Primrose is rapidly taking over one of our neighborhood ponds. It is just beginning to bloom and is actually quite pretty. I did a little research on the primrose and found that it is harmful to aquatic life, because it is extremely invasive and eventually covers the pond it causes the PH balance and the water quality to be affected. From what I've read from different sources, it is more harmful than helpful.

Our neighborhood will soon be spraying to kill it. It's hard to know sometimes what the more prudent thing to do is. Especially when you see the surface creatures benefiting from it.

I had never seen mating dragonflies before.

The dragonflies seem to be very abundant this year. Hundreds of them, all over the primrose.

I hope the spray won't harm them.

I had read that primrose is great to put in the compost pile. I actually took my rake and a plastic container thinking that I could pull some out. I was surprised by how much it had spread and grown since my last pond visit. There was no way I could pull a chunk of that mass out of the water with my rake.

I'm sure algae would be great for the compost pile too.

I've passed this pond several times recently and have been surprised at the number of ducks and geese here. I passed by again on Tuesday and decided to run back home to get my camera. It was a dreary rainy day so the pictures were a little dark.

Around here we have retention ponds everywhere, for the purpose of collecting stormwater runoff. While watching the geese and ducks, I couldn't help but wonder how many of the homeowners who live around this pond have used chemicals on their grass or plants. It honestly took away some of the pleasure of watching the ducks and geese, thinking about what all could be in that water.

I often think about the pond closest to me every summer when I see my neighbor spraying all of his trees and shrubs for the Japanese beetles and walking around with a spray bottle of round-up to kill his weeds. The storm drain is at the corner of his yard.



When we first moved here we had hundreds of little frogs coming from the ponds. I used to always see them hopping across the sidewalk while taking my evening walks and I had to carefully watch my steps, but I haven't seen a single one in two or three years now. I wonder sometimes if the runoff from the chemically manicured lawns have killed them.

I don't consider myself to be an "Environmentalist", but I do care about some environmental issues and I care about the health and safety of people and animals. I am also concerned about water quality issues and I believe that some of the chemicals used outside eventually end up in our water supply. I do wish people would think very carefully and consider the potential consequences before using toxins, especially those who live by water sources.