I finally got to see my frog tonight.

I hear my frog every night but tonight I got a rare treat to actually see him.

Trump Supporter on Face book gets a lesson in Global Warming.

Three days ago I posted on face book about my disappointment in Trumps decision to drop out of the Paris Climate Accord. I felt like posting something  that people can do for positive  changes to the environment. This was a response I received from an ex friend and supporter of Trump.

We have 3 bald eagle nests in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. YES right in the heart of the city. So if global warming is so bad why are birds that have not been here in my 66 years suddenly breeding here? There are more Polar bears today then ANY time in recorded history. Read all the predictions from All over the world. They said we would have to choose between feeding people or animals by 2012. All the climate change predictions from the experts that haven't come true would fill a book.

This was my response to the post they left on my page.

Nature may be able to adapt to some of the environmental changes going on, but is it worth the risk of not looking at the signs of how we are destroying the planet. The predictions about the polar bears have not come to pass but it just means they have learned to adapt for now. They predicted the decline of bees and possible extinction of some bees. This has come to pass and this year the first bee has been placed on the endangered species list. The polar bears are not a reason to be thinking that global warming or climate change is not real. If we continue doing nothing to preserve wildlife habitats the situation will get worse and eventually the damage will be irreversible. As far as the Eagles in Pittsburgh, That is a sad argument because Pittsburgh is a classic example of what can happen to the environment when industrial pollution is cut down and cleaned up. Pittsburgh has come a long way from the days of the steel mills days and its pollution. We still have a long way to go as far as improving air quality and water quality but we are making strides and the eagles nesting here is proof of that. If Pittsburgh was still as bad as it used to be we would not have any eagles. Proof of climate change is not the decline or extinction of animals its the change of temperatures water levels and global weather that create catastrophic storms and unprecedented environmental, and geological changes. The extinction and decline of animal populations are results of global warming, pollution, and loss of habitat. Nature is resilient and can adapt but eventually it will come to the point that it can not adapt any more and we will loose big time. At this point no politician or person will be able to change things back.

The people will be heard.

Even though our President Donald Trump has dropped out of the Paris Climate Accord, it is refreshing to see US companies Cities and states stand up and say they are going to continue to follow the Paris Climate Accord. Our mayor here in Pittsburgh has issued an executive order to uphold the accord and follow through with climate control. I see idiots like Rick Santorum doing interviews defending Trumps actions and making claims that Climate Accord does not do anything to help the environment and that lowering carbon emissions will make no difference in climate control. Yes climate change is not just caused by man kinds carbon footprint but if we reduce even one factor and work from there we can turn things around. Here is a clip from CNN yesterday with our Mayor addressing Trumps false claims.

Today President Trump dropped out of the Paris Climate Accord so I feel like posting something positive about doing my part for climate and the environment.

Frogs populations have been hit hard by environmental changes that have seen much of their habitat developed or polluted. These amphibians are not only essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems, they provide excellent natural pest control, too, since they eat insects such as mosquitoes, grasshoppers, moths, caterpillars, beetles, cockroaches, snails, slugs, and flies. Help protect local frog populations while improving your yard or garden by creating an enticing new, safe living space for frogs. All you need to attract them is the proper shelter, food, moisture, and a place to breed. You can give frogs the essentials they need for sustaining life by following simple common sense and by understanding the basic needs of frogs. One of the most important things you will need to provide is a shallow, non moving or very slow moving water source. Frogs drink and breathe through their skin, which needs to be kept constantly moist in order for them to perform these basic life functions. Thus, the most essential requirement for attracting frogs is an accessible source of fresh water that’s out of direct sunlight. If you don’t have a pond or other built-in water source in your yard, simply place some large, shallow dishes of water in a shady area of your lawn or garden. Be sure to clean the dish and change the water weekly so that it doesn’t stagnate. You could also try sinking a shallow plastic tub into the ground to provide a makeshift pond. Frogs also spawn in water. Ideally, your water source or sources should be large enough to accommodate adult and young frogs.

Give your frogs a shady damp shelter. Frogs are generally more active at night since too much exposure to the sun puts them at risk of dehydration. Create a simple shelter for frogs that will offer them a safe, cave-like space to rest during the day. It should be out of the sun and predators’ reach. You can create a simple shelter using an overturned ceramic pot propped up by some rocks. Place it in a shady location near the water source, and leave just enough room between the rim of the pot and the earth for frogs to slip in and out. 

If you want frogs to show up in your yard or garden, you need to provide them with adequate food. The best way to do that is plant a range of seasonal flowering plants that will attract insects throughout the year. Aim to always have something in bloom during the spring, summer, and fall. That way, nectar-eating bugs will flock to your yard. You also want to keep a compost heap leaves and mulch in your garden and habitat area. The bugs that are attracted to a compost heap and mulch also make great food for frogs. Compost and mulch can also provide the damp conditions where frogs love to live. Do not remove leaf litter from some areas in your yard. Leaf litter provides shelter for frogs and some of their prey also prefers areas with leaf litter.

Building a pond for frogs takes a little planning but is always the best way to attract your amphibious friends. Choose a good spot. It should be a partially shaded corner of your yard. Ponds need some direct sunlight to be a healthy environment. However, frogs prefer shaded environments for breeding and shelter from the sun. Dig a shallow hole. Frog ponds can be as wide as you want, but they should be no more than a foot deep. Be sure that your hole has shallow edges in it so that the frogs can enter and leave easily. Remove any roots, sticks, or stones that could damage the liner.  Frogs thrive best in shallow, non-moving water and are susceptible to drowning in deeper water. If you don’t have tapering edges to your pool, you’ll need to provide some sort of incline. Frogs need a gently sloping exit, like a slab of rock, so they can easily get out of the water. If you would like your pond to be a specific shape, mark out the edges with a piece of rope before digging. If you’re digging up your lawn, keep the pieces of turf to help you secure the pond’s edges. You can line your pond hole to keep the water in. You’ll need a rubber or plastic pond liner. To protect the liner in the long-term, it’s also a good idea to first insert a protective underlay between the plastic and the dirt to cushion the liner ( I used old carpeting for my pond).. The easiest way to line your pond is to purchase a flexible or rigid plastic pond liner. However, any thick, durable plastic sheeting will do. Make sure that your liner is big enough to cover the entirety of your pond with a least two feet of excess on all sides. Ponds can also be lined with concrete, but you will need to treat it to ensure that lime does not leach into the water.

Secure the pond’s perimeter. Weigh down the plastic sheet around the edges of your pond with closely-packed rocks, and/or ring it with the pieces of turf you kept from digging the hole where your pond would go. Either way, make sure your perimeter is heavy and big enough to keep the liner in place. Once you’ve secured the pond’s perimeter, you can cut away any excess liner. Let the pond fill with water. Ideally, you should let your pond fill with rainwater rather than filling it from the hose or tap. You can speed up that process by collecting rain in buckets to add to the pond. Add a bucket of natural pond water. If you mix in a bucket-full of water taken from a local marsh or pond, it will introduce millions of microscopic organisms that can jump-start your pond’s ecosystem. They will infuse the water with oxygen, making it more livable and appealing to native frogs in your area. You can also try planting a few native water plants in your pond to attract local frogs. Just make sure that the plants don’t overtake the whole pond and choke other wildlife out. 

Give your frogs cover. At least one edge of the pond should be thickly vegetated with leafy plants that grow well in your area. Plant grasses and leafy perennials around the edges of the pond to provide frogs with adequate shade, dampness, and protection. If you are looking to attract local species, it’s a good idea to stick to native plants when planting around your pond. Pick a selection of native grasses, clumping plants (like ferns and lilies), and ground cover (like shrubs and vines) to grow around your frog pond.

The hardest part is waiting for frogs to colonize your yard or garden. Keep in mind that it may take a couple years for frogs to populate your garden, even after you have created a suitable environment for them. If attracting frogs takes longer than you would like, you can try seeding your pond with tadpoles in the spring. Make sure you use a type of tadpole that is native to your area. 

To eliminate risks to frog populations avoid using chemicals.Frogs are especially susceptible to poisoning from pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, and other common garden chemicals because their hydration and respiration takes place through their porous skin. If you want to attract a healthy frog population, start by using organic gardening practices.Instead of using synthetic fertilizer, encourage growth through picking nutrient-rich soils that are appropriate to each plant, rotating your crops to keep your soil rich, and using organic fertilizer when necessary. Keep in mind that once you’ve attracted frogs, you shouldn’t have any need of chemical pesticides since a single frog will consume more than 10,000 bugs a season. Keep out invasive species. You want to attract the right kind of frogs. Non-native frogs will compete with local ones for food and shelter. Sometimes they’ll even eat local species. Their populations are also generally difficult to control because they have no natural predators. Identify the species of frogs in your yard or garden to be sure that they’re not invasive. Invasive.org has a list of dangerous non-native wildlife that can be searched by animal type and region. If you do find invasive species of frogs in your yard or garden, contact your local government environmental agency, like your state’s D.N.R, or a nonprofit conservation group, like the National Wildlife Federation, for advice and support about how to remove them responsibly.

Keep your grass short. Frogs like to hide in tall grass and are frequent victims of lawn mowers. Be sure that you can see any rogue amphibians in your path by keeping the grass in your yard or garden well-trimmed. If necessary thaw water sources. Most male frogs hibernate in water over the winter. A thin layer of ice will not harm them. However, if their water source is completely frozen, they won’t survive unless they are wood frogs. Protect any dormant amphibians by putting a pan of hot water over thickening ice or get a pond heater.

Avoid plants that are toxic to frogs. Many flowers and vegetables are poisonous to frogs. Protect the amphibian population in your yard or garden by either not planting species that are toxic to them or by planting them well away from your intended frog habitat. Vegetables that are dangerous for frogs include eggplant, rhubarb, snow peas, and potatoes. Flowers that are toxic to frogs include honeysuckle, azaleas, hydrangeas, daffodils, and hyacinth. 

If you wish to attract tree frogs keep an outdoor light on at night. Tree frogs love to eat the moths and insects that are attracted to light sources. Keep a garden light on for part or all of the night in order to create an irresistible feeding spot for them. Don’t trim your trees. You can provide tree frogs with natural habitat by avoiding trimming back bushes and tree branches near water or food sources. Keeping your trees and shrubs leafy and full will give frogs plenty of cover. It will also provide them with good hunting grounds.Make a ground home for tree frogs. Tree frogs won’t gather in normal frog abodes on the ground; give them an alternative with a bit of height. Get a piece of PVC piping that’s about 5 feet long. Drive it into the ground so that roughly half of the pipe is left exposed.Place the PVC pipe about a foot from the base of a tree that’s near a water source. Water may gather in the bottom of the pipe, but it should be absorbed by the underlying ground before it reaches a dangerous depth. PVC pipe is available from most home improvement stores. Hang frog refuges in a tree. Cut standard schedule-20 PVC piping into pieces that are about 2 feet in length. Cap the bottom-side of the pipe, and drill a hole about 3 or 4 inches above the capped bottom so that water can both gather and escape from the refuge. Drill two holes on one side of the top of each pipe. String the holes with heavy fishing line, and tie the refuges around a tree. If possible, pick a tree that’s near a water source since that’s the place where frogs are most likely to congregate naturally. Keep the PVC refuges at a height that is easy for you to reach. Take the caps off at least once a month so that water doesn’t stagnate in the bottom of them.

Moving in more hard scapping.

I found out from the priest next door that the church will be tearing down the garage in the corner of the back parking lot. They will be cleaning up all the trash and I asked if it would be ok for me to take all the old rock sitting up by the garage. He told me if I wanted it to take it before they start tearing down the garage. I started moving some today. it is to heavy to lift so I roll it onto my dolly and wheel it around through my neighbors driveway and into my back yard. This will look good and what I do not use around the pond will be used for a rock garden butterfly area.

Persimmon Tree

Although this is a non native tree and really unexpected in a wildlife habitat I am finding I really like it a lot. I am also finding that American native persimmon trees are good plants for rain gardens. This tree was given to me by a neighbor before I started my wildlife habitat so that is why it is in my wildlife habitat area. I am thrilled to find out that it is self pollinating and that it is blossoming this year for the first time. The tree is attractive but the flowers are very inconspicuous. The fruits are supposed to be the most attractive part of the tree and I am looking forward to trying some.

 There are two different types of flowers on the tree one is larger and the other is much smaller. These are the larger ones. 

These are the smaller flowers and there are a lot more that are closer together. 

 The larger again.

 The larger flowers.

There have been a lot of changes going on.

The last few weeks I have made a lot of changes to the yard. I have added a lot of new plants and finally put up a shed. I have a lot of Iris on the church hillside of all different colors and a lot of peonies that are not in the habitat area. I get to enjoy them and the people from the church get to enjoy then also. I also have my bog area started and the pond is looking great.

I added a picnic table but stained it pecan instead of the traditional red wood stain. 

 My bog has a small spillway into the upper pond and the water is looking clearer than it ever has.

 My yard is very small but as you can see it is packed and planed out .

 Rhododendron that used to be in my yard now on the hillside between my place and the church.

Variegated Weigela  

 A rose bush that will be getting moved as soon as it is done blooming.

 Knock out rose in front of porch.

Blue and cream colored Iris at the front of my yard in front of my wildlife habitat sign. 

Orange and white Iris. 

 Yellow flag Iris 

 Yellow bearded iris

Yellow Flag Iris 

These red roses came up in my front yard a couple years after I bought the place and I have divided them several times since then. I also have some pink ones that also came up around the same time but they have not started to bloom yet.

Same red rose.

Variegated Weigela

A re blooming White iris.

Columbine.

White columbine.

Rainbow knock out rose

Rose

Rose

My Hillside of Iris

Peony.

Iris and peonies.

Iris and peonies.

Japanese Iris

I moved the crab apple tree and snow in summer to make room for my new shed.

Iris.

Iris

Iris

Iris

Red rose

Peony

Iris

Single white rose. This one just came up on its own as a weed.

Ox eye daisy and Sweet William.

Dames rocket and Painted daisy

Rose

Ox eye daisy

Rose.

Peony

Hillside.

Iris

Rhododendron.

This is where the shed will go.

This tree stump and zebra grass are going to be removed.

Iris.

Iris.

Iris

Iris.

Iris.

Iris.

White iris.

White Iris

Azalea, Lupine and Yarrow.

forget me not.

Forget me not

Fire Spinner Ice Plant

Pond area.

I did not know where to put this Arbor so It is just sitting here for now till I figure out what to do with it.

Lower pond and water fall.

Jurassic Park Iris.

White columbine.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park

Columbine

Heuchera.

Orchid

Orchid

Iris

Iris

Front yard sign for wildlife habitat area.

Painted daisy and Dames Rocket

Roses

Knock out roses.

Stone and sand pad for new shed.

Space between my house and the neighbor. This is a part sun part shade area.

Pond area.

Pond

Jurassic Park Iris

Iris

Wildlife habitat sign

Sweet William

Painted daisy

Dutch Iris

Dutch Iris

Painted daisy and Dames rocket.

Rainbow knockout rose.

Rose.

Rose

Iris

Peony

Iris

Hillside.

Variegated Weigela.

Rhododendron.

Moved this tree a few weeks ago and it is still looking good.

Coreopsis.

Lenten rose.

Blue wind flowers starting to sprout.

Lenten rose

A small piece of Weigela that broke off and I stuck in the ground to try to root. That was about a month and a half so it might be working.

Old stump from a dead Yew that needed moved for the shed. I am using it in my wildlife habitat to try and attract amphibians.

Orange and peach colored Iris

Light pink Columbine 

White colunbine.

Dark red iris.

Orange iris

White Columbine.

Jurassic Park Iris

Jurassic Park Iris

Iris

Iris

Columbine

Carolina sweet shrub

Lupine.

Back of pond area

Pond Iris

Coral bell

Chives

Clematis.

Clematis

Clematis

Violet Freckles

Violet Freckles

Bog area

Peach and orange iris

Dark red iris

Iris

Jurassic Park

Evening Primrose.

Primrose

Front border.

Front border

Front border.

I had to move my trumpet vines for the shed so they are sitting in my pond till I get them transplanted.

Rose

New Shed

Shed

Rose 

Primrose,