This blog begins with a song—notes and lyrics by Bonnie Abrams. The song is called “A Vernal Pond” and hopefully we can get this, and her many other environmental songs, released soon under A Frog House label.
Ground Zero: What Tom, the Town, and Village of Pittsford did for us on Thursday
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
On Thursday morning, the patch of land was already being transformed. Were these little flags for amphibians to wave in celebration?
Ground Zero. Thursday, April 24.
A team from the Town and Village of Pittsford gathered, led by Tom Biebighauser, an expert in wetland restoration. With Village of Pittsford Superintendent of Public Works Zach Bleier at his side in the hole, and Mayor Alysa Plummer on hand to get the project off to a good start, they already had broken ground on the first pond, and were starting the second.
Photo Credit, Margot Fass
By day’s end, the small team had carved out not one, but two pools, patiently prepared for what was to come.
Day 1. Friday, April 25.
Photo Credit, Margot Fass
The games began! Volunteers arrived steadily—parents, kids, lifelong environmentalists, residents, and curious newcomers. Some had registered ahead; others just stumbled upon the scene and couldn’t resist the pull of community and purpose. Bonnie Abrams and Sandra Kingston were dedicated as ever at the welcome table.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
For the next 3 days in the Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary, on the week just before Save The Frogs Day (April 28), we heard the music of children laughing, excavator rumbling, wildlife (particularly the American Toad, as herpetologist Kelly Geer pointed out) calling, and gentle breezes rustling.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
Before they knew it, Tom was having everyone (I mean everyone) picking up rocks and pulling out roots, readying the sites to put down liners on those first excavated ponds. Surely this budding environmentalist has another pair of boots somewhere just like these.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
These two boys already are taking on the important task of sidewalk supervision.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
Each pallet had 3 liners, two made of geo-textile to go over and under the eco-friendly liner, all large enough to cover a 40’ diameter pond.
Photo Credit, Bonnie Abrams
The liners, which appeared giant, heavy, and unwieldy, with thirty or more pairs of hands seemed to float across the earth.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
Can you imagine stretching this out with just ten people?
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
Michael Horton from SAVE THE FROGS! dove into the dirt with a perfectionist’s eye, making sure not a single stone would pierce the pond liner.
Photo Credits, Dan Hucko
Many volunteers hammered in spike after spike around the 125 foot circumference.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
Then the liners were trimmed with care. Even those who claimed aching knees knelt like they were kids again.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
The best part? The people.
Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser
A kind young boy checked on a tired organizer (me) beneath a tree. We had a lovely conversation. I was impressed with his good manners and considerate personality.
Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser
Steven Castronovo was just walking his dog the day before, knew nothing about the project, but when he heard what we were doing, decided to come back and join in the fun.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
The tools rested beneath a tree, silent witnesses to the chatter and cheer all around.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
As the day closed, a pond liner stretched smooth as a drumhead, was ready to catch the future, and one angel was about to be launched.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
While everyone was busy up above with liners, John Peets, Foreman, DPW Highway Department of the Town of Pittsford, was excavating the third pond down below.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
This was a bit more challenging, because there still was a fair amount of gravel on top of a polyethylene liner there.
Photo Credit, Dan Hucko
The town’s contribution of the equipment and labor made a huge difference for our budget, and I have to especially thank Bill Smith, Pittsford Town Supervisor, who has been supportive of A Frog House since our first Save The Frogs Day in 2018. We would have had to spend considerably more than we did had they not helped. Because we had so many hands on board, it didn’t matter that the excavator shovel was small.
Photo Credit, unknown with Tom’s camera.
Stan Spector, major sponsor, and Tom clearly hit it off.
Photo Credit, Margot Fass
Deena and Dan Hucko both worked on the ponds. Dan, a professional photographer, gave us a tremendous gift of many photos to choose from. Untold thanks to the many people whose images tell more than this journal could communicate in words alone.
Day 2. Saturday, April 26.
Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser
Saturday brought a new rhythm. With the liners down, it was time to give life to the soil. Volunteers blanketed them with earth, careful to leave the centers open. Young and old alike gathered logs and branches from the surrounding forest. Wood promotes algae growth, provides basking spots for frogs, turtles and snakes, and anchors salamander eggs. It was a homecoming for creatures not yet arrived.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
Tom had another idea: toad abodes. One mother and son duo built a little masterpiece—a snug, earthen shelter any amphibian would be lucky to claim.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
Here is their little masterpiece—a snug, earthen shelter any amphibian would be lucky to claim. Note the thick scattering of seeds, which will grow into a rich covering of water loving grasses, sedges and bulrushes.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
Everyone got little paper cups for the sprinkling of those native plant seeds, plus quick growing annual rye seed to prevent erosion.
Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser
Annika, a cub scout in pack 260, has been an avid participant with A Frog House for at least 6 years. At every outdoor event, she always can be found directing the activity—although she claims to be shy.
Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser
Here is Annika with her brother Noah, putting in some tiny green seedlings. Annika won a shirt for getting the dirtiest, and especially for explaining that she would have to go home and wash her clothes.
Thanks to the generosity of Laurie Broccolo of Broccolo Lawn and Landscape, we had affordable flats of native, water loving plant plugs: Blue flag iris, Sweet Joe Pye Weed, Cardinal Flower, Common boneset,
Great Blue Lobelia, Marsh Marigold, Swamp milkweed and Swamp vervain.
Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser
Axel Baker and a young friend are doing some planting as well. Axel is a recipient of a free SAVE THE FROGS! shirt for his contribution every single day of the weekend. Besides the plugs, A Frog House also had purchased thirtysix Buttonbush shrubs from Amanda’s Garden for the three ponds.
Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser
Wynn Thompson, Bryson Coccia, and Jenna Vangellow also won SAVE THE FROGS! shirts for their attendance every day, and their ability to take charge with astonishing maturity. Tom trusted them instantly. They handled rock removal, raking, and liner laying on the third pond like seasoned pros.
Photo Credit, Bonnie Abrams
Once done in the upper meadow, others came down to help finish the job. Bonnie Abrams snapped a photo of the group as they worked, a testament to teamwork. By Saturday’s end, three ponds were lined, filled, planted, and seeded.
Day 3. Sunday, April 27.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
The straw arrived—twelve bales per pond, golden and fragrant, thanks to farmer Marc Krieger, just in time. Again, we appreciate his very fair price for this treasure.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
Frank Caccamise, far right, a bedrock of the community, carried and helped spread the straw with care. He also wins a shirt for his hard work every single day.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
Straw holds moisture, protects the seeds from blowing away, and gives a cozy finish to the weekend’s work.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
Straw fluttered in the breeze, laid down with the same love as the seeds beneath.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
The straw spreading at the next two ponds got finished before you even could imagine, all three in just two hours.
Three final ponds, Photo Credit Tom Biebighauser
And then—the final photos. Pond One. Pond Two. Pond Three. All completed. A miracle of human effort and ecological hope. You could already sense what these spaces would become: sanctuaries not just for amphibians, reptiles, birds, invertebrates and mammals, but especially for the people who built them. The great news? Everyone can enjoy them forever more.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
Final thoughts, thanks, and shirts were shared at our closing circle.
Photo Credit, Tom Biebighauser
Matthew Fass read aloud his AI Shakespearean ode to the ponds and community. Bonnie Abrams sang her Vernal Ponds song.
Photo Credit, Matthew Fass
We took a final group photo. And then… it was done. Or so we thought.
Day 3 Postlude
Photo Credit, Erin Muth
Jenna and scouts from Pack 260 didn’t get the memo that we were starting early on Sunday. Fortunately, Sandra Kingston didn’t either and called me to have me come back to take the latecomers on a tour and give them something to earn their service credits.
Photo Credit, Erin Muth
It was so much fun to teach these boys, and we had a ready made job with a huge stack of left over geotextile and eco-friendly liner. Since this was the most expensive part of the project, it seemed a shame to just have it thrown out. After all, because A Frog House is planning on initiating all kinds of backyard vernal pond projects, it would be nice to prepare starter kits for our Backyard Breeding Habitats.
Photos Credit, Erin Muth
Little did I know that 4th grader Elijah and his 2nd grader brother Oliver would go home inspired to make their own vernal pond in their own back yard.
Day 13. Wednesday, May 7
Photo Credit, David Grass
Day 15. Friday, May 9
Photo Credit, Stan Spector
Stan wrote “Upper pond west side. Three deer drinking when I first walked by. When I returned, 1 duck.”
Day 16. Saturday, May 10
Photo Credit, Jim Weick
A last minute call for volunteers brought new scouts and old friends. Here they are putting together wire cages for our button bush plants.
Photo Credit. Margot Fass
Sixteen of us built 36 wire cages for the buttonbush shrubs. Because the first set of 150 plugs did not come up to Laurie Broccolo’s standards, she replaced them all, which we added on this day. Before long, these vernal ponds will be awash with color, fragrance, and the sounds of pollinating insects and birds. and put in another 150 plugs of Broccolo wetland native plugs.
Photo Credit. Margot Fass
Aashwin Katiyar took me back to see my first green frog at the Vernal Ponds. He also had seen a toad.
Photo Credit, Margot Fass
High Four everybody! F.R.O.G.
Fully
Rely
On
Goodness, God, Gaia, or whatever G word fits best for you.
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