CONTENTS
November 1998

Anderson Collegiate Digs in Deep!
Step by Step Instructions for Pond Construction
Wetlands in Winter
Butterfly Gardens

Anderson Collegiate Digs in Deep!
by Mark Wright
Summer Career Placement
Adopt-A-Pond Assistant

Since 1991, Science and Environmental Science classes at Anderson Collegiate in Whitby have grown and planted native wildflowers, shrubs and trees in the school's courtyard for the purposes of naturalizing the school grounds and attracting wildlife. Bird feeders and bird houses were built and installed by woodworking and welding classes, and a small 18-inch deep pond was created to add wetland habitat to the site. Students and staff took great pride in their work, but the student's ambitions grew and by May 1997 the original pond was on its way out and a new wetland creation project was underway.

Under the supervision of Chris Stefopulos, a grade 10 science class designed and installed a 5-foot deep frog pond in their naturalized courtyard. Funding was provided by Friends of the Environment Foundation and the Evergreen Foundation, and the students received lots of enthusiastic advice and assistance from individuals and community groups in their area.

"The kids are so pleased with what they've done," said Sandra McEwan, the project coordinator, as she described the variety of plants, invertebrates and tadpoles that have made their home in the new pond. "We have reached most of our objectives... now I would like to see it as a site for environmental studies."

The pond will be an important teaching tool for future science students, and has created vital wetland habitat for amphibians and other wetland creatures. Congratulations Anderson Collegiate!

Step by Step Instructions for Pond Construction
by Mark Wright
Summer Career Placement
Adopt-A-Pond Assistant

Step 1: Planning

Define Your Objectives
First, you need to decide why you are creating a pond. Is it for educational purposes? Are you hoping to attract a certain type or species of wildlife? Are you hoping to recreate wetland habitat, or are you creating the pond for purely aesthetic reasons? Whatever purpose you have in mind will influence your design of the pond, the vegetation you plant in it, and other important decisions.

Decide on a Site
This step is one of the most important and most often overlooked stages in pond design and construction. Your choice of location will affect how much water enters the pond, where it comes from, and what plants and animals will eventually inhabit it. Generally speaking, you need to locate your pond where it will receive enough runoff to maintain a suitable water level. You also need to consider the requirements of the pond's future inhabitants. For example, if your pond is located too close to a road or highway, frogs and toads may be crushed while trying to reach your pond. You also need to consider other factors such as predators, soil conditions, and adjacent land uses when choosing your site.

Decide on a Pond Design
The size of your pond will be determined by the space you have available, among other factors. Design decisions such as pond shape and contour must be made with the requirements of the pond's inhabitants in mind. For example, creating a pond that incorporated a steep, fiberglass-lined bank around the edge would result in the deaths of countless frogs and toads each year, as they would be unable to leave the water and would drown.

Step 2: Implementation

Construction / Excavation
Before you start digging your pond, you should outline the proposed area with a piece of rope or flexible hose. Digging should be done in layers so that the topsoil can be saved in a separate pile. Make sure the pond surface is level before you start digging the depth of the pond.

If you decide to use a liner in your pond, you have a number of different materials to choose from. Each material has benefits and drawbacks, but the recommended liner for our Canadian climate is the 45 mil Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) liner. These liners are non-toxic to wildlife, are U.V. stable, and are both inexpensive and long-lasting.

Planting
Before you decide to introduce wetland plants to your new pond, there are some things you need to consider. First, make sure the plants you are using are native species and that they are suited to your pond's soil type and moisture levels. Plants should be purchased from a local water garden or nursery, provided that they are "nursery-propagated" and not taken from the wild. Removing vegetation from existing wetlands can have a harmful impact on that area and should only be done if a wetland is under development.

Be careful what plants you choose! Some common and familiar trees such as Norway Maple, Scots Pine, and some willow varieties are actually invasive exotic species and can cause problems for the other plants and animals in your pond. On the other hand, careful selection of certain native trees, shrubs and plants can provide habitat for specific animals and may attract wildlife that would not otherwise visit your pond. Consult the reference list below for resources on choosing suitable native plants for your wetland.

Step 3: Enjoyment

Although it may take some time, your pond will eventually be discovered by the local wildlife. Because you've taken the time to carefully plan your location and design and have selected plants that provide good cover and food sources, many of the local amphibians, birds and other animals may take up residence in your pond. After all your hard work, it's time to sit back and enjoy what you've created.

Related Resources:

The Urban Outback: the pond creation manual from the Adopt-A-Pond programme. Gives detailed, step-by-step instructions for creating ponds and wetlands.

Backyard Habitat for Canada's Wildlife: published by the Canadian Wildlife Federation, this 200-page book is overflowing with more than 100 wildlife projects such as birdfeeders, ponds and wildflower gardens.

The Ontario Naturalized Garden: written by Lorraine Johnson, this book contains lots of excellent information about using native species to beautify your yard and garden.

Amphibian Voice, the newsletter of the Adopt-A-Pond programme, has lots of valuable information and tips on pond construction. Visit our back issue index to browse for lots of great tips and valuable information!

Wetlands in Winter
by Laura Murray
Young Canada Works
Adopt-A-Pond Assistant

You may think you have to wait until spring to pay a visit to your pond or local wetland. Think Again! Most of the creatures who make wetlands their home can't pack their bags and head for the sunny south when the temperature drops, so they have to adapt to the cold and snow.

Aquatic mammals with their ability to maintain a high body temperature and their thick, waterproof fur and layers of fat are able to withstand the cold temperatures under the ice. Beavers and muskrats can remain active under the ice because they build lodges, which they access from underwater, and where they can go to get warm, eat and sleep. Muskrat lodges are made of cattails (see picture), while those of beavers are made of sticks and mud, both getting covered in snow which helps to insulate them from the cold. Beavers and muskrats find food under the ice. During the fall beavers stash a fresh supply of leafy branches under the water so that they have an available food supply throughout the winter, and muskrats go out in search of plants, crayfish and clams. Mink and otter spend the winter active above the ice, with the help of their warm fur coat. Otters even go tobogganing, by sliding down snowbanks on their bellies! They find food by listening for activity under the snow, and pouncing on unsuspecting mice, or hunting for fish and other prey in open water.

Amphibians have adopted a different strategy to survive the winter climate, and avoid killing frost by hibernating. Many frogs bury themselves in the bottom mud, while toads (see picture) burrow into soils below the frost line, and early calling frogs like Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers hide under leaf litter. Wood Frogs even produce a type of sugary antifreeze in their cells to resist freezing. In all cases, their metabolism slows down, and they remain inactive throughout the winter, and don't eat again until the following spring. Meanwhile back under the ice, some fish remain active, and can forage on immature forms of insects, like mosquitoes, that are found in the pond. So don't forget to make a winter visit to a wetland part of your investigation of the Wonderful World of Wetlands.

Coming next issue: Learn to identify animal tracks and other clues to wetland creatures, and find out more about wetlands in winter.

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Butterfly Gardens
by Heather Faust
Adopt-A-Pond Assistant

A butterfly garden is a wonderful way to naturalize your school yard and complement your pond. This diverse, low maintenance habitat is full of intrigue and helps to preserve native plants, butterflies, and other insects. Depending on the space available, wildflowers can be planted in meadows, gardens or even window boxes. Butterflies like a variety of brightly coloured flowers throughout the spring, summer and fall. We think that you'll like them too.

WHAT YOU NEED
Sunshine, water and shelter are the three key components in butterfly habitat. As butterflies only fly on warm days, full sunlight is best. Butterflies also like to warm up on boulders or flat rocks placed within the garden. A water source, such as a pond or damp depression, allows butterflies to sip water to obtain sodium and other nutrients. Shelter, such as a wood pile, is needed for overwintering of the larvae, pupae, and some adult butterflies.

MAINTENANCE
Native plants will survive in nutrient poor soil. However, if you are combining native plants with other perennials add some compost to your garden in the spring. Remove weeds and woody growth that will crowd out the wildflowers. Remember that perennials and wildflowers have extensive roots systems that allow them to survive periods of drought. You should still water your garden but it will not require the constant attention of an annual garden. NEVER USE INSECTICIDES IN OR NEAR YOUR BUTTERFLY GARDEN!

Here are a few suggestions to get your butterfly garden started. For the best results, include plants from each of the following categories in your garden.

CHOOSING WILDFLOWERS
You will need two plant types: nectar plants for the adults to feed on and host plants for adults to lay eggs on and to feed developing caterpillars. Choose plants that will bloom at different times of the season, to keep butterflies around from spring to fall. Choose plants with both tubular flowers (Bee-balm) and daisy-like flowers (Black-eyed Susan). Use plants with simple, single flowers, not double cultivars with extra petals that make it difficult for butterflies to sip the nectar. Try to use native species when possible as they will thrive in our climate and attract native butterflies. Never dig up plants from natural meadows, you may damage the natural area and the plants rarely survive transplanting. Refer to the list of garden centres and plant suppliers at the end of this article for plant and seed sources.

FAVOURITES FOR ONTARIO CATERPILLARS

For more information on Butterfly gardening, check your local library or bookstore. Also, come and visit the butterfly meadow at the Toronto Zoo, located adjacent to the Red Panda exhibit in Eurasia.

Native plant suppliers:
Aquaphyte Remediation, Ajax, ON, 905-686-7532
Canadian Wildflower Society, Toronto, ON, 416-924-6807
Limestone Creek Restoration Nursery, Campbellville, ON, 905-854-2914
Pterophylla, Walsingham, ON, 519-596-3985
The Ontario Native Plant Company, Toronto, ON, 416-823-4627

centres specializing in perennials:
Humber Nurseries, Ltd., Brampton, ON, (416) 798-8733 or (905) 794-0555
Annable Nursery, Unionville, ON, (905) 477-1231
Willowbrook Nurseries Inc., Fenwick, ON, (905) 892-53

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