamation efforts.  After the pasture was mowed on Saturday a huge flock of robins moved in to enjoy a feast of newly uncovered creepy crawlies.  The crows, turkeys and blue jays were similarly thrilled and, in particular, spent hours pecking away thru the bottom of the former brush piles. 

We are making good progress, thanks in large part to the help of our dear friend Jeff who has contributed hours—make that weeks—of  his time (and tanks of gas!)  this summer to Bon Bon Acres. 

Bye bye brush piles!  Good riddance!

The Final Frontier: the wild honeysuckle tree has been trimmed 
but more work needs to be done.