The Vernal Pond in Winter

Observations: What might this ecosystem look like in the winter and what are the primary strategies for winter survival for the organisms here?

I imagine the Vernal Pond as a haven for hibernating mammals, such as the Groundhog. I see burrows or holes in the ground located throughout this habitat. The burrows tend to be up closer to the tree trunk base, above the water line. I imagine the Groundhog sleeping all winter long, using the stored fat from the warmer months as fuel to make it through the winter. I also wondered about the Racoons. I have identified the scat that I found a few weeks ago as a Racoon. In the Vernal Pond, Racoons would possibly overwinter in dens made from decaying tree cavities. The fallen Red & Sugar Maple trees would make a great home in this habitat. Snow would make it easy to observe tracks and trails leading in and out of these burrows. Being an Omnivore, I think Racoon would feed upon smaller prey, nuts, insects or remaining vegetation. Another winter element to consider are several varieties of plants that surround the Vernal Pond. Most plants are native perennials. Trees, shrubs, wildflowers and vines will die back and lose their leaves as they transition into a dormant season. They will blossom again from their established home in spring. Annual plants will drop seeds that will survive over winter. These seeds will then start to grow anew in spring. Most birds will migrate south for the winter, however I imagine I might be able to see or hear Woodpeckers, Chickadees or Cardinals. The birds that stay over winter will feast upon seeds and insects.

Scat from Racoon is filled with seeds

Species Identifications:

 

Pin Oak-Quercus palustris- the Pin Oak grows in a variety of soil conditions. In my habitat this beautiful tree is found along the edges of the moist soils from the Vernal Pond. This Oak is easy to identify because of the lower branches droop towards the ground. Another identifiable characteristic is to observe the width of the leaves. Pin oaks will be slimmer/more narrow in comparison to the Red Oak. The Pin Oak leaf lobes come in almost completely towards the middle of the leaf, keeping the leaf shape more thin in profile.

 

Brown Harvestmen- Hadrobunus grandis- commonly referred to as daddy-long-legs. This species is the most widespread species of Harvestman. This arthropod is typically mistaken for an arachnid. Their body parts are fused and they have a single pair of eyes in the middle of the cephalothorax. They are known for their exceptionally long legs. They have no venom glands and therefore possess no danger to humans. They do not possess silk glands and therefore do not build webs. Many species are omnivorous. If hunting, they ambush their prey. 

Repetitive tachinid fly- Peleteria iterans- the black abdominal bristles are a key feature in identifying this species of fly. This species plays an important role in ecosystems because they act as a parasite for the damaging moth populations by keep destructive moth caterpillars in check. The female fly will lay a fertilized egg on the caterpillar or in front of it. The eggs hatch and the fly larvae proceeds to eat the caterpillar to death, from the inside. Adult flies are most active from summer to autumn. They can be found in a variety of habitats, such as, woods, open fields, marshes, coastlines, meadows, parks and forests. 

Lichen agaric-Omphalina ericetorum- this common mushroom is found growing with lichens throughout North America.  This collection of mushrooms was located amongst the moss in the moist soil near the base of a Red Maple tree. The notable characteristics are the small size, flat top with sunken center and scalloped to wavy margin. Color varies from brownish to pale yellow. The Vernal Pond is a wonderful spot for mushroom observation. This moist, nutrient rich soil is the ideal nutrition for mushrooms, since they lack chlorophyll. 

Creative Observations: Morning moments from Kesling Wetland

Animal and Plant Interactions

Observations: What animal species or guild seems to be abundant in my ecosystem?

Vernal Ponds are forested neighbors to Wetlands. As a good neighbor, they serve as temporary pools of water and provide habitat for salamanders, frogs, toads, aquatic beetles, aquatic insect larvae, and even birds such as wood ducks. Since Vernal Ponds are isolated from rivers or lakes, they dry up annually and are flooded seasonally. You will not find fish in this habitat. Due to the summer season, my Vernal Pond is slowly drying. The species I see now may not be here during the Spring season when spring rains fill the pond and serve as a prefect habitat for amphibians, invertebrates and turtles to lay eggs. 

Even in the middle of summer, I still have several species that thrive during these times. I was able to witness a Green Stink Bug feeding from the fruit berries of a Bittersweet Nightshade vine. I noticed that the Stink Bug spent several minutes feeding on the fruit, all the while I was quickly trying to take photos of this Hopperlike Insect. Using the mouthpart, know as a proboscis which acts like a straw, the Green Stink Bug is able to suck out the fruit juice for nutrients. If you look at my picture below REAL CLOSE you can see the proboscis! 

Species Identification:

Common Blackberry- Rubus allegheniensis- Common blackberry is a shrub-like wildflower. It is most easily identified by its juicy, black, clustered berries and pinnately-compound leaves. White petal flowers are in a raceme structure and supported by very prickly, robust stems. Flowers are about 1” wide and the petals are longer than the sepals. Commonly found in dry fields and open clearings.

Bittersweet Nightshade- Solanum Dulcamara -is a beautiful flowering Vine. Solanum species have a flower that resembles a Sun and its Rays. This plant is toxic. Only certain species are adapted to withstand this toxicity. The Bittersweet Nightshade has a purple flower with a yellow center. The flower has berries that are oval in shape. When the berries are ripe, they turn red. The Bittersweet Nightshade thrives in rich, wet soils with plenty of nitrogen. The Vernal Pond, with all its decaying matter on the ground provide the perfect nutrients.

Green Stink Bug- Acrosternum hilare- has a bright green colored shield shaped back. It is thinly outlined by yellow, orange or reddish edges. In this picture it is visible that the three outermost segments of his antenni are marked with black. The Green Stink Bug gets its name due the amount of foul smelling discharge they exert when disturbed. Both adults and nymphs possess large stink glands on the underside of their body. This Bug thrives in areas such as, cropland, fields, orchards and gardens. These habitats can all be found adjacent to or near the surrounding Vernal Pond. It is considered a pest and causes damage to Corn and Soybean. Both of those crops are rotated seasonally in the adjacent farm field to the South and East of the Vernal Pond.

Ramshorn Snail- Biomphalaria- this small to medium size snail is an air-breathing, freshwater snail, from the family of Planorbidae. After much research, I am unable to identify the species of this snail. A Ramshorn Snails calls this discordial shell home. This snail has a dark brown shell was slowly moving across the dirt road. It was headed in the direction of the Vernal Pond. I watched the snail make its way by sticking out its head and neck, securing itself on the ground in front of itself and pulling the shell forward to meet its current position. This snail has one pair of slender tentacles and it is found throughout North America. Their ideal habitats are ponds, lakes, slower streams or rivers, usually in aquatic plants.  They feed on bacteria. 

Creative Additions: Insects discovered near the Vernal Pond

 

Ecotones near The Vernal Pond

Observations: As I walk down the dirt road towards the Forest Learning Center, I can't help but think about all the ecotones surrounding the Vernal Pond.  Ecotones are the areas of transition between two biological communities. The Forest Learning Center is located within the Vernal Pond boundaries and is a central point to all of the forest action. The Vernal Pond is open and airy in the understory of the Red Maples. The ground is moist but not wet, in fact it appears to getting dryer as the weeks go by. I can walk all around within the Vernal Pond. I can see all the vibrant ground cover growing quickly in fertile soil. 

To the West of the Vernal Pond is a dense forest full of a beautiful variety of hardwoods, however a man-made road serves as the ecotone. The road divides the two areas quite discreetly. You can still see subtle remnants of the vernal pond to the West but the dense forest becomes much more discrete. This gravel road would be considered a low degree of convolution, but if you remain on the path, it quickly transitions into another Ecotone. 

To the North of the Vernal Pond, the path straddles between an open patch of dry meadow and is surrounding by forest. Here the degree of convolution is also noticeable and the mowed path discretely blends in with the small meadow habitat. The common milk week is found in abundance here, along with meadow grasse. The forest discretely surrounds the prairie and the vernal pond. 

To the East and South of the Vernal pond, the ecotone transitions to a soybean field. The only divide I've between the agricultural field and the vernal pond is the forest tree line, which filled with bushes, small trees, and sprinkled with a few large trees. 

Species Identification:

Tall Bellflower Campanula americana is also known as American Bellflower. The blue-violet flower is star shaped in a leafy spike. Blooms provide a bright late-summer accent to moist thickets. It grows from three to five feet in height and has a straight stalk. It is a native plant to North America. The Tall Bellflower straddled the man-made road. I am sure it loved the abundance of sunlight along the dirt road and discovered it flowering in the adjacent areas along the north side of the trail. 

Japanese Beetle Popilla japonica is a non-native species has iridescent copper-colored elytra (hardened Forewing) and bright metallic green thorax and head. 5 spots of white hair dot the side of the abdomen with 2 white tufts at the tip. Japanese beetles feed on foliage, flowers, and fruit. Foliage is typically skeletonized buy consuming only the leaf material between the veins, I noticed this right away in my observations. The Japanese Beetle is most often found in woods and meadows, so that makes the location along the trail prime feasting. This beetle was busy eating and didn't seem to mind my disturbance. 

Botton Bush Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. It is native to eastern and southern North America. Flowers are white and round with ball-like heads. It is a common bush in wetland habitats, including swamps, floodplains, riparian zones, and moist forest understory. This bush was thriving along the roadside of the Vernal Pond and it noticed it in several different places. It may also be referred to as common buttonbush, button-willow and honey-bells.

Turkey-tail Trametes versicolor is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Usually overlapping or in rosettes, with small, leathery, thin, stalkless caps. Versicolor means 'of several colours', describes the fungus that displays different colors. Semicircular in shape and can be spoon or kidney- shaped. Found on dead deciduous wood or in wounds of conifers. It gets its name due to the shape and multiple colors that are similar to those of a wild turkey. I found the Turkey-tail in one specific spot on the North edge of the Vernal Pond. It was so striking and beautiful. 

Creative: Below you will find the Plants and Animals found along the trails near the Vernal Pond

References: 

Lincoff, G. (1981). National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Milne, L. (1980). National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

Newcomb, L. (1977). Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.

A vernal pond at the Learning Center Forest

At last! I have come to the place where it all started. 

In 2017, I took a tour of Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center in Wolf Lake, Indiana. As I was exploring the grounds with my guide Jonathan, we passed by a vernal pond. While we were there, students were actively dipping in the pond for aquatic life. I had no clue species like this even existed. In a place that appeared so dead, there was life forms in the water- flourishing. So today, as I start to write my blog about the vernal dipping ponds, Jonathan, now my instructor, informs me that this station is a central part of the Learning Center Forest.

OBSERVATIONS:

I started down the trail from Merry Lea towards the vernal pond, I was surrounded with the buzzing and humming of busy insects & butterflies, dashing in and out of my view. I was happy to discover the Learning Center structure again. For this time it has provided me with a quite spot to sit and rest while I sit to listen and observe the sounds of the forest. I quickly tuned into the call of a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata),who didn't seem to mind that I was there and sang the whole time. The Blue Jay must have been stopping for a short break, because his common nesting habitat is usually amongst the oak trees. 

As I start to do my survey of the area, I noticed the vernal pond is dominated by one species of tree, the Red Maple tree (Acre rubrum). Red Maples thrive in moist, lowland  areas. Their decaying matter of fallen leaves and branches, blanketed the bottom of the vernal pond. To my surprise, I found only a few flowers that were in bloom. The Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata), which is part of the Parsley Family and is a typical plant found in swamps and low land meadows. And the Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris), which is also found in wet soils. 

Just then, I saw from the corner of my eye this bright red dragonfly- the Streak-winged Red Skimmer (Sympetrum illotum) or as I like to call it Big Red. Its complimentary color contrasted beautifully with vibrant shades of forest green. Big Red sat there for a long time letting me snap away picture after picture. Streak-winged Red Skimmers are found near pond edges and adults feed on small flying insects. Big Red sat there patiently for me until I captured the right shot. 

IDENTIFICATION:  

Blue Jay photograph from Audubon Society www.audubon.org

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a bright blue above with much white and black in the 

wings and tail; dingy white below; black facial markings; prominent crest. With a rich variation of calls, a raucous jay-jay, harsh cries and queedle-queedle. Although they seem to travel throughout the year, they are migratory and travel and large loose flocks and both spring and fall. They often bury seeds and acorns, and since many are never retrieved, they are in effect tree planters

Red Maple tree (Acre rubrum) is a medium to large tree with an oval, spreading crown. Leaves are opposite on twig with simple, borne singly on long red stems. Lobes 3-5, hand-like, with sharp V-shaped notches between main lobes. The bark is pale grey and smooth when young and becoming dark brown to gray, furrowed and then scaly with 

maturity. Twigs are slender, shiny red to reddish brown with numerous tiny warty bumps. Fruit is drooping, paired, propeller-like; broadly V-shaped or U-shaped and up to 1" long. Red Maples are found all throughout Indiana. 

Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) has upper branches that are smooth except for scattered thorns. It is a  bushyshrubs without long arching flowering stems.  The Swamp Rose has leaflets with very fine teeth, dull green; prickles stout and usually hooked. Stipulates are very narrow. Plant is 2 to 8 feet high. 

Water Hemlock (Cicuta maculata) is found in freshwater swamps and damp Meadows. Leaflets are lance sheet with numerous teeth; Ambrose flat, 2 to 4 inches wide. Stem 

branching, usually modeled with purple. Gross 3 to 6 feet high all parts are deadly poisonous to taste. It is found in swamps and low meadows. Grows summer and fall.

Streak-winged Red Skimmer (Sympetrum illotum) has a hairy head and thorax and is reddish brown. The thorax has two white spots on each side.The abdomen is red with a row of pale spots on each side. Wings are clear with reddish brown beans. Mated pairs fly in tandem above the water. After mating, the pairs go separately to the rest and nearby Twigs. Adults are active mid June to late July.

CREATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS:

                                          REFERENCES:

Farrand, John Jr. (2000, February) National Audubon Society Field Guide to Birds Eastern Region. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 

Jackson, Marion T. (2003) 101 Trees of Indiana A Field Guide. Indiana University Press.

Milne, Lorus and Margery. (2000, February) National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 

Newcomb, Lawrence. (1977) Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Little, Brown and Company.

Photos are from the Author, unless otherwise stated

D

MINDFUL MONDAY FAMILY

FAMILY- Where do I begin!  I could write a million things here.  Building a solid family foundation is such an essential part of life.  We learn so much from our parents, cousins, sisters, etc.  Lately, I've found myself thinking of families as TRIBES.  It's a strong Family Dynamic that ties us together, like Being Woven- into who we are as individuals, as well as the roles we take within our own Tribal Council.

A bond is woven through memories, experiences and stories.  Each members life & legacy creates a beautiful part of this woven Tapistry.  It tells the tale of trials & tribulations, Ceremonies & celebrations that we've encountered along the way.  We learn from these events by bring us closer together and strengthening our bonds.  Yes, Each Tribe has its own quirks but what matters most is that you weave a pattern that is unique, vibrantly colorful & as interesting as you are.  

One thing I'd like to mention, however, is that we aren't all born into our tribe of choice! It's unfortunate when families divide on issues or so much trauma has occurred that there's a Tribal separation.  Family doesn't necessarily mean blood, your tribe may consist of your friends or in-laws, stepsisters, co-workers and neighbors.  Whatever the case may be, think of your Tribe, the one that fits you....  What does it look like? What is your role in the Tribe? What traditions or rituals will you pass down to the next generation? Maybe you want to let go of something that binds you to a past & needs to be forgotten...habits that you will NOT carry on into the next generation?  As I said before, your are creating a Woven Tapestry of Life.  All the colors, images, materials and flaws are essential in creating a beautiful story...Just remember, YOU are an integral part of this story.

So for MINDFUL MONDAY do this.....Tonight when you get home, Honor your Tribe.  Let your Family know how important they are to you.  Have a "Fireside Chat" with your Tribe either physically (Build a fire in your fireplace or fire pit) or verbally by talking about traditions that your grandfather (or any Tribal member, past or present) taught you.  If you are alone, take an Epsom salt bath,(be sure to rinse off) wrap yourself in a blanket and light a candle.  Practice a hobby like knitting or crocheting.  Maybe you just need to Say a prayer for someone in your Tribe.   But honor your FAMILY this week for MINDFUL MONDAY whether they're blood relatives or not!

Untill next time- I'll leave you with a phrase my Grandpa Fritz would always say "TAKE 'ER EASY"

MINDFUL MONDAY The power of touch

Welcome Back for another MINDFUL MONDAY!  
I've often felt that the power of touch produces one of the most soothing, nurturing and energizing effects on our mind, body and spirit.  The power of touch is so essential to our attitudes, yet how often to we think about it?

Below is a nice little article that gives reason to why the concept of Touch is so Powerful and also some techniques that we can include in our daily routines.  

"It's common sense that a hug at a stressful time, a handshake after an important meeting or just cuddling at the end of the day help us relax, leaving behind negativity and worry. Now researchers are investigating whether this feel-good energy has an impact on our well-being. 

When we experience friendly, affectionate touch, our bodies release oxytocin, which is sometimes called the love hormone. Oxytocin's effects include lowering blood pressure, decreasing the stress-related hormone cortisol and increasing pain tolerance. It is released through friendly touch, including contact between breastfeeding moms and their babies, cuddling couples and even pets and their owners.  

The Benefits of Bodywork
Studies suggest a number of ways touch can help us stay healthy. Massage, for example, has been shown to lower blood pressure, slow heart rate and even help premature babies gain weight. By increasing the amount of touch, massage harnesses the health-promoting effects of oxytocin, along with reducing anxiety and promoting a general sense of well-being. And massage after a tough workout can help prevent stiffness and soreness the next day.

Adding Touch to Your Day
Without thinking about it, some people can go hours, days or even weeks without any physical contact in their lives. Adding touch to your day is a simple way to harness its health-maximizing effects of less stress, pain management and a healthier body and mind.

Remember that touch doesn't only have to mean being touched; giving touch in healthy ways, from a hug to a handshake to a pat on the back, benefits you—and the person on the 
receiving end. And you don't have to be in a relationship to do it. Even a quick touch like a high-five (for those friends who hate to hug) can be beneficial.

• Cuddle. You don't have to talk or gaze deeply into someone's eyes, but you can cuddle with your partner, child or pet.
• Hug hello (and goodbye for that matter). Greet friends and family with a quick embrace to maximize touch in your day.
• Find Fido. Touch doesn't have to be person to person. Use your down time to groom or pet your dog or let your cat nap in your lap as you make phone calls.
• Jump in bed. Having more sex will increase your touch time, and time spent between the sheets can positively impact your relationship, too.  
• Schedule a massage. Penciling in a session with a trusted therapist will leave you relaxed and refreshed.
• Try a solo massage. Using lotion or massage oil, relieve neck, arm, leg and scalp tension using the tips of your fingers to massage in a circular motion. Self-massage tools, such as canes (to massage your back) or kneading tools can help with hard-to-reach spots or tough knots.
• Get classy. Yoga and Pilates classes offer hands-on adjustments from qualified instructors that can help strengthen your core and provide a dose of touch.
• Hold hands. Don't wait for someone to initiate it—go for it yourself! This simple gesture can bring the spark back to a long-time relationship, add some sizzle to a new one, and even show someone special (your child, parent, grandparent, sibling or best friend) that you care.
• Get a pedicure. Snag a snazzy new nail color and a serving of healthy touch
• Pat someone on the back. Congratulate friends and co-workers on their accomplishments with a celebratory pat on the back.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/wellness_articles.asp?id=1818

So for MINDFUL MONDAY find time this week (and every week) to re-connect youself with the Power of Touch.  You see, touch is powerful! From reducing our blood pressure to positive feelings and emotions that come over us.  Just a few simple examples are all we need to set us on the right path.  

"With a little thought, you'll find countless ways to touch the lives of others through this meaningful form of connection."

ENJOY!

Sources
National Institutes of Health. "The Power of Love," accessed April 4, 2013. newsinhealth.nih.gov

National Institutes of Health. "Massage Therapy," accessed on April 4, 2013. newsinhealth.nih.gov
University of Virginia. "High-quality marriages help to calm nerves," accessed on April 4, 2013. www.eurekalert.org
Baker, Kathy. "Study shows frequent massage sessions boost biological benefits," accessed on April 4, 2013. news.emory.edu
Keltner, Dacher. "Hands on Research: The Science of Touch," accessed on April 4, 2013. greatergood.berkeley.edu

National Institutes of Health. "Massage Therapy," accessed on April 4, 2013. nccam.nih.gov

Weerapong P, Hume PA, Kolt GS. "The mechanisms of massage and effects on performance, muscle recovery and injury prevention," accessed on April 4, 2013. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Uvnas-Moberg K, Petersson M. "Oxytocin, a mediator of anti-stress, well-being, social interaction, growth and healing ," accessed on April 4, 2013. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Field, Tiffany. "Touch for socioemotional and physical well-being: A review," accessed on April 4, 2013. www.sciencedirect.com

MINDFUL MONDAY Feelings

If you don't know how you feel, you can't heal.  Those words ring so true to me, like bells of the soul.  



Our feelings are a natural compass, to guide us through life.  Our feelings emerge to bring awareness.  Whether we are celebrating, sympathizing or feeling scorned...it's important to take a moment, be IN the moment & to feel what we are feeling.  In order to understand how we can Feel Better, we must first take stock.  By being aware of our feelings, we are being mindful.  

We need to recognize the importance of our feelings in order to be authentic with ourselves.  I know at times it is hard to understand our feelings, but sometimes just by sitting with it, you can start to bring them to the surface.  By bringing things to the surface, you are given an opportunity to alleviate the pain, suffering, guilt, (fill in the blank) that binds us to trauma.  Let the feelings rise above you, bring them out in full glory.  Once they've reached the surface & have been exposed, they no longer reside in you.  When you start to feel better, you can once again take flight.  Your foundation is stabilizing, spirits are lightening & your eyes sparkle once again.  

There is no short cut here.  I wish I could say that this process is easy....but what's easy is burying your feelings, and that's a dead end road.

So for MINDFUL MONDAY, focus on your feelings!  Don't take the easy way out...it's your life & you're worth it!  If you do feel great already, then share it!  Help others through support, guidance, mentoring, or just listening.