Valley Pond Townhome Association » Griff Wigley

Deer in Hidden Valley Park: getting closer

Griff Wigley — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:29:00 +0000

At about 9 am on Sunday, I saw this deer trot across Hidden Valley Dr. at Peterson Dr. and head into Hidden Valley Park, startling a couple who were walking their dogs.

Getting rid of Bird’s foot trefoil

Griff Wigley — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:19:02 +0000

Last Thursday, I noticed a crew of three workers walking around the pond spraying. I chatted with one who said they were from Prairie Restorations, under contract with the City of Northfield.

They were killing Bird’s foot trefoil, described on their website as an exotic species of wildflower.

In some cases exotic species find just the right niche and become highly competitive with native species already in place, reducing diversity and upsetting stable communities of both plants and animals.

See the Wikipedia for more about Bird’s-foot Trefoil. And see the Prairie Restorations blog for lots more about their recent activities in restoring prairies around Minnesota.

Another gorgeous sunset

Griff Wigley — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:49:00 +0000

The big storms bypassed us on Thursday night, but they left behind another gorgeous sunset:

Toad entertainment

Griff Wigley — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:29:26 +0000

This little toad seemed convinced that the only way out of our basement window well was to climb up the face of our outdoor thermometer, to no avail.

Cheap entertainment for me. I finally took pity on it and ~~squashed it~~ picked it up and set it free.

An elusive doe appears to be making Valley Pond her home

Griff Wigley — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:17:26 +0000

Robbie spotted a doe wandering among the cattails around the pond last Saturday. I tried to get close for a photo but the doe spotted me and took cover. Crappy photo, I know.

A few hours later, when I was taking photos of the sunset after the thunderstorm, Gene Moninger said he saw her just a few minutes prior. He subsequently attached a comment:

The doe you were chasing came back this afternoon; ran very quickly from Heritage St.-north past the path and up the hill to Peterson St. Got those dogs excited! Don Starkweather caught a glimpse also, but alas, no cameras handy.

I blogged Gene and Earlene’s photo of a doe and her fawn a year ago and a month later, Robbie blogged her photo of a doe in our backyard.

I’m determined to get the best photo!

The honeylocust tree in spring

Griff Wigley — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:35:00 +0000

Our neighbor’s honeylocust tree is at it’s spectacular best right now because it’s as much yellow as it is green.

Sunset over Hidden Valley Park

Griff Wigley — Mon, 31 May 2010 03:50:54 +0000

Tonight’s thundershower cleared out just in time for the sunset.

Daisies among the wildflowers popping up

Griff Wigley — Sun, 30 May 2010 03:41:00 +0000

The wildflowers are starting to pop up all over Hidden Valley Park after the spring burning a few weeks ago. And this year, several strands of oxeye daisies can be seen, including a bunch right at the storm water pipe at the southeast end of the pond.

Our pond is alive with the sound of music

Griff Wigley — Thu, 27 May 2010 04:13:05 +0000

The rains have been plentiful this spring and thus making the frogs around the pond in the middle of Hidden Valley Park very happy. I captured their music while sitting in front of our backyard fireplace last week and again tonight while walking around the park watching the moon rise. Watch/listen to this 38-second video.

Mallard families (not geese) again making Valley Pond their home

Griff Wigley — Sat, 15 May 2010 03:12:00 +0000

Again this year, Valley Pond is home to a couple of new mallard duck families. And again, thankfully, no Canada geese have done likewise. The cattails that surround the pond are evidently doing their job to keep the geese away.