This is a relatively new park created while we were in TN, so also new to us, and it is indeed a pearl of a little fen.  This is where Beaver Creek gets its start from springs.  They’ve built nice boardwalks and bridges over the wetlands and creek, and left the rest as natural trails through the woods.  We just missed sighting some deer, as a friendly dog-walker pointed out.  There were all kinds of birds out in profusion, including I think some Towhees.  There were still some flowers blooming in this unique habitat.  Pearl’s Fen backs up to a quarry-turned-park that we’ve explored, so one day we’ll check it out from that end.

A momentous occasion–the first official lighting of the (gas) fireplace at HQ (YOTT)!  Yeah, old farts here, it doesn’t take much.  But we were there!  And it was definitely a drafty fall day.  As in “She downed the Poet Oatmeal Stout in one draught.”  Actually, I savored it in a snifter glass, but you get the idea.

Imagine me not posting mundane trivia for a week!  How did you 2.5 readers ever survive?  All I have to make up for it is even more tedium.  But lest I forget how to even write, here goes.

As I’ve mentioned, this small boring yard in midwest suburbia is like a blank slate, aside from all the exotic invasive trees and bushes, which I can’t do much about beyond thinning them out.  It’s a different kind of challenge.

But–I made my first real live plant contact, through a local online natives group, and we met her and traded boxloads of daylilies that came with the house for some native/perennial seeds which she had collected and dried.  I’m in the process of sowing them in the beds around the house, where hopefully they will germinate next year.  It’s not ambitious, but it’s a start.

Meanwhile, I’ll be on the lookout for inexpensive native trees and bushes to start surrounding the yard with a green screen and provide basic habitat.  Even if it’s just some rooted saplings dug up by a local landscape contractor, I’ll do whatever I can for cheap.   At least it won’t take a whole forest to make a dent in this place.

My evil bird-luring plan is working.  There isn’t a lot of wildlife here (that I know of), as they have few incentives to feel safe and secure in this environment, so attracting birds using seed in a sheltered area is progress.

Interestingly, we keep noticing groups of huge buzzards hanging out and feeding in the neighborhood, and a couple of raptors or ravens circling overhead.  There may just be some roadkill around, but it’s something.  I’ll take what I can get.

It’s been raining hard for days, after finally turning fall-like.  This photo is self-explanatory.  Not much here, but lots of potential.

Yesterday we paid another visit to E’s son’s grave.

Next we went to the county courthouse in Xenia to find out how to fill out the forms to change the gender marker on a birth certificate, which was a long-overdue legal milestone for Ohio (and for E, once the process is finally complete).

Then we revisited Peifer Orchards, this time with my camera!

To finish off, of course we adjourned to HQ, which was all decked out in Halloween mode.  Here is a Yellow Springs Brewery Moonmilk Stout.

Let’s see just how boring I can be without putting myself to sleep!

I mowed the lawn–it’s too easy in a typical suburban micro-yard.  I keep looking for more outdoorsy things to do, and there’s nothing.  Not even plants to photograph, other than these few fall stragglers.  I feel like a caged animal.  At least my evil bird-feeding scheme is starting to pay off.  There are actual birds here now–not many, but it’s a start.

Here we have an aster cultivar, a (nativar) chokeberry leaf, oak leaves turning, and my new bluebird house, awaiting house hunters.

Can’t complain.  I have a roof over my head (a new one at that, not the leaky one), and we can pay the bills, more than many folks can do.  And having a yard devoid of nature forces me to look closer and appreciate the tiny things.  And spend less money!  A few well-placed beneficial plants will go a long way here.

The fact that this post features mundane non-eventful accomplishments demonstrates that we are finally moving past the uprooting and unsettling aspects, and getting to the simply living stage.

Exhibit #1 is E’s first Challah-baking back in Ohio, and it’s better than ever.  And here are a cabinet and hinged shelf she made for the tiny laundry area, to make it more functional.  It doesn’t get more domesticated than that!

Here are some (nonnative, gasp) perennials blooming in the garden.  And here’s Misu lounging with The Skullies and her security incense bag (?!) in my office.

Last but not least, the moment you haven’t been waiting for–some rooms not in a state of chaos–but not staged either!  Pretty self-explanatory.

Misu can be seen presiding over her own personal “conservatory”.  She is a very finicky mistress.  You can tell who cracks the whip in this household.  She is also a ferocious watch-cat!

We had another “reunion” today.  And this time I remembered to bring my camera!

It’s been like four years since we’ve been to Indian Mound Reserve, and what a difference our absence made!  Once again COVID had its upside, in that people had time to improve parks and visit them.  We found new and repaired bridges over the gorge, new boardwalks, stairways, and handrails, new trails connecting areas, and best of all, the waterfall over Massies Creek is now surrounded by a safe new walkway and overlooks.  The 1800s log cabin restoration has been completed.  Very impressive work.

We didn’t even get to the ancient Indian mound today, there were so many new trails to explore or save for next time.  This may be my new favorite park, after the Fen of course.

The last of the asters and goldenrod were lining the paths, and I even managed to get a photo of a large white puffball, somewhat the worse for wear.

I was reading an article about hedgehogs and why their populations are declining and endangered.  While we don’t have native hedgehogs in the US, the same issues affect all our wildlife.  This is particularly pertinent to living in a densely populated suburban or urban setting.  No matter how much you restore and protect your property’s natural biodiversity, what your neighbors do or don’t do directly affects your success.

Wildlife survival depends on corridors of natural habitats containing native plants for foraging, protection, and nesting.  When an animal is confronted with impenetrable walls or fencing, manicured lawns and overly trimmed, squared-off hedges, nonnative invasive plants that choke out beneficial food sources, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and machinery, this reduces safe passage, cover, and food.  We have created isolated desolate islands surrounded by danger to survival.

All life is interconnected and dependent on the habitats and food sources it evolved with, all the way up to the top of the food chain, us.  When the animal kingdom succeeds and thrives, so do we.  So when we eradicate or reduce these natural bridges and protections, we ultimately endanger our own survival.  As we overpopulate and overdevelop our remaining green spaces, we sabotage ourselves along with our fellow creatures.

Meanwhile, down here on our infinitesimal square footage of the planet, we watch in concern as ignorant neighbors overzealously rape and pillage what little vegetation is left, until it’s just a barren wasteland where no critter would dare to tread to get to a safe yard.  So what can you do?  All I can do is create a safe haven myself, with as many beneficial native plants and hiding places as possible, and whatever critters haven’t been killed or gone extinct will eventually find their way here.

Thanks to local Ohio gov COVID mandates, instead of lines of unwashed masses at the Medicaid office, I was able to walk right in, have my documents scanned right away by a nice lady behind a shield, and get out unscathed in a few minutes.  Now I just wait a couple days to find out if I’m poor enough to get approved for Medicaid, so I can sign up for affordable health insurance that will cover major dental reconstruction. This is now my life as an old person!

Since so much time and headache were saved, we made an impromptu visit to the Narrows Preserve.  But of course once again I had forgotten to bring my phone, so I can’t post photos of the amazing, incredible mushrooms that happened to show up that day.  Wouldn’t you know it, we had our first sight of these huge white globes, masses of the vivid orange “shelves”, some round copper-colored ‘shrooms, and tiny round peach dots on a log.  My descriptions don’t do them justice.  Maybe next time I’ll remember my camera, and be lucky enough to find some specimens to post.

It’s just as well, because my old computer is aging and decrepit along with me, so it takes days(!?) for it to upload my photos to WP, instead of seconds, so it’s a major pain in the ass.  Conveniently, my old printer/scanner is also failing.  So after dental expenses I guess I’ll be replacing all the above.  Hopefully before I myself kick the bucket altogether!  Blah.  (Hence, “blahg”.)

Also without my camera, we had another “reunion”, this time at Siebenthaler’s Nursery, where I got a few plants, including one of my favorite native ferns, maidenhair.  I’ve managed to crank out a photo of it happily enjoying the rain in what will hopefully become my fern and native woodland ephemerals garden.

I’m going to include some “before” photos of our house and garden, to illustrate what I’m up against.  I’ve begun to clear some of the masses of exotic invasive honeysuckle, etc., and plant natives, nativars, and non-invasive perennials in their place.  I realize I’m compromising my own natives purist policy, but trying to keep to its spirit of restoring native habitat biodiversity as much as possible, given the limitations of the situation.  I’ve also hung several bird feeders from trees to encourage more birds to return to the area and find a safe haven.  And of course I have a little herb garden outside the back porch.

Yesterday we returned to Charleston Falls and took a different loop to the pond.  We spotted three deer, a kingfisher swooping for fish, and this other large creature, who was kind enough to pose for me.  Of course I’ve included the famous cave, and some of the unique habitats and wildflowers of early fall.

I may have to curtail some photography for a while, as my old laptop is dying and malfunctioning.  It’s very difficult to upload my photos to my posts.  It’s frustrating, as this is one of my few “creative” outlets.  I’ll limp along with it as long as I can, until I can afford a new computer.  Other business, such as trying to get on Medicaid so I can afford urgent dental work, will have to come first.

To the 2.5 or so people who follow me, thanks for your patience!  I know how boring this “blahg” can be, as it’s mostly just a chronicle of my personal day-to-day journey to help me keep track of myself.  Somebody’s got to!  If you’re gracious enough to join me on the trail every now and then, I appreciate your company.