How Do Ponds Attract Wildlife?

by | Oct 16, 2025 | Amphibians/Reptiles, Garden/Yard, Nature, Water Resources

Wildlife Parade

Of all the wildlife attractions we’ve created at Winding Pathways nothing beats our tiny pond’s wildlife parade. Hardly the size of two king beds, it proves that even a miniscule water feature is one of the best ways to lure fascinating animals into a yard. How and why do ponds attract wildlife?

Simple: Animals need water. For shelter and nurishment.

We actually didn’t create our pond. It was here when we bought the property, but we’ve spiffed it up. At about 80 square feet and less than two feet deep its but a speck of water set beneath our dining room window.

A Pond Out of Place

Woman standing at colorful pond's edge.

Wildlife attractant

It shouldn’t even exist. Our house is built on an ancient sand dune. Water percolates quickly into the soil and no natural pond or stream would have a chance of staying wet here. Fortunately, the previous owners had a hole dug and lined with a waterproof membrane. They then had it lined with stones and planted water lilies in a shallow bit of mud over the membrane. We’ve added native vegetation and domestic flowers that attract insects, birds, mammals and amphibians.

Wildlife Attractant

While eating every meal we watch the pond. Wild turkeys, cardinals, titmice, nuthatches, and house sparrows, are among the regular residents that come to drink within a few feet of where we sit. This spring a mallard pair swam in tiny circles during the two weeks they rested on their way north, and a few times wood ducks have settled in to rest. Each summer and fall hummingbirds forage on the succession of plants like Solomon Seal, Purple coneflower, Obedient Plant and other seasonal flowers. Although there is plenty of nectar, they also seem to prioritize “scuffling” with each other. Insects routinely make their rounds to the flowers.

Squirrels, chipmunks, and deer visit routinely. Once a mink jumped in for a quick swim. Cagey woodchucks sip and scoot off when they spot any movement inside.

We can figure out how all these animals make their way to the pond’s edge.

Baffling Visitors

However, some visitors and temporary residents baffle us. Every spring toads and tree frogs call from the pond’s edge and lay their eggs in the shallow water. Where did they come from and how far did they have to hop? Do they use a “hop-ometer” to measure their hops?

Unusual Visitor Returns

bullfrog sitting in shelter of pond outlet

Safe from predators

In the summer of 2020 an amazing visitor arrived at our pond unannounced. That same year, COVID-19, the Outdoor Writers Association of America held their conference virtually and sponsored the photo hunt with the theme “home.”
Marion’s photo of a frog sheltered in the pond’s egress won third prize!

That was the last we saw of frogs until this summer. Then, while we were eating lunch we spotted a bullfrog sitting on a rock at the pond’s edge. Frogs and ponds go hand in hand but what’s puzzling is, like with toads and tree frogs, how this frog knew our pond was there and how it found its way to it. Our home and pond are about a half mile from Indian Creek, the nearest body of water. And, we’re almost 200 vertical feet above the creek!

Long Way to Hop

To reach our pond the frog had to hop a long way through thick woods and prairies filled with animals that would love a frog dinner. Hawks, owls, snakes, coyotes, raccoons, opossums, and skunks live in the area and would quickly convert a hapless frog into lunch. Somehow our frog survived the gauntlet of predators and a long hop.

Our frog gives us joy watching it and we marvel at how it was able to hop into our lives.

Opportunities To Create A Pond

Many wildlife lovers set up bird feeders and create diverse plantings to lure wildlife into their yard.  They might consider taking it a step farther and building a tiny pond to entice a stream of wildlife to visit. Wonder how to do it? Check out thisoldhouse.com/yards.  Scroll down for a good read. There are also several credible YouTube videos that show how to create a tiny yard pond.

 

Happy Yards

by | Oct 2, 2025 | (Sub)Urban Homesteading, Flowers/Grasses, Garden/Yard, Garden/Yard, Wonderment

Take a look around as you drive. Autumn eye candy delights and soothes us.  From small yards to acreages to vistas Happy Yards abound. Following are some Happy Yards we’ve noticed this fall. We thank folks for creating visual pleasure, habitat for small creatures that share our earth, and enhancing the health of soil, water and air.

To respect individaul homeowner privacy, we took photos that show only the beauty of the forbs and grasses.  Businesses, we stated the names and we thank for their creative use of small spaces to enhance beauty and promote healthy environments.

Enjoy the eye candy as autumn progresses and may we look forward to more come next growing season.

Readers can connect with various businesses across the country that promote happy yards. A favorite is New Hampshire Garden Solutions that regularly post fabulous photos with narrative of rambles in Marion’s native state.

We’ve written a number of posts on wondrous yards that we invite readers to look at.

Shelf Spider Lawn Lace

by | Aug 28, 2025 | (Sub)Urban Homesteading, Bugs, Garden/Yard, Garden/Yard, Nature

Early one humid summer morning we discovered lawn lace in the yard. Dozens of laces were scattered on the grass and mulch we’d put around trees. Dew drops on their tiny filaments sparkled in the early morning sunshine. What had we found? Who made them?

As kids we called them fairy rings and marveled at their delicate nature.

Shelf Spiders

A shelf spider waits in the hole of the lacy web.

The hole reveals the entrance to the web.

They were crafted by industrious hungry spiders overnight. We call them shelf spider webs because they are positioned horizontally. Others call them funnel or tunnel spiders. Look closely to find a hole, usually toward the side, where the spider lurks.

The web isn’t sticky but has so many tiny filaments that a wandering insect often gets its feet tangled there, slowing it down. In a flash the fast-moving spider is out claiming its breakfast.

What Are They?

There are many species of shelf spiders found throughout the world in the genus Aselemidae. Some 111 species live north of Mexico. They pose no threat to people, but may pose a major threat to bugs, who often see the conspicuous webs but not their builders. The web’s architect and builder stay hidden. By late morning sunshine has usually evaporated the dew, making the webs hard to spot. They’re best enjoyed when the world is cool and fresh at dawn.

We usually think of shelf spiders as a September yard feature but in 2025 we began seeing them in July. We like them. Their dainty webs are as intriguing as they are beautiful. Perhaps more important, the presence of these spiders indicates that the lawn is healthy. It’s not been poisoned with insecticides. This allows harmless insects to thrive in the turf to feed the spiders.

Surrounded by Spiders

Many people consider spiders threatening, ugly, and undesirable animals. Come Halloween some even stretch fake webs in their porch to scare trick or treaters. A few spider species can inflict a painful and dangerous bite, but most species are tiny and hardly ever seen by people. They cause no problems and live in lawns, gardens, prairies and trees. They are beneficial.

Want to learn more? An interesting resource is spidermentor.com. 

We enjoy watching brown creepers, nuthatches and warblers climbing tree trunks or flitting around branches. They’re often foraging for tiny protein-rich spiders. Even in the depths of winter dormant spiders provide food for hungry songbirds.

Be happy if some morning you spot lawn lace. Shelf spiders have been at work setting their intricate traps to catch a breakfast of tasty insects.

The Joy of A Quiet Yard

by | Aug 21, 2025 | (Sub)Urban Homesteading, Birds, Garden/Yard, Nature, Reflections/Profiles

We savor our quiet yard moments.

One of our favorite nature writers, Joseph Wood Krutch, remarked that anything people do creates noise. It seems that the clanks and roars of life are increasing since he wrote those words years ago. Quiet is a rare pleasure. Unfortunately, noise doesn’t respect property lines. It does trespass into yards and homes. It’s hard to avoid.

Life Before the Industrial Revolution

Imagine life before the Industrial Revolution. No cars, factories or trains and no power tools. A 1700 era ship could glide by with only the rustling of the breeze in its sails.

Prior to machines the loudest noise to assault the ears was a crack of thunder.

We cringe as motorcycles roar past our home and shake our heads when we hear booming music from neighboring cars as we wait for a traffic light to change. Some people adore noise. We don’t. Audiologists warn that noise exposure can lead to hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep disruption and lowered productivity.

We believe it. Rich was exposed to extreme noise in army training, followed by years running vacuum cleaners as a custodian and chain saws in the forestry industry. It eventually caught up with him with diminished ability to hear sound, especially high pitched ones. Tinnitus is his constant companion.

Because we treasure our ability to hear well, we’ve learned how to best enjoy quiet moments,  create quiet places, reduce noise we produce, and use technology to enhance hearing.

A Week’s Quietest Hours

At Winding Pathways and almost everywhere else the  week’s quietest hours happen early Sunday morning. Roaring motorcycles of the night before are parked, factories are in passive mode, and fewer trains chug along. On many Sunday mornings we’re up early to sip coffee on the porch and enjoy the gentle sounds of nature unmarred by human activity. These moments are  delicious.

Creating Quiet Yard Places

Nature offers ways to lessen the din. The quietest parts of our yard are surrounded by vegetation. Leaves muffle noise. So does topography. Our home and yard are on an ancient sand dune. The north side of our property is the backside of the old dune. It blocks some of the din coming from a highway to the north, shielding about half our property from road noise. Our house, itself, reduces decibels. The side opposite the road is often quieter than the other side.

Our tall prairie plants, shrubs, and trees also muffle noise.  A river birch tree in Marion’s labyrinth is close to the road. Its branches drape down over a bench surrounded by tall prairie plants. Vegetation offers intimate privacy and  slightly muffled noise.

Using Technology to Reduce Noise and Hear Better

We’ve gone electric. Over the years we’ve replaced gas powered mowers, trimmers, chain saws and snowblowers with those fueled by batteries. The decibels they emit are a fraction of their gas counterparts but still make some noise. So do our vacuum cleaners. To protect our hearing we store sound dampening ear muffs near these tools and wear them when using them.

Dr. Jennifer Reekers

Fitting hearing aids is a process and building a relationship

Hearing Aids.  Wow, they are expensive but miraculous. Hearing loss is a stealthy gradual condition. When Rich first bought aids he was amazed to hear the gentle sounds of walking in dry leaves, the creaking of the floor, birdsong, and better understanding of other’s speaking, music, and the television.

Audiologists usually provide a free hearing test. Rich’s advice – get a test and follow up with a pair of hearing aids if needed. The website of the American Academy of Audiology at members.audiology.org can help anyone locate a nearby professional who can help improve hearing.

Quiet Communities

Cities can do much to encourage quiet in their communities. Everyone benefits. Consider advocating with your local Council, law enforcement, and parks departments for developing a more quiet community.

Some people love noise but for most people it’s an annoyance. A quiet yard is a gem to create and enjoy.

 

White Mulberry – Trickster Tree

by | Jul 24, 2025 | Foraging, Garden/Yard, Nature, Pests, Trees

The white mulberry is a trickster tree. We match wits with it often at Winding Pathways.
“All Around the Mulberry Bush” may be a kid’s jingle but the tree is an ecological pest with some positive traits.

Our front hedge is an example. It’s a dense growth of privet. Few plants can live in its shade but the mulberry has a trick that lets it thrive. The mature tree craves sunshine to grow to its full height of 75 feet. We wouldn’t think they’d stand a chance growing under our shady hedge. But it has a trick.

White Mulberry Trick

Birds poop out mulberry seeds when they roost in our hedge. These readily sprout, and the tiny tree sends up a skinny stem that quickly grows through the thick, shady hedge branches to emerge into the sunshine above them. We don’t want a mulberry there so we need to frequently clip down their tall leggy stems.

Another White Mulberry Trick

It’s a trickster in another way. Although called the white mulberry, Morus alba, it can have ripe white berries but more often they’re red to purple. Don’t let the color fool you.   And that’s not all. Most trees have leaves of just one shape. Not the white mulberry. It has three common leaf shapes. See the photo. An individual tree can have all its leaves one shape, two shapes, or a mix of the three.

While many people join birds in eating the sweet fruits, it’s an invasive species that seems to take root wherever there’s a bit of bare soil. Then it grows like crazy. Cut it down and the stump sprouts that can grow a couple of feet in a flash.

Range of the White Mulberry

White mulberry trees grow throughout temperate North America and on other continents. Silkworms feast on their leaves, and probably white mulberry trees were introduced around the world to create a silkworm industry. The tree liked living in America but silkworms didn’t. They died out and a hoped-for silk industry never took root here.

Telling Apart the White Mulberry Cousin

Closely related is the native red mulberry, Morus ruba. It’s hard to find and may be declining due to hybridization with the exotic invader. Here’s how to tell them apart:

White Mulberry:  Relatively small leaves. The top surface of the leaf is smooth and often shiny. It grows fast in the sun. Common.

Red Mulberry: It’s more of an understory tree. The fruit is red. The leaves are big – three to seven inches long with a sandpapery textured top surface and somewhat hairy bottom. Uncommon.

Although Red mulberry is native to Iowa we’ve not found any here. All mulberry trees seem to be the white species or hybrids.

Mulberry Tree Benefits

Firewood:  We love burning mulberry wood. It’s an attractive yellowish wood that burns with a pleasant aroma as it gives off lots of heat. For example, a cord of mulberry contains 25.8 million BTUs of energy. In comparison, white oak has 25.7.

Food:  Kids love the sweetness of mulberries. The berries normally ripen in June. Birds also flock to ripening mulberry fruit. They love them so much that they’ll eat mulberries before nearby ripening cherries. So, having a fruiting mulberry can increase a cherry tree’s yield. Mulberries can be eaten fresh and made into pies. We love adding some to our breakfast oatmeal. The fruit’s robust color makes an attractive natural die in drinks. Because mulberry fruit is sweet and rather bland it is excellent when blended with rhubarb or tart cherries.

Native Red Mulberries Are in Trouble

The native red mulberry tree is in danger. It’s uncommon and apparently declining, possibly because it so readily hybridizes with white mulberry. Red mulberries tend to live in small groves in forested, bottomland areas. Look for their large sandpapery feeling leaves. Finding one is a treasure.

White mulberry trees are tricky, but they are plentiful, prolific, and useful. We have a few growing at Winding Pathways. As long as they stay out of our hedge, we like them.

Oriental Bittersweet – Plant Anaconda Snake

by | Jul 17, 2025 | Garden/Yard, Pests

An Invasive Species

Thick Oriental Bittersweet vine wrapping around a tree.

Anaconda of the plant world

Oriental Bittersweet is the Anaconda snake of the plant world. Few plants are as destructive of native vegetation. It is awful.

Like many invasive species, Oriental Bittersweet was deliberately introduced to the United States in 1879 as an ornamental plant and for erosion control. It failed in both roles and is one of our most ecologically destructive plants.

How It Thrives

This sun-loving plant gets its dose of solar energy by twining up trees and spreading its branches over their crowns. Vines can be four inches thick near the ground as they wind around a tree. Anaconda snakes wrap around their prey to suffocate it. Oriental bittersweet circles a tree as it grows upward, effectively girdling it.

Cousin

The plant has a native cousin, the American Bittersweet, whose berries were once brought into wintery homes to encourage romance. It’s ecologically benign but has become much less common than the destructive import from across the Pacific Ocean.

How Winding Pathways Manages

Oriental bittersweet is an uninvited guest in our woods at Winding Pathways. We let it know it is unwelcome. Rich cruises our woods a couple of times each week, armed with clippers and lopping shears. He snips off even the tiniest bittersweet sprouts. We rarely use herbicides, but sometimes spray Oriental Bittersweet.

Here’s our advice for protecting native plants from this invasive species:

Woods With Established Big Vines

In woodlands where Oriental Bittersweet has been climbing trees for years, cut off the vines at ground level. For one-inch diameter or smaller vines, a sturdy pair of lopping shears works well. For bigger stems, a bow saw or even a small chainsaw makes the work easier. Treating the cut-off stem on the ground side with an herbicide will help prevent regrowth.  Also, clip off baby vines just starting to climb.

Woods Just Getting Invaded

It’s easier to kill bittersweet in the early stages of a woodland invasion.  Clip off the young vines. They quickly regrow, so repeated clippings are needed as the season progresses. Herbicides also work, but often it’s difficult to keep the spray off nearby desirable plants.

About a year ago, we bought a battery-operated clipper. It makes snipping off Oriental Bittersweet vines easier and faster than with muscle-powered tools and is also helpful in pruning fruit trees.

Keep Oriental Bittersweet Out!

Oriental Bittersweet is one plant we don’t want around our home or in woodlands anywhere. We work hard to keep it from climbing our oaks, hickories, hackberries, and other trees, but we wish it had never been brought to North America in the first place.