I didn't do seven consecutive days, but I did observe for seven days, with a variety of conditions. Here's my report:
1.1.1. Day 1: December 29, 2024
· I leaned on the front of Larry’s old Toyota Tacoma and observed the northeastern corner of his half acre lot in Sherwood, Arkansas. This part is lined with large oak trees and (mostly) native shrubs and vines, forming a visual barrier between him and his neighbors. The cats also like to hang out in the barrier area. He mows this area from the back of his lot to the front. He also uses part of this area as a driveway to go from the front of his house to his boat shed in the back. The area is south facing, with good full sun in the middle of the day, while the house and a couple of other large trees provide shade from the harsh afternoon/evening sun in the summer.
· There is a crown in the space from which some of the water drains northeastward toward the neighbors’ property and the rest drains toward the south. There is a small sink area approximately in line with the back (northern) edge of the house. This area collects water in heavy rain events, but it seems to absorb/drain fairly quickly. It has been mostly rainy and foggy for the past week, and I saw some ponding here a couple days ago. It is still wet but no standing water today. I felt a light breeze from the northwest. The temperature is about 60 degrees F and it’s sunny.
1.1.2. Day 2: December 31, 2024
· This morning, I observed from the same location just shortly after sunrise. I heard lots of birdsongs and there was a cold wind blowing from the northwest. The area is fairly protected from the wind, with the house, workshop, and hedges all around. There are many limbs on the trees that need to be trimmed. I probably need to get an arborist out to examine them and see whether they are healthy enough to remain or need to be taken down for the safety of the house and the neighbor’s house.
1.1.3. Day 3: January 1, 2025
· Today is colder than yesterday, but not as windy. I observed blue jays and cardinals and heard a woodpecker and some other birds. One cat was lounging in the bushes. My thoughts this morning turned to fruit trees and blueberries. I think there is space for an apple or peach tree or both. I thought about the statement that a lot of life happens at the edges. I wonder if the existing shrubs could be replaced with fruit bearing bushes (like blueberries). Perhaps a beehive? I need to check the pipes to the faucet in the back yard where Larry waters the cats to make sure it’s not leaking.
1.1.4. Day 4: January 3, 2025
· I went out earlier today. It was cold and still, with the sun just beginning to rise. Again, lots of birds. I stood at the northwest corner of the space, near the workshop. From that angle, it appears that the slope is all from the northwest to southeast, with two slight bowls. The groundcover vine is attractive and seems to not be too aggressive. I need to figure out what it is, as well as the shrubs. I probably want to remove non-native species. I suspect that the leaves and vines covering the ground under the shrubs are making some very healthy soil.
1.1.5. Day 5: January 3, 2025
· I went back out just before sunset. Still cold and still and quiet. The cats are starting to come around and hang out waiting to be fed. I took some photos of four plants about which I want to learn more.
o A shrub/small tree that dominates the border area. It’s also growing in front of the house. I’m not sure whether it’s a native or invasive. Later identified as probably Privet.
o A vine/ground cover that is growing under the shrubs/small trees pictured above. Attractive, shiny leaves. Doesn’t appear to be overly aggressive. Later identified as probably Periwinkle.
o A shrub underneath the other one in a couple places. It looks like it might be Abelia. Most of the leaves are off, but it still has these small white blooms on it. Later identified as possibly Spirea.
o A small, delicate, and soft moss or fern is growing under one of the oak trees near the front of the property.
o Another small ground cover plant growing near the back of the property:
1.1.6. Day 6: January 11, 2025
· Thursday afternoon through Friday morning, we received about a foot of snow. I didn’t see many birds this morning, just a couple of crows flying over. I did see animal tracks (cats and a rabbit) that indicate their paths of travel across the space. The cats came from the shrubs to the back garage door, where the pet door is usually open for them to come in to eat. Larry had closed that off and we’re not sure why. Maybe to deter the raccoons. At least one of the cats figured out to go around the house to where Larry had left the front garage door up enough for them to come in. The rabbit seems to have come from across the street to the corner of the house and then across the yard to the shrubs.
· These photos illustrate how the impervious surfaces (concrete, exposed aggregate steppingstones) trap the heat and don’t allow the snow to build up as much. You can even see the higher snow amounts on top of the expansion joints in the driveway.
1.1.7. Day 7: January 15, 2025
· Most of the snow has melted, but the remaining snow gives a good indication of the areas that get a lot of sun and those that get more shade.
· There were lots of birds out this morning. My Merlin Bird ID app identified nine: Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrow, American Robin, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, and Blue Jay.