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The Daily Bucket: Wandering Around My Big Backyard. [1]
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Date: 2025-06-03
Native Moonseed Vine (Menispermum canadense) taking over near the back entryway.
Last Thursday I forayed into the wet meadow in search of invasive Canada Thistle, then planned to look for Black Locust in the dry meadow near the road. I’ve been at war with both species for a few years.
It’s all part of the decades long project to restore the thirty acres of degraded woods, pasture, and lawn surrounding my home. I’ve introduced many native plants into the backyard over the years, and native plants that had been suppressed for decades are rebounding, as are invasive plants.
It’s been interesting to see the ecosystem succession. The wet meadow, which the previous owner consistently mowed for an ultralight landing strip, is now partially colonized by Gray Dogwood and other woody plants. White Oaks, Black Cherries, Flowering Dogwoods, Eastern Red Cedars and many other species are thriving. The dry meadow is filling in with those, plus Sassafras, Tulip Poplar that I planted, and Hickories. We’re working to remove Autumn Olive, Honeysuckle, and the aforementioned Black Locust (considered invasive in Michigan, and which I mistakenly introduced).
There are lots of invasive forbes, too, but we’re making good progress.
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) in the backyard. I always double check to make sure it’s not invasive Air Potato (Dioscorea bulbifera), which I also planted not knowing it’s a bad guy. I think I’ve removed most of them, but one pops up now and then to torment me.
Out in the wet meadow, I identified and marked a couple of dozen Canada thistles (candidates for targeted herbicide as soon as we have a series of sunny, calm days). Canada thistle is a misnomer, they’re originally from Europe and Asia. The Wikipedia page says “Cursed thistle redirects here”. I carefully walked through the tall forbes and grasses towards the path, watching for ground nests, turtles, snakes, and frogs.
A very lucky shot of a Field Sparrow, so far away that I only identified it after I looked at the picture.
There are several birdhouses in the fields. While I was happy to see the Tree Swallows flying around, they weren’t so happy to see me. Eastern Bluebirds occupy at least one house. House Wrens are in a house that was once in the open but is now surrounded by trees.
Silver Spotted Skipper on the mowed path.
The mowed path turns into an unmowed trail in the woods. I’ve tried to introduce spring ephemerals and other native plants in the woods with mixed success. We have a large population of deer, and they love the flowers (not in a good way).
Only one blooming native Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) in the woods, but several survive in my backyard garden.
This area is seasonally wet, Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) in the center. The deer don’t eat them, but Eastern Box Turtles eat the fruits. There are several large patches.
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis), so-called because it dies with the first hint of cold weather in the fall.
Back on the mowed path between the woods and fields.
Pollinator on Hawkweed (Hieracium spp.). I’ve asked Mr M not to mow this part of the path yet because I really like the sedges and Blue-eyed Grass. I saw the Blue-eyed Grass in bloom the day before but couldn’t find it today.
Just in the edge of the woods — a nice population of Gray’s Sedge (Carex grayi). I had good success starting some from seed a couple of years ago and planted them in the yard. My favorite sedge.
This Grasshopper kept moving horizontally around the stem to hid from me as I tried to take its picture. Pretty smart.
There were lots of Little Wood Satyrs about. It’s on a Dewberry leaf, but various grasses are their caterpillar hosts.
Good news! I couldn’t find any Black Locusts in the dry meadow. They propagate by ramets so eradication is like playing whack-a-mole. I headed back north into the field to check on the Lupine, I want to gather seed. But first I needed to check the fruit on an early flowering tree that I suspect is an invasive Bradford Pear. A neighbor has about five on his property. The fruit type will cement my identification. Yup, that’s what it is, small and marble like. I happened to look down, and about 3 feet away was a newborn fawn, holding very still.
I tried to stealthily back away. A few yards away I took a very bad picture. It never moved.
The Lupine (Lupinus perennis) are still blooming, not a surprise since it’s been cool and rainy.
The seed pods explode as soon as they’re ripe, so seeds are very difficult to collect. I’m going to put some mesh bags around the unripe pods to try to capture some seeds.
Out in the dry area where I’ve focused on planting prairie species, things are starting to bloom. Purple seems to be the color of the week.
Wild Blue Indigo (Baptisia australis)
Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)
There’s a copse of a few White Pines and Oaks at the edge of the sandy field. I found this spotted pipsissewa there a few years ago. The population seems to be growing, although there are only about 4 plants.
Aka Striped Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata)
And I’m back to the yard. Last and maybe least, Herb-robert greets me. I’ve read that Herb-Robert, a tiny cranesbill geranium, may or may not be native to North America, but native origin seems to be winning.
Herb-robert (Geranium robertianum)
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We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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What’s going on in your backyard, big or small?
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