Fall in the back yard

The pond is the centrepiece of this tiny back yard. It was created by mistake - I wanted water and hydro in the drive shed when I first moved here - and didn't pay attention to the fellows who were digging the trenches for the piping. So the clay and topsoil got pulled out of the ground in a heap and weren't separated, probably couldn't be... and when everything was filled in, I had a patch of clay in the middle of the yard instead of a green lawn.

For a few years it sat, not growing grass.

Finally with the help of some neighbourhood teens, we dug it out, and eventually  lined the hole with black plastic which I was to regret after two years, but lined and filled it was... ultimately I purchased seven little fish. And planted sumach around it and now have put in small gardens around it - and stones. It's undergone several incarnations since but now seems to be better organized with a neoprene liner.

Frogs love it, the fish have multiplied - I also was given five largish ones, and now have 26 or 27 - can't be sure 'cause it's so hard to count that many moving bodies.

From the other side - looking towards the house you can see some of the fish enjoying early morning searches for bugs and maybe a handout from me since they swim immediately to where they see me standing and always at supper time when they are usually fed.

The changing colour of the sumach is a delight - and the cosmos on the left has added a lovely feathery splash of pinks, purples and mauves. All in all it makes it all okay - the fact that I haven't trimmed the grass away from the edges, haven't mown the grass in a couple of weeks, nor gotten to the flower beds to remove the ribbon grass that insists on spreading everywhere way more quickly than I could possibly rip it out. It will get done eventually. But having living things - there are often as many as a dozen green and leopard frogs in the pond as well - in my back yard is fun.

Birds land on the edges and drink from it. As do my cats, one of whom watches the fish with fascination but hates to get her feet wet so I'm not worried about their safety. Dragonflies hover and I'm sure have laid eggs in it. Butterflies float around. It seems to be more than a centrepiece for the yard, but for some forms of life as well. What a treasure and a treat.

The view from the deck is astounding with the colour explosion everywhere. The phlox, blackeyed susans, echinacia and even some Sweet William and straw flowers add bright splashes to the garden's green. A feast for the eyes everywhere I look, close to home or around the Valley.

So today on this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, I'm thankful, grateful that so much has come to be here, making my life more fun and definitely more interesting. For my Canadian friends and family - Happy Thanksgiving, for everyone else - hope you have an interesting weekend full of fun.

A rainy day

Yesterday morning the day started with clouds of fog blocking the view across the valley, then the rain rolled in and it gently poured onto the area for most of the day. Much needed. The ground as I've said before,  has been like concrete and hard to do any kind of fall preparation. Leaves haven't fallen either, too soon for that and heavy mulching. The nights are cool and feel damp.

But it ended beautifully - the sun came out around 5 p.m. I got into the pond to clean off the pump and empty the filter and get rid of blue algae that is doing its best to clog the pump and filter arteries to say nothing of making it difficult for the fish. Mind you, the water was cold and so I wore my rubber boots, no bare feet and shorts yesterday.

However the setting sun, turned the world to rosy colours - making me stop and catch my breath. Standing to stare as I walked the dogs around the pasture, the clouds were awash with gold and pink, it was quiet, the cattle feeding soundlessly, the occasional call from a bird, but mostly the sun just sank below the horizon without a great deal of fanfare.

And then someone dropped by looking for a late evening snack.

Keeping an eye on me hiding behind the door to try and get a photo, this young female rose breasted gros beak ate several black oil sunflower seeds before flying off towards a nest or a branch for the night.

I've often left this tube feeder out late because of late night snackers - and marvel at the regularity of the birds feeding habits - actually at all animal feeding habits.

The cows come into the pasture across the way in the evening, move to the end, then wander back and down into the valley again through the night, tearing at the grass, the calves bumping heads and frolicking. It happens all summer and fall while they're on the grass.

The sparrows and finches arrive around 9:30 in the morning, the jays shortly after, and then again for a late lunch. It's fascinating how they adjust their internal schedules to the failing light as we get closer to Equinox and fall.

All in order in Nature. Gives me a peaceful feeling.