Welcome! This website is a dedicated space for family, friends, and individuals who share our interests in nurturing the natural beauty of the land. We are continuing the work of restoring native woods, wildflowers, and grasses begun with the previous owners and residents of the farm. We have also transformed this property by undertaking such projects as constructing a barn, digging a fresh well, renovating the lakes, improving the driveway and developing a network of grassy roads and trails. This site was created to share our progress and milestones. Thank you for being a part of our journey!
Recent Additions
Drone Flyover Video
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Drone Flyover
Farm Photo Reel
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Farm Photo Reel
The Tangle of the Bridge Reserve
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The Tangle of the Bridge Reserve
The Bridge Reserve — A few steps into this reserve and you will find your boots caught in a dense web of vines and vine-like plants dominating the floor. While some of these sprawling legumes enrich the soil, their thick matting effectively chokes out upright wildflowers. It sets the stage for a choice: maintain a dense vine sanctuary, or carve out room for a more diverse landscape.
North Bridge, Facing South — The reserve takes its name from this bridge that spans a creek, with the reserve visible in the background. Over time, the creek scoured out a wide floodplain that forms the entire floor of the reserve. Poorly drained and regularly holding water, this perpetual moisture creates an ideal habitat for sprawling vines while remaining largely inhospitable to independent plants.
Flood Control Relic (1898) — This concrete structure, just yards from the reserve, is inscribed with the date 1898. It is a testament to the flooding power of the creek, reinforcing the defining floodplain character of the reserve.
The Bridge Reserve, Facing East from the South Side — More free-standing plants are found in the shadier south side of the reserve, to the right, than in the center or north side. Taller and more continuous clumps occur there although they are entwined with the vines.
The Bridge Reserve, Facing East from the South Side — This view also captures the distinct shift in the understory of the south side, marked by taller and more prominent clumps rising through the vegetation.
The Bridge Reserve, Facing East from the North Side — The additional sunlight of the north side gives opportunities for free-standing plants that find slightly elevated areas in which to grow.
The Bridge Reserve, Facing West from the North Side — Looking back across the northern edge, the effect of increased sunlight is clearly visible in the lower, more open vegetation. While the understory remains heavily vined, a few resilient free-standing plants manage to punch through the dense mats.
The Bridge Reserve, Facing East from the North Side — At the western end of the reserve, near the bridge, the increased shade allows the taller, free-standing plants to grow as they do along the south side.
American Hog-Peanut — A prominent native ground cover, this delicate twining vine enriches the reserve's soil as a nitrogen-fixer. True to its name, it also produces hidden underground pods that serve as seed-bearing 'peanuts' without crowding out larger plants.
Tall Goldenrod — Restricted to scattered patches among dense vines, underground rhizomes help this plant survive without relying on seed penetration.
Partridge Pea — Tough seeds that can wait out the seasons and nitrogen-fixing roots give this colorful annual a vital edge against the competing vines.
False Nettle — This broad-leaved plant, pictured left and right of center, thrives in both shade and sun. It is a free-standing plant, not a vine. Its spreading rhizomes form dense clumps that offer natural support for the climbing, sprawling vines.
Smartweed — Lacking true clinging structures, this non-vine scrambler relies on stem prickles and nearby vegetation to support its upward growth.
This false nettle shows its sun-tolerance here as it acts as a natural ladder, supporting the climbing smartweed's ascent toward the light.
Angling up from left to right, a hog-peanut climbs alongside the pink-flowered smartweed, each leaning on a sturdy tick-trefoil for support.
Elevated above low-lying flowering vines, these false nettle seed spikes rely on wind currents for dispersal.
Blue Dayflower — Nestled among false nettle leaves and a sheltering canopy of grasses and stems, this delicate blue blossom stands out against the dense undergrowth.
The green sphere just below the blue flower is a seed pod for this dayflower. While vines dominate the upper canopy, this low-growing plant manages to release its seeds close to the ground beneath the dense tangle.
Deertongue Grass — The broader leaves belong to deertongue grass, a resilient native species that here provides a sturdy anchor for a wandering dayflower vine.
To the left, deertongue grass grows alongside the false nettle, two upright neighbors not needing support.
Several dayflowers cluster beneath the pink smartweed. The plant in the upper background with the large oval-shaped leaves is the false nettle.
White snakeroot — Found here beneath a small grove of trees, this plant occurs only at this location within the reserve. The shade and root competition keep aggressive vines at bay, opening up space for opportunistic species like snakeroot, pokeweed, and jumpseed to establish.
Pokeweed — This plant also owes its presence under these trees to perching birds. Birds feed on the dark berries and rest in the branches above, depositing the seeds below in their droppings.
Jumpseed — It takes the shade and shelter of trees to open up the dense reserve, highlighting how difficult it is for other plants to break through. This jumpseed owes its very existence to them.
Jewelweed — This upright, free-standing plant features orange blossoms and makes several appearances across the reserve, here providing essential support for the climbing smartweed.
Unlike the tangled mat of vines that carpets the floor, jewelweed stands on its own with its bright blooms. Yet its sturdy, independent stems often end up bearing the weight of surrounding sprawling vegetation, capturing the ongoing tug-of-war for sunlight and space in the reserve.
Bindweed — This vine wraps itself tightly in a spiral around plants and structures, displaying white or pinkish trumpet-shaped flowers. To the right, blackberry provides its structural support.
Blackberry — Classified as semi-upright, the blackberry, with its sturdy stems, can form brambles without twining or relying on other plants for support. However, its sharp thorns are able to hook onto neighboring plants, supporting the sprawling thicket as it expands.
Unwanted saplings — Found here near the blackberry, this elm joins dark-green, smooth-edged sassafras leaves below and to the left. These woody plants are routinely managed in conservation reserves to maintain open habitat.
This picture shows the orange jewelweed and blue dayflower growing together with the jewelweed providing support for the dayflower.
Great Blue Lobelia — With a shallow root system, this plant thrives in the reserve's poorly drained soils. Although early-season scramblers can bury its low foliage, a successful plant sends up a tall, sturdy spike in late summer. This elevates its flowers out of reach from ground-creeping plants.
The flowering spike of the great blue lobelia remains vulnerable to true vines, which use the upright stem as a ladder to scramble upward. However, the lobelia’s preference for wet, soggy soil gives it an edge, as many dense and heavy vining species struggle in such poorly drained conditions.
Japanese Stiltgrass — This invasive plant, identified by its bamboo-like leaves and silvery midstripe, is tolerant of heavy shade allowing it to grow in the understory of the vines and creepers of the reserve.
The stems of the japanese stiltgrass root wherever they touch ground, creating a dense mat that smothers native plants.
Fleabane — Preferring sun and well-drained soils, this prolific seeder frequently finds better openings in the reserve. It germinates early and shoots up rapidly to claim the sunlight.
Lespedeza — While this invasive legume prefers dry upland prairies over low-lying, moist reserves, it can quickly establish on sunny, elevated hummocks within wet areas. It is one of only a few individuals spotted during this survey.
Copperleaf — This self-standing annual is not tall but is shade tolerant, allowing it to photosynthesize even if partially covered by vines and other creepers. It is also a prolific seed producer with rapid growth, allowing it to occupy bare patches before the vines cover the ground.
Lowland grass — This broad name applies to a variety of native grasses, such as nimblewill or big bluestem. It describes shade-tolerant native grasses that thrive in damp soil, partial shade, or beneath thick vine canopies.
Ironweed — Despite favoring moist soils, this plant is rare in the reserve. The few that survive manage to push straight through the surrounding vines by relying on rapid spring growth and a single, strong stem.
American Plum — To maintain this reserve as an open prairie, volunteer saplings like this plum are periodically removed.
Field Thistle — Though native, this plant is managed aggressively because it is fast-spreading and looks so similar to the destructive bull thistle. Removing it prevents both over-crowding and the risk of invasive thistles slipping by unnoticed.
Tickseed Sunflower — This image captures both the flowering phase of the plant and its developing seed heads. Only a few tickseed sunflowers are present in this reserve despite profuse growth in other moist areas of the farm.
Multiflora Rose — Bisecting the picture from left to right, this single specimen is the only one found in this survey. Although highly invasive in open uplands, it struggles to establish in this damp, shaded reserve.
Late-blooming Thoroughwort — Like the tickseed sunflower, this plant favors moist soils but struggles to find a foothold against the vines of the reserve. It can, however, be found clustered in larger numbers in small areas.
Common Mountain Mint — Though scarce across the reserve as a whole, this plant forms clusters along the shaded borders. Spreading via creeping underground rhizomes, it holds its own against the surrounding vines—while its blooms attract pollinators like this skipper butterfly.
Reserving the Tangle — Our management so far, including burns and selective removal of unwanted plants, preserves the reserve's open feel and holds back invasive threats, but it largely maintains the current dominance of vines. Going forward, we can either stay the course with a dense vine reserve or invest the effort to diversify with free-standing natives.
Worth the Effort — The answer likely lies in a compromise: gently encouraging more diversity where we can, while accepting that the floodplain's vines will always hold a strong claim. Balancing that stewardship with a healthy respect for the land's natural rhythm will be well worth it. (end of photo sequence)
The plants are mostly Fleabane and Goldenrod. They are part of the driveway conservation reserves.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod
Grey Coneflower seed pods
New England Aster
New England Aster and Goldenrod
Common Milkweed
These are the dried, empty seed heads of the Wild Bergamot.
"Don't bother these bugs!" some people say. They are the Large Milkweed Bug nymphs that do little harm to the plant. People feel they are a natural part of the ecosystem and should be left alone. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are one-tenth of an inch. Seeds are present along with husks that enclose the seed. Some of the seeds are paired. The seeds actually develop as a group of four lobes known as nutlets.
The material seen here is unfiltered and includes seeds, husks and debris that separated during the seed removal process. Filtering produced the more refined mix seen in the previous slide.
These are seed pods of the Blue Vervain. The darker stem is more mature than the lighter stem. The darker stems appear down lower on the stalk.
This is a fuller view of the Blue Vervain. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are one-tenth of an inch. A lone Thoroughwort seed sits next to the ruler among numerous pieces of bract. One end of the bract is sucker-like and attaches to the seed. The other end is part of the flower which detaches from the plant. The seed and bract could detach at the same time. My own observations indicate that the seed detaches first and then the bract. I have seen in nature what appeared to be seed blowing off of a Thoroughwort flower. It turned out to be strickly bract. The seed was already gone.
Pods of the Thoroughwort next to the ruler. The billowing filaments are attached to the seed. Also visible are parts of the stem that connected to the rest of the plant.
Close up of Thoroughwort seeds.
The purity of the mix that I have to work with can vary. The coarseness of this mix, mingled with bract and other plant parts is due mostly to a grinding of the pods to release the seed.
This mix is much purer than what was pictured in the previous slide. It was collected by simple shaking. Ideally, shaking would be used but that can leave much seed that is still living but will not shake out. Also note the reduced amount of filaments. The filaments were removed by mild grinding against filters with filter openings larger than the seed. This can remove the filaments but not harm the seed. This is done to make broadcasting the seed for planting easier.
A stem of the Thoroughwort with the pods.
This a fuller view of the Late-blooming Thoroughwort. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are one-tenth of an inch. The New England Aster is present both empty of bract and with bract attached. Separate bract visible as well.
Close-up of seed.
Seed that has detached from tail is present, as well as detached tails.
The New England Aster seed pod.
Broken seed pod with seeds.
Stages of flower pod.
This a fuller view of the New England Aster. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are 1mm. The seeds of the Ditch Stonecrop are small, one of only three seeds studied here that pass through a .25mm filter. They do not pass through a .15mm filter. The coloration, size and shape are consistent with being seeds of this plant. The next slide is of another seed-like particle found in the same plant.
These particles pass through a .15mm filter. Their color and size is not consistent with the seed. They most likely represent embryonic seeds which did not develop. They are not live-seeds.
This picture also shows the live seeds. Compare the color with the next slide.
These particles are part of the same portion that passed through the .15mm filter. The color difference with the previous slide is distinct.
The Ditch Stonecrop seed pod.
The pod here has been crushed with seeds present that came out of the pod. Note the presence of the yellow embryonic seeds.
The seed pods are shown here.
This a fuller view of the Ditch Stonecrop. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are 1mm. The seeds of the Great Blue Lobelia are typically reddish with a well-defined spherical shape. They are between .25mm and .52mm in size.
These are Great Blue Lobelia seeds shown here.
This shows a mix of seeds with ground-up parts of the seed pod and stem.
The seed pod of the Great Blue Lobelia.
Some immature seeds can be seen in this pod that has been opened.
This a fuller view of the Great Blue Lobelia.
This is another view of the Great Blue Lobelia. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are one-tenth of an inch. An unfiltered sample is shown here with chaff coming from a crushed seed pod.
Slender False Foxglove seeds are pictured here. They represent the material that passed through a .52mm filter meaning the seeds are smaller than that size of filter opening.
The Slender False Foxglove seed pod.
This is a picture of the seed pod that was crushed by the use of pliers.
This shows debris and seeds from crushing the seed pod.
A flower and buds of the plant growing outdoors is pictured here.
This is a fuller view of the Slender False Foxglove.
This is a picture of the same plant taken on the same day in late September. It is reddish in color. This can be due to either being further along in its seasonal cycle or a response to drought. The reserve where these plants are found is low-lying and near a creek. It is mostly moist so the plant color is probably due to seasonal changes. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are 1mm. The seeds of the Purple Coneflower are grey or tan colored, with an arrowhead appearance. One end has a circular row of points, resembling a crown. The long particle that rests up against the ruler in the center of the picture does not appear to be one of the seeds. The particle resting against it, however, is a Purple Coneflower seed. The points of the crown are visible on it.
An original, unfiltered mix is pictured here. Just below and to the left of center is a slightly yellowish Purple Coneflower seed that displays a wedge-like or even pyramidal structure, which is not uncommon.
Seed pod ready to shed seeds.
A group of Purple Coneflower plants in flowering stage. (end of photo sequence)
The Foxglove Beardtongue seed actually consists of an outer sheath and inner seed. The sheath is reddish-tan in color with edged facets. The seed inside is black and spherical. Seeds are present in this picture. Some are even visible inside broken sheaths.
Close-up of the sheaths, some broken with seeds visible.
Close-up of the seed pod.
This is a fuller view of the Foxglove Beardtongue in flowering stage of seed development. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are one-tenth of an inch. The seeds of Queen Anne's Lace are inside the husks, or sheaths that are seen here. There are two seeds within each sheath and the sheaths themselves split into halves when they open to release the seed.
The splitting of the sheath is seen here.
The large structure here contains numerous seed pods which are seen as stems growing out from a central point. The pods at this point have released the sheaths which contain the seeds.
Two stages of seed pod development are pictured here. One shows the numerous smaller seed pods inside another basket-like structure which, in turn, developed from the flower of Queen Anne's Lace. The other stage is the flowering stage of seed pod development which precedes the basket-like structure. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are one-tenth of an inch. The amount of Wild Bergamot seeds collected is the smallest of all 25 seeds in the project, less than a single gram. In fact, the next smallest is about three times as much. The most collected, by comparison, is over five ounces of Rattlesnake Master seed and the average collected per seed is a little less than an ounce.
The Wild Bergamot resembles the Grey-headed Coneflower, in size and appearence, but that particular coneflower is relatively abundant and produced 36 grams of seed. This sample of Wild Bergamot is unfiltered and shows an average amount of non-seed material.
This sample was handpicked of unwanted material.
The Wild Bergamot seed pod.
A picture of the Wild Bergamot taken in early November. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are 1mm. The Grey-headed Coneflower seeds are black and wedge-shaped. The brown material is bract.
Removing the seeds from the seed pods causes abrasion which can cut the bract off from the seed. This could kill the seed. The use of filters with larger openings during the grinding process was found to reduce the number of cut-offs. A seed is pointed out where the bract fell off naturally from the seed causing it no harm.
The acorn-shaped Grey-headed Coneflower seeds next to a dime.
The seed pod of the acorn-shaped Grey-headed Coneflower is on the right. On the left is the seed pod of the Grey-headed Coneflower. Acorn-shaped was added by myself. The seeds of these two plants appear identical and the photos I submitted online return Grey-headed Coneflower as its identity. But on my own table, the seed pods were quite distinct. The acorn-shape is somewhat obscured here due to the mantle that encircles the bottom of the pod. The mantle itself is another distinguishing feature between these two plants.
This mix was the result of scraping the seed pod with my fingers while wearing gloves.
This picture is used to determine how much of the collected seed mix is live seed and how much is unwanted particles. The straight lines are marking live seed and the circles unwanted particles. The information is used to determinge coverage of the collected seeds of a particular seed-type in square feet. Knowing the percent live seed and the weight of the sample plus seeds per ounce and seeds needed for planting per square foot, I can carry-out planting by spreading the seeds within a known area that has been walked-off. (end of photo sequence)
The seeds of the Yellow Coneflower are wedge-shaped, cylindrical and black with one end pointed and the other broad with crown-like points. The other particles present are remnants of bract that connected the seeds to the flower. Also note that what I call a seed is actually a sheath that tightly surrounds the actual seed. Unlike other sheaths, this one does not break apart. The surrounding sheath and interior seed function together as a single unit.
This is a picture of the Yellow Coneflower seed pod.
The seeds of the White Vervain are cylindrical and dark colored. Their ends are mostly rounded but some can be broken. Much of the material here is remnants of sheaths, non-functioning husks surrounding the seeds.
White Vervain seed pods which are broken. A stem is also present.
This material was stopped by a 2mm filter. All of the seeds passed leaving mostly the large pieces of sheaths. Note a little left of center is a sheath that is open, revealing the interior seed. Also note the bare stem also pictured in the previous slide.
A picture of the White Vervain with seed pods taken in early November. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are 1mm. The tails on the Frost Aster seeds prevented the seed from passing through a .8mm filter.
The seeds seem to lose their tails frequently. The seeds pictured here are without tails. They are off-white to tan in color and are cylindrical in shape. One end is pointed and the other has a rounded opening where the bract connects. The bract is plentiful and passes through the .8mm filter along with the seeds that have shed the tails.
This picture of the seeds with tails shows the separation created by the presence of the tails. The bract is lower in number in this picture. This is due to the sample which was filterd repeatedly to help purify the seeds for counting.
A picture of the plant with seed pods.
Another picture of the plant with seed pods.
A picture of Frost Aster in the flower stage of seed pod development. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are 1mm. The Mountain Mint seeds are quite small, passing through filters of .52mm. They are mostly trapped by the .25mm filter but some even pass through openings of that size. Seeds are largely present here with bracht mostly absent, having been trapped by filters with larger openings.
This material was trapped by a .52mm filter. The seeds have all passed through this filter leaving only this mix. It resulted from crushing seed pods and consists of bracht, sheaths which enclosed the seeds and structural fibers which were broken out during crushing.
The seed pod of the Mountain Mint.
A picture of Mountain Mint showing the seed pods. (end of photo sequence)
The units of the ruler are one-tenth of an inch. Note the similarity of the seeds to the Swamp Milkweed described above.
More seeds on view.
Close-up of seed.
Seed pod showing pouch of seeds removed to better enable their separation.
Seeds are harder to work with once their cottony tails deploy.
Views of two stages of flower development in the Common Milkweed. The foreground buds are the first stage and behind these buds are flowers which developed out of the buds. The flowers eventually develop into the seed pods. (end of photo sequence)
The seeds of the Prairie Mimosa. They were removed from the seed pod looking like this with no filtering. They are about 2-3 tenths of an inch in length.
Two stages of seed pod development are on display in this picture. The green ball at top is the bud cluster, each ball will open into a flower. The white, round structure on display below the cluster consists of flowers which emerged from the balls.
The flat, curved structures shown in this ball will develop into seed pods.
Ebony Jewelwing Dragonfly- Look at the wings in relation to the abdomen when distinguishing between dragonflies and butterflies. The dragonflies have their wings folded up above the abdomen when at rest; butterflies have their wings covering the abdomen when they are folded.
Common Whitetail Dragonfly
Common Whitetail Dragonfly
Twelve-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly
Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly (end of photo sequence)
Ebony Jewelwings Damselfly - The damselfly differs from the dragonfly in that the wings are folded up vertically with the damselfly and horizontally with the dragonfly. (end of photo sequence)
Black Swallowtail Butterfly resting in Mountain Mint.
Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly
Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly
Skipper Butterfly - This butterfly looks like a cross between a moth and a butterfly. It distinguishes itself from other butterflies in part by its antennae which are more like hooks than the clubs which are common among other butterflies. (end of photo sequence)
Facing south-east. The barn and the large pond are present. The orchard reserve is light-green and borders the large pond. The small pond reserve, also light-green, is south of the driveway.
The driveway reserves are visible lining both sides of the driveway.
The orchard is clearly visible in this photo. A spur of the driveway is the original driveway to the farm house which was located in the copse of trees.
The small pond is visible in this view.
Facing east. The dock is visible along the east edge of the pond.
Between the small pond and the barn, the dome-shaped burnpile is visible.
Facing east. Between the barn and the dam of the large pond is a light-green field which is the barn reserve.
Facing south-west. The drone is over neighboring property.
Drone Flyover 9
The border with the neighboring property is clearly visible running south of the dam.
Drone Flyover 11
Facing mostly south. The full extent of the south cropland is visible. The UTV is parked to the north-west of the barn, the tractor to the south-west. The pickup truck and propane tank are also in view.
The small circular array of objects in the foreground of this picture is a Purple Martin feeder. The barn reserve is seen just to the east.
Drone Flyover 14
The large pond occupies the foreground of this picture. Note the proximity of the former house to the pond and orchard.
Facing north-east. The square angle of the wooded area in the background marks where the north woods separates from the neighboring property.
Facing west. The dam of the small pond is visible. The background of the picture consists of three strips. The first is the south extent of the small pond reserve. The next which is a darker green is cropland. The neighboring property consisting of woodland is the third.
Facing north-east. The rectangular block of trees is the north woods. The horsefarm reserve is a strip within that block located in the western part of the north end. Most of the north woods was pasture until the 1960's. Only the north-east corner, consisting of about five acres and blocked-off by two creeks that intersect at a right angle, is old growth. On the other side of the reserve is where the property of the horse-farm reserve begins. The neighbor's house is visible in the background.
Facing east. This is another view of the horsefarm reserve with the horsefarm on the left. The roads that encircle the reserve are visible. (end of photo sequence)
The farm house was torn down in September of 2022 owing to disrepair. It was built around 1935. This picture shows the main entrance which connected to the kitchen.
Farm house
Farm house
Front of shed
Side of house
Porch
Rear of house
Front room of house
The floor of the front room was crafted from cherry wood harvested from the farm's woodland. Cherry trees appear in both old growth forest and the early successional, scrubby woodland that was pasture until the 1960's.
Front room of house
Fireplace
Tools for fireplace
Tools for fireplace
Front room grating
Lamp above fireplace
East bedroom
Wall hanging in east bedroom
West bedroom
West bedroom
Doorway from west bedroom
Hallway with west bedroom on right and bathroom on left
Much debris can accumulate in forests from storm damage as pictured here. This debris blocks movement within the forest and can interfere with the removal of invasives.
Another source of debris is the cutting or uprooting of invasive plants. More debris is pictured here. How is this debris disposed of?
The debris is first removed from the forest. The debris can be burned. The burnpile being formed in the back is part of that procedure. The logs in the front, however, are lined up for a different disposal method.
The better trunks of trees can be milled into sections that are sold for lumber. The milling machine is shown here.
Burn being conducted at designated site shows the primary method of the disposal of forest debris. This pile is one of many that have been collected from wooded areas as a result of storms and removal of invasive plants.
The debris that is left improves the health of the ecosystem.
The remaining debris also contributes to the aesthetics of the forest floor.
Another view of the forest floor. (end of photo sequence)
Invasives can take over a forest. Seen here is honeysuckle that borders the neighboring property. Walking in this forest is difficult or impossible.
This is the border between one of the farm's cropland fields and the south forest. Here the honeysuckle has been cleared providing access to the forest interior, which has also been cleared.
This is a picture of Russian Olive also taken along the border with the neighboring property. It is invasive and is identified by the silvery-green, tangled foliage.
The vine growing in the center of the photo is Japanese Honeysuckle, identified by the twining growth and opposite leaf arrangement. It also can be seen smothering the understory foliage with its aggressive growth.
Japanese Honeysuckle
Japanese Honeysuckle
This vine is identified as Common Buckthorn. It differs from Japanese Honeysuckle with leaves that are more oval shaped.
This invasive and highly aggressive vine is also Common Buckthorn. Its leaves are broadly elliptical, with pointed leaf tips and serrated, toothed edges.
Common Buckthorn
The thick, spiral vine is an Oriental Bittersweet. The leaves are Japanese Honeysuckle. The bittersweet vine is using the honeysuckle as support.
The twining, woody vine wrapping itself tightly around the tree trunk is an Oriental Bittersweet.
Honeysuckle with berries. This picture and the six that follow were taken in a sliver of the farm cut-off from the main body. Consisting of only a few thousand square feet, it has never been cleared of honeysuckle.
Medium size branch curving in center of picture is honeysuckle. Surrounding leaves are from honeysuckle.
Honeysuckle is present throughout picture.
The tree with its trunk encircled by a vine is honeysuckle. The vine is Oriental bittersweet, an aggressive invasive.
The foreground and midground of this picture is almost exclusively honeysuckle.
This picture is also dominated by honeysuckle.
Numerous honeysuckle are present here, too. The large tree in the center is an oak.
The neighbor's property on the left has not had honeysuckle removed. The farm borders on the right and has had honeysuckle removed.
The start of a trail that winds through a steep area of the south woods that has not had the honeysuckle cleared. Honeysuckle is seen growing from both sides of the trail forming an arch over the trail.
The south woods is an old growth oak-hickory forest. The two large trees in the foreground are oak, distinguished from hickory by the thick, ridging bark. Shagbark hickory trees are common in these woods. They have`loose, peeling bark with ends that curl outward. Honeysuckle is present along the sides of the trail.
Another oak tree.
The tree in the right-foreground is a young oak.
Three oak saplings are in the foreground.
Honeysuckles with berries are present in the center of the picture.
Another young oak.
Looking up the steep slope from the trail.
Another look up the slope. The large, whiteish tree in the right background is a sycamore.
Honeysuckle encloses the end of the trail as it did the start. (end of photo sequence)
Double-cropped soybean field north of driveway bordering north woods.
Soybean field on both sides of driveway looking south.
Soybean field looking east from driveway.
Soybean no-till field in the area of the barn. The no-till field retains residue from the previous growing season. This reduces erosion to one-sixth of a conventionally tilled soybean field.
Soybean field in the area of the barn bordering a neighbors field.
Soybean east field looking northwest from base of the large pond dam.
Soybean east field looking west from border of neighbor's property.
Combine is harvesting the field that runs alongside the small pond reserve headed south.
Combine is harvesting the southern end of the field.
Combine is now positioned at the eastern border of the field.
The border on the right is the southern edge of the old-growth south forest.
Close-up operation of the combine.
Combine passes heading east.
Tractor with tiller and flag (end of photo sequence)
Photo of large pond area after snowfall taken from within barn.
Small pond prior to renovation.
Another view of the small pond.
Small pond with main inlet shoveled.
Small pond facing main inlet with conservation reserve visible in background.
Aluminum rowboat
Winter picture #7
Winter picture #8
Tracks of white tail deer crossing small pond.
These tracks crossing the small pond were most likely left by a coyote.
Whorled branching pattern of a pine tree.
The trees pictured here in the foreground and midground are primarily young oak and hickory. The picture was taken from the back of the old small pond dam looking south.
This picture was taken in the small pond conservation reserve.
A bounding rabbit left these tracks.
Winter picture #15
A bend in the small pond conservation reserve.
Winter picture #17
This woodpile consists of pulled honeysuckle and debris. Earlier, debris was left in piles rather than hauled to a clearing for burning. Over the past six years, this pile has decayed to about a third the size of what it was.
This tree was bowed due to a fallen tree which pinned it down. That tree was removed and placed in the woodpile previously pictured.
A stream in the north woods.
Winter picture #21
A flood control structure can be seen. The stream has eroded greatly since this structure was built.
Lettering on the flood control structure. Close inspection shows the year to be 1897.
This circa 1950 truck is a Ford. Note the large tree growing where the engine was located. (end of photo sequence)
