05-OCT-2011
Old field area - October 2011
The old field area is now a very different place, and over the years has undergone several metamorphoses. Here, as you can see, the dominant vegetation is goldenrod, and beyond the goldenrod, out of sight, large stands of wild raspberry.
28 August 2006
Old woods in late summer, 2006
The view is to the southeast. In the beginning, the area in front of the tall trees was mowed grass. When this photo was taken, 16 years later, it had evolved into an area of dense thickets of red osier dogwood, birch, asters, goldenrod and many other plants.
Spring 1991
Looking east toward the Amphbian Pond (only there was no pond at the time the photo was taken)
The area in the foreground is now the New Woods, full of trees, while the area in the distance, before the conifer thicket is now a thriving pond!
Looking north to the Amphibian Pond, spring 1991
The pond had not yet been created when this photo was taken. However, it now sits below that slope (with bare patches). The open grass in the foreground now has many trees and shrubs and bird boxes. In this photo we are looking north toward the Arboretum (the trees in the background).
The site of the Amphibian Pond, summer 1990
Looking west toward the barn and Prince of Wales Drive. This grassy area is now a large pond with frogs, turtles, muskrats, a beaver, nesting birds, dragonflies, etc. etc. A flourishing ecosystem created out of a mowed patch of grass!
Amphibian Pond site, 1991
We don't know who took this photo, but we do know it was just prior to when the pond was created in October 1991. This photo is looking west toward to barn. The great expanse of meadow is now a well-established pond with frogs, turtles, dragonflies, muskrats, etc. Already the slopes are showing a good growth of shrubs and other vegetation.
Constructing the dam at the east end of the pond, October, 1991
Looking northward across the dam to the entrance road into FWG. The Ravine is to the right.
Creating the Amphibian pond: Dam construction, Oct. 1991
Looking west toward the barn and Prince of Wales Drive. Today, the area between the pond and barn is full of tall trees. Oh yes, and the barn is now red. Where the wide open grassy area is, our pond now exists.
28-OCT-1991
Creating the Amphibian Pond: Dam construction Oct.1991
In late 1991, we began work on a big project, creating the Amphibian Pond. The first step was to build a dam at the end of the mowed site and before the Ravine (on the right). However... the initial plan for this site was to create a Sedge Meadow, NOT a pond! I guess the fates had a different idea because the site soon filled with water once the dam was constructed, and a pond it has been ever since. And we are very glad it is.
28-OCT-1991
Creating the Amphibian Pond: Dam construction, Oct. 1991
Another view of the dam construction. We are looking west toward Prince of Wales Dr.
Amphibian Pond, April, 1992
Looking west to the barn and Prince of Wales Drive. As can be seen, the pond is now full of water, just 8 short months after being constructed in October, 1991. Today, only the barn's roof can be seen abover the trees, and trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers cover both the areas all around the pond. The pond itself is full of cattails and other aquatic plants.
August 1992
Looking east to the newly created Amphibian Pond, 1992
The pond is now just over a year old and is already filled with water. The grass in the foreground has grown quickly now that the site is left unmowed. Today, the view to the pond is through trees of the New Woods.