Golden leaves have abounded on the farm giving a spectacular show of fall foliage. With each season the farm takes on a new look, and as the leaves have begun to fall from the trees we have gotten our first good look at the pond – and it is larger than expected! I have enjoyed taking in the fall colors by strolling along a trail my husband had cleared through our property earlier this summer, but the pond has been largely hidden from view by over growth of orchard grass, wild peppermint, and broad leaf cattails.

Next spring, we will plant a meadow around the pond with common and swamp milkweed and other native wild flowers that will attract bees, butterflies, and fire flies.

The Penn State Extension program has been tracking Monarch butterflies in Pennsylvania and their declining numbers are a concern. We are hoping that the milkweed we plant in our meadow will attract Monarchs in late May, and provide a nursery for the butterflies who will migrate back to Mexico in the fall. The female Monarchs will mate and deposit eggs on the undersides of the milkweed leaves before continuing their northerly migration. The eco system for the pond, while neglected for many years is quite healthy. We had the water quality tested and found that the pond is deep with clear water and will make a wonderful natural swimming pool.

The broadleaf cattail is native to PA and edible. These marsh perennials were ground into meal and eaten by Native Americans and early colonists. I love having the cattails – but do not plan on eating them! We will need to control their growth next summer as they currently surround the pond making it difficult for us to walk to the waters edge. Our pond is also home to several types of fish and a few snapping turtles. We are hoping to attract wild ducks like the fellas below to make Parc Ferme their forever home.

We have been advised to plant more trees along the back half of the pond to shelter the water surface from the sun and to keep summer algae blooms in check. We are considering native birch trees as they are fast growing, will obscure the view of the neighboring property, and add to our golden fall colors. We already have paper birch stands growing on the farm and love the look of the white bark mixed in with oak and black walnut trees.

Join us for our next Life on the Farm post where I will share our construction plans.