Crew preparing site for ecofriendly liner. Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser.
Definition
“Vernal” means “of or relating to spring.” Vernal ponds hold water in the spring, and dry up by the end of summer, making them ideal breeding grounds for amphibians – free from fish and bullfrog predation. You can find them in meadows or forests, but not in the fall. They also are referred to as “seasonal pools, temporary pools, autumnal wetlands, ephemeral wetlands, or vernal pools. You even can build some in your own back yard.
Just One Year Ago
In mid-April 2024, Thomas Biebighauser, of Wetland Restoration and Training gave a presentation at Village Hall. The next day, he led three separate groups through the 33 acre Village and Town of Pittsford parkland property.
Who would have thought that just in a year’s time, Tom would have designed, and A Frog House would have funded, the wetland projects? The ponds will completed just in time for the Seventeenth Annual (Pittsford’s Seventh Annual) Save The Frogs Day, held every year on April 28.
On September 9, 2024, Tom hosted a webinar for Pittsford and A Frog House friends, sharing plans and the benefits of vernal pools – including opportunities to support even endangered flora and fauna. You can watch the edited version here.
The days will be packed. The full schedule is available here.
Use Your Imagination
Current site of Pond 1
could be like this:
Current site of Pond 2
could be like this:
Current site of Pond 3
could be like this:
All previous six photos are credited toTom Biebighauser
Worried about mosquitos?
No need to worry—tadpoles and dragonfly larvae eat mosquito larvae. Their adult forms consume adult mosquitoes. “Mosquitos may check in, but they won’t check out.”
Here are Two People You Must Meet
Michael Horton and Kelly Geer. Looks like Kelly just took that photo.
SAVE THE FROGS! is sending an envoy.
Michael, on the Board of SAVE THE FROGS!, and an early A Frog House webinar leader, is a conservation planner with 40 years’ experience, including 25 with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). He’s led endangered species recovery, habitat restoration, and invasive species control across the country. Now with his own firm, IPaCA, he offers conservation solutions globally, drawing on decades of leadership and innovative planning tools.
Kelly spent 20 years with USFWS as an endangered species biologist and later focused on outreach and web development with USFWS and the US Geological Survey. Since retiring in 2020, she’s remained active in reptile and amphibian conservation – volunteering in snake rescue, turtle relocation, and native plant gardening. She also serves on the board of the Virginia Herpetological Society.
We are excited that Michael, Kelly, and their two labradoodles, Dani and Rili, will be joining us and pitching in on Friday April 25 and Saturday April 26. You can find them at the SAVE THE FROGS! table with their dogs or somewhere on site.
Overall Project
That small green roof above the words “Village Lane” is just to the right of the Arboretum entrance. Registration will be there. Parking is behind the Renaissance Inn and/or between the Pickle Factory, Grove Road, and Village Lane.
The black line cutting vertically through the words “Robert Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary” marks the RG&E power lines separating the Village’s 10 acres from the Town’s 23.
The proposed garden is a Pittsford Garden Club project, designed by Patty Love of Barefoot Permaculture. It is partially funded by a $500 grant from the Seventh District Federated Garden Clubs of NYS. The garden will cost more than the grant covers, but construction isn’t until June—so there’s time to contribute with funds or hands-on help.
Appreciation to So Many
Zach Bleier, Superintendent of the Village Department of Public Works, has coordinated activities so that Tom and the excavator crew will be digging out pond one on the day before our work begins. That means we will get right to work shoveling and raking around noon on Friday, just like in our cover photo.
A Frog House, Alysa Plummer’s board and The Village of Pittsford staff, Robert Corby’s Friends of the Arboretum, Tom Biebighauser’s Wetland Restoration and Training, Kerry Kriger’s SAVE THE FROGS! and you and countless volunteers, donors and helpers have made this project possible.
Special thanks to Laurie Broccolo of Broccolo Lawn and Landscape for her heartfelt support, and to Paul Earle and Stan Spector for their generous contributions. Cathy Corby Gardner’s early funding of the Arboretum project in 2021 helped bring us to this moment – Cathy, you kept the vision alive until the time was right. These community pillars will be specially recognized.
The Village of Pittsford Pitches In
Opportunities for Community Groups
The Village of Pittsford is inviting local organizations focused on ecosystem protection, green initiatives, and sustainability to:
✅ Host an interactive table at our Arbor Day Celebration (Saturday, April 26, 11 AM–2 PM)
✅ Share educational materials and lead kid-friendly crafts
✅ Network with like-minded groups and the wider community
If you can’t attend, we’d love for you to share this opportunity with others.
👉 Community Partner Sign-Up: LINK
Other Things Going On Until Then
2025..4.18 10:30 am Brighton Memorial Library “Learn about native frogs and how to help them thrive as we celebrate Save the Frogs Day with local advocacy center A Frog House.” Best for ages 4 and up. 45 minutes, including time for Q&A.
- An interactive demo regarding what belongs in a vernal pond.
- An interactive demo regarding the value of wetlands
- Educational posters: Why vernal ponds are important, Frog adaptations, Building your own pond.
- Book: Froggy Family’s First Frolic
2025.4.22 Earth Day
- 9:30 am Council Rock School Second Grade
- 12:30 pm Pittsford Senior Center
- 5 – 7 pm Pittsford Community Center
- 6:30 pm Zonta
Please Help Us!
It would be a huge help if you registered in advance, even if you are just coming to watch, so we can plan tasks, name tags, facilities, refreshments for the workers, and more. Register here.
And please share the flyer below with your own network of family, friends and colleagues.
