Pollinator Garden DIY!

Hi everyone,

It's been a wet past couple days, but I imagine that's perfect weather for observing those hydrophilic species. I tried yesterday to look for frogs and salamanders, but didn't have much luck. Still open to any recommendations for salamander searching.

Kev and I took the girls hiking on Saturday at Patapsco Valley State Park. We didn't think they would make the 6 mile Chevrolet Trail, so we tried shaving it down to 3 miles by cutting up the Quarry Trail. Ended up being just under 5 miles, but the girls were little troopers. I attached a link to the trail below. Minimal elevation, kid and dog friendly.

Just as we were entering the park, we heard a loud croaking from one of the trees. This is the second time we've heard this bird calling. The first time we heard it, Kev and I kept going back and forth between raven or crow. It was so much louder and throatier than an American crow. This time, we had an actual visual of the bird and I was able to catch a video of it calling and bouncing around on the branch. Based on the size, I was sure, definitely a raven. I might be geeking out about it more than it warrants, but it's my first raven sighting outside of captivity.

I've added some observations to my Fort Smallwood Park Project. My favorite it the eastern tailed blue I spent following around the park for a good 20 minutes. Eventually the butterfly tired from the chase and let me take my pictures.

We are now entering week 7 of quarantine. Kev and I aren't the type that does well staying in. I think we've done a good job compensating with exercise and hiking, but we're starting to get that Fixer Upper itch. Thankfully, we have found a project to fill that productivity void we've been feeling. We've decided, with the guidance and expertise of my mother, to build a pollinator garden in our backyard.

A couple of years ago, my mom got certified through Anne Arundel County's Watershed Stewards Academy. Since then, she has been implementing her knowledge and gardening skills all over her community to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay and support Maryland's native species. I'm very proud of her hard work and dedication to environmental conservation. I've included a link to the WSA website where you can read more about their work.

Anyways, our garden will be all natives. Once everything is planted, I would like to install a couple of pollinator rest stations (bee/bird baths, butterfly houses, humming bird feeders (without red dye)). I want to increase the presence of pollinators in our yard, so any tips or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

We're starting work today by fixing the fence behind the site of our garden. Wednesday, we plan to break ground. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on the progress of the installation. Maybe I will start a project just for my own backyard.

Talk to you next time!

-Em

Anne Arundel County Watershed Stewards Academy: http://aawsa.org/
Map of Hike: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/recording-apr-25-02-21-pm-ef1e491

Posted on April 27, 2020 02:54 PM by