The Regeneration Opening (pic intensive)

[OneWithWood]

The pond is full and has been since directly after I built it.  It is a shallow pond with max depth of 24-30".  The pond is a watering facility for wildlife and a habitat for amphibians, hence the shallow depth.

[JOE.G]

What is the water source? Or did you just dig and hope it would fill?

[OneWithWood]

The pond is at the top of a wash so it filled naturally.  The area was always wet so we thought it would be a natural for a small pond.

[Kodiakmac]

I wish you the best of luck with your project - you obviously have a hell of a lot more trust in your state government agencies than most of us do in our provincial government here in Ontario.

I only wish I could undertake a project like that on my land with gov't support - without worrying about more land-use restrictions and the attendant loss of land value down the road.

[ancjr]

As always, enjoying the pictures, OWW.  :)

[chain]

We had very similar ponds developed by log skidders pushing out about three feet down to a hard pan. Some work, some don't, as a few critters like to dig tunnels [like muskrats]. Soon after, the pond goes dry yet, in some cases, a small wetland community develops in and around the old pond.

In our clearcuts, we get a flush of thistle-like weeds all over, then sedge and many other ground seeded plants grow;, pine seedlings, oak sprouts from stumps usually regenerate heavily, along with sassafras, gum, maple. More successfully than with hand planted seed of desired species.

[Piston]

I enjoyed catching up with this thread, it's very educational for me and extremely well written. 

[OneWithWood]

Well spring has finally arrived  8)  The snow has disappeared from the landscape and the ground can be seen again.
Not much to look at at this stage but here it is:

The large opening looking due south:


 

The large opening panning east:


 

The large opening panning west:


 

The small opening:


 
There was a pretty good infestation of stilt grass in the small opening so during the course of late summer and fall of last year I mowed and sprayed with Poast to kill it off.  We will see how successful I was at reducing the infestation.

The pond:


 

There has been some activity in the pond.  When I visited the site on March 15 the surface was littered with frogs.  Here is the result of the frog party - egg masses  8)


 

I am really happy to see the frogs, and later the toads, reproducing and thriving in this pond.  The amphibian population has been under great duress throughout the country in the recent past.  Hopefully things are turning around for them.

[ashes]

One With Wood:

That is a very nice project you have there. Great to see the wetland is functioning. It looks like a pretty property, and I bet it is beautiful in the summer and fall.

[g_man]

All still looks good. Dry bare ground ready to start another growing season. I am jealous.

The frogs are a very nice addition.

[thecfarm]

Man that looks good.I really enjoy spring. There is a day that I can smell the earth come alive.Some years I miss the day it happens.

[Offthebeatenpath]

Great thread. Beautiful property. Thoughtful changes. Nicely done OWW.

[isawlogs]

 We got another 4 inches of snow today,  :-\

  It is so pleasing to see ground, well over two feet of snow in the bush closer to three. Tapping mapples is under going, but sap won't run here for a few weeks.
I am pleased to see how well things are shaping out with this project, I went back to the begining and looked it over from start, awsome to see the changes from year to year.    :P

[WDH]

Robert,

The opening is amazingly clean.  Down here, it would be covered in sweetgum  .

[Knute]

Thanks for those pictures. Very nice woods and a great project. I'm working on a selective cut now in order to comply with my Managed Forest Law management plan. Hope I can finish it before I get too old.

[Coon]

Around here the bush still has about three feet of snow yet. In the open areas there is considerably less but there is no melting of the white stuff scheduled for this week.  I woke this morn to -26C and highs through the week are -6C at the warmest..... Nice to see the pictures of the ground.

[OneWithWood]

It is good to be able to traverse the property again.  Snow cover and frozen ground makes any mechanical movement dicey so any work is handwork and walking.
I did notice come blackberry vines popping up here and there.  It won't be long before there is a thicket of thorns covering the landscape.  In the past every opening we made was covered with vines after the first year.  This area seems to be taking a bit longer.

[mesquite buckeye]

At the Missouri farm blackberries predominate over raspberries. I find them to be a great indicator of practical stand density/light levels at the forest floor level.

1. No blackberries means the area is probably too dark, meaning in need of thinning.
2. Scattered blackberries indicate a healthy stocking level.
3. Impenetrable thickets of blackberries indicate a recently thinned area or a stand without enough trees.

Just a way to check yourself, in addition to looking up and evaluating at the canopy level for excessive competition/overtopping. ;D

[WDH]

Blackberry is excellent for wildlife.  Blackberry is very good.

[mesquite buckeye]

Methinks also. ;D

[POC]

I just noticed that you are right up the road from me.  We'll have to get together sometime.  I live on 300 acres, we have it selective cut ~10-15 years or so. Dad and I were just out today cleaning up a big Poplar that an even bigger dead Beech knocked down. Also found a double stemmed wild cherry in the tops. Some of the logs are back at the house.

[isawlogs]

Send some of those blackberries to Ray, his wife will make to best ever jam out of them you have ever put into your chompers.  digin1

[mesquite buckeye]

My farm is blackberry heaven. ;D 8) 8) 8)

[isawlogs]

 Might have to put you on the visite list, when is the best picking time  ;D  I luve blackberries 

[mesquite buckeye]

Summer, same as ticks. We've got plenty of both. I'm not generally there then, but you are of course, welcome. PM me sometime for directions. ;D