Into the Wild – Musings on our Yard’s Transformation | April 2025

If you missed my last “Into the Wild” post (September 15th – End of 2024), I shared that I had fallen behind on weekly updates. With most of the major re-landscaping now behind us, the transformations in our yard are beginning to shift – less dramatic, and more gradual. So in 2025, I am embracing a slower rhythm with monthly recaps instead. As I began drafting this post, I also decided to move away from the point-form category breakdowns. They were starting to feel a bit scattered, and instead, I will be sharing more in-depth reflections on whatever unfolded in our little patch of land that month. I am hoping this format will flow more naturally – like a quiet walk through the yard, noticing what has changed, what is blooming, and what is simply waiting.

So without further ado, here is a look back on April… Surprisingly light on photos for someone who usually takes photos of everything.

I cannot believe it has already been a year since we began transforming the yard. So much changed last year, and while there is still a lot more to do, most of the heavy lifting is done. April moved at a slower pace, and honestly, it was a welcome change. Last year, I rushed out the moment the snow melted – but this spring, I have been easing into it, and gave myself space to wait for the warmth to settle in. The stillness was welcome.

In the stillness of these early months, I gave the blog a little refresh to make it feel a little more like home. A new name, and a new look – something that reflects the cozy, rewilded space we’re creating, where home and habitat grow together.

The weather warmed up quickly, with highs already reaching 21°C. A lot of plants are beginning to slowly poke out of the ground. I thought it might be earlier than last year, but it turns out I first noticed things sprouting on March 31st in 2024. This year, we were still under a layer of snow and slush at that point.

I was pleasantly surprised to see my Virginia Creepers and the Western White Clematis making a comeback. These were both planted in cedar planters and didn’t have extra protection over the winter, so I was not too sure if they would make it. I was also relieved to see my Red Columbine coming up again, as I thought that it died last summer. It is always a joy to see what is resilient and what finds its way back after the winter months.

As expected, the Siberian Squill have made their annual appearance throughout the yard. I have started pulling some, but I know more will emerge in the coming weeks.

Surprisingly, a bunch of poppies are coming up through the rocks alongside the house – even though I thought I had pulled them all out last year. I will be digging these up and potting them for now until I figure out what I am doing with them, as they are too big for the space they are in.

The clover and grass in the back seem to have taken a big hit over winter. Maybe it was not fully established, or was from us walking over it during winter. I am hoping that it bounces back, but there is not much I can do just yet other than wait and see. A bit of clover is coming up here and there, so fingers crossed. With much of the yard still bare, I have noticed how compact and uneven some areas have become. I will need to level it out before reseeding. 

Most of the garden seeds are started now and doing well, with just a few left to soak overnight and some to pot up (which I really need to get on). Just over half of the winter-sown containers have already begun to sprout, which is exciting to see as this was my first time trying out winter sowing and I had no idea what to expect.

A couple of willow trees I ordered arrived this month. I plan to plant them near the pond in containers to avoid any issues with our underground utilities. I want to do pot-in-pot and dig a hole, so I don’t have to worry about toting them into the garage each year over winter. But this will depend on if I can actually dig a hole, as there are some cement slabs under the pond, and I’m not sure how far they spread out. If digging on that side of the pond is not possible, I can overwinter them in the garden just a few feet away.

I have been trying to figure out how to plant the Paper Birch trees that will be arriving soon, especially since they will be near the pond and cannot go into the ground due to underground utilities nearby. Since I have not found a large enough container that fits my budget, I have decided to build a round wooden planter instead. This will let me create a planter big enough that I will be able to insulate the roots to help them survive our winters, while still placing them exactly where I want. I am also planning to do the same for a trio of birches that I will be putting out in the front yard. I believe these planters will give the trees a stronger chance to thrive – far more than smaller individual containers, while also adding structure and visual interest. They will bring depth, intention, and a sense of permanence to the landscape as it evolves. As more native plants fill in around them, I hope the space will feel both wild and rooted – purposeful, yet deeply connected to the local ecology.

My Mom gave me a few willow cuttings that originally came from my Baba and Gido’s land. They are currently rooting in water, and I am hoping they take. I think it is a meaningful way to honour their legacy and weave a bit of family history into our landscape.

I also brought over some moss from my parents’ yard, and it is now resting in containers in the shade. I am hoping it takes to transplanting into our shade garden and along the pond, where it can add another layer of texture and a soft, natural element that will enhance the peaceful, wild atmosphere of the space.

The pond officially thawed out on April 10th, though we have still had a few mornings with a light skim of ice. Unfortunately, it still appears to be losing water. At this point, it does not seem like wicking or evaporation – the water line is well below the edges now. I suspect that we will need to take it apart and investigate the liner. If it is damaged, we will either need to repair it or, worst case, replace it entirely. While this is not ideal, it will be worth it if we can get the pond working again. With the water still cold, algae has begun to form, so I may need to address this sooner than expected.

Later in the month, I started disassembling the pond to investigate the water loss and check for a potential leak in the liner. It is shaping up to be a lengthy process, but I am hopeful it will all be worth it once we pinpoint the cause. After removing the liner, I plan to make a few adjustments to the shape of the dug-out area, refining the shelves and angles leading into them. I am hoping there will be enough liner to accommodate these changes. Once the liner is reinstalled, I will rework the edges, reposition the rocks, and remove most of the sand (leaving some for the birds to dust bathe and keep their feathers clean and healthy). I will also remove a good portion of the smaller pea-sized rocks, which I plan to repurpose in another project. Once everything is settled, and the water is not vanishing beyond normal evaporation levels, we can finally get to the fun part – tucking plants in and around the pond and watching the space come to life!

I have been contemplating what to do with the hammock area – whether to keep it as a relaxing spot or expand our wildlife habitat into that space. It would be an ideal place to add a bug snug, some branches for birds to perch and hide in, and possibly even a small water feature. The challenge is, there isn’t really another spot for the hammock, especially since it would be too large for the patio once I build our sofa and table. I am torn on what to do, so I might leave it as is for now and see how much we actually use the hammock this summer before making a decision.

I have also been dreaming and planning – mapping out projects, deciding what to build, and where to plant. This year is shaping up to be busy, and I am excited for it. I plan to soak it all in and fully enjoy every moment of it.

As quiet and reflective as April was, I can feel things beginning to pick up. May is already shaping up to be a full month – plugs and trees will be arriving soon, the garden will be planted, and a few long-awaited projects will finally come to life. While part of me is hesitant to leave the slower pace behind, the arrival of new plants and the unfolding of our projects is already bringing a fresh energy to the space. I am excited for what’s ahead. There is something exciting about seeing all of our planning start to unfold, one piece at a time.

If this post sparked an idea or made you pause to notice the beauty in your own space, I would be so grateful if you shared it with a friend, on your social media, or saved it for later. Every share helps this little patch of land inspire more backyard birders, native plant gardeners, and nature-lovers.

Thanks for reading! Until next time,
Tracey

If you’re curious to see more of the transformation beyond the first two photos in this post, take a look at my recent post; Into the Wild – A Timelapse & Photo Journey of Our Backyard Transformation (2024) where you can watch the journey unfold in a timelapse video.

---

If you enjoy what I share and want to support my journey to rewild and document this little patch of land, you can do so through my Ko-fi page. Your support helps me continue photographing, nurturing, and sharing this space with you.

---

Leave this field empty if you're human:

PIN IT!