Cry Havoc!

Oh noooo!  Someone (probably raccoons) got into the pond (probably trying to get at the fish) and wreaked havoc on the pond plants, upending several and even dragging one out of the pond.

A living flash of light he flew

Our dragonfly is happily hanging out around the pond, not afraid of us anymore.

Dragonfly

Azolla is very healthy now

Once more unto the breach, dear friends

Alverno students cleared plants such as Marah macrocarpus (Wild Cucumber) in Bailey Canyon for the cleanup which was organized by the Sierra Madre Action Council.

Matilija Poppies are in bloom!

At First Blush

Our very first water lilly has bloomed!

The uncertain glory of an April day

The first wildflowers are in bloom around St. Francis' statue.  These are mixes of native wildflowers from Theodore Payne Foundation that students planted in the Fall.

Weedy Trophies

Students added their carefully cultivated pond lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) to the pond and to one of the big aquaponics systems today.

Raccoons find them delicious.

19th century illustration of Pistia stratiotes

 

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The second fish tank still leaks, so we will re-silicone it before filling.