The sounds, sights, and smells are undeniable: the lake is awake! With spring comes increased activity, and my excitement also increases as I uncover more evidence of my favorite outdoor time of the year at the lake. Although I am fortunate enough to enjoy Lake of the Woods all year, I receive droves of visitors in the spring and summer, so I share my beautiful community with family and friends most during these seasons.
Familiar sounds include the woodpecker pecking on its favorite tree, the many varieties of birds chirping, the geese honking one of their 13 calls, the owls hooting, the flapping of the swan’s immense wings in flight as they land on the lake in my cove, the quacking of the ducks, the laughter of the children as they play in the water or fish, the engines of the jetskiis and boats, the cries of the hawks, and the chatter of my cats as they watch the squirrels and birds through the screened door. What’s missing? The sounds of the frogs!
The sights are welcomed, as well: longer lines of additional cars coming through the gates, the turtles sunning themselves on the rocks at Turtle Island, the majestic blue heron’s dusk flight to its home in the tree across the cove, the swans doing the love dance or sitting on nests, the geese cruising with their quickly-growing goslings, migratory waterfowl choosing our lake as a resting spot on their way to their breeding ground, bunnies seemingly hiding in the grass, my resident chipmunk running from my front yard to the back patio to hide in the hose of the leaf blower (and I do have visions of him being catapulted out like a cannon if my husband doesn’t confirm its whereabouts prior to starting the engine), my resident squirrels playing in the yard and in the trees, flowers and trees in bloom, fresh mulch adorning residents’ landscaping, the acrobatic flight of the purple martins, people walking, running, biking, kayaking, sailing, fishing, golfing, and dining on the deck of the clubhouse.
The smells are also a sure sign: freshly laid mulch, freshly cut grass, the fragrance of the flowers, and meals being cooked on the grill.
To me, Lake of the Woods represents a community that offers amazingly varied activities for those of all ages, fantastic amenities, and the most incredible people with whom to share them both. By partaking in the community, I am enjoying wonderful experiences (while making fabulous memories in the process) simply by being a part of it. Won’t you join me in fully participating in, and appreciating, Lake of the Woods?
Growing up as a child, I looked forward to summer: longer days, staying out later than usual, no school, sleeping in, swimming at the pool, and…lightening bugs! I fell in love with the mystery of lightening bugs. I spent hours chasing and catching them; I thought of them as my own personal stars to wish upon–to capture them was to capture magic. Ashamedly, I must admit that I suffocated my fair share in jars or did irreparable damage making rings with these amazing creatures. I hadn’t given much thought to my crimes as a child until the dog I recently inherited from my daughter, Alle, began snapping them up as I watched in horror! Unfortunately, this is just one of my new friend’s bad habits that I will be spending my time correcting…
There are estimated to be more than 2000 species of lightening bugs, or fireflies, as they are often also called, inhabiting every continent except Antarctica. Emanating from the abdomen/tail, the light emitted by some of these species is green, some an amber flicker, and some emit no light at all; some simply glow with a green or blue light! Typically it is the male who flies around, lighting the night as a mating call to the female, who lounges in the trees. If she is so inclined, she will light up after the male’s last emission to signify that she is a willing participant.
What causes lightening bugs to light up? The magic of two chemicals that are found in the tail/abdomen: luciferase and luciferin, which light up in the presence of ATP, the energy currency molecule of the cell that every animal possesses. When these chemicals are injected into diseased cells of humans, they detect changes in cells that are useful in studying diseases such as muscular dystrophy and cancer. Amazingly, spacecraft has also been fitted with electronic detectors built from these chemicals to detect life in outer space. On the earth, they are used to help detect bacterial contamination.
The light emitted by the lightening bug is considered “cold light” because it doesn’t produce any heat. It is exceptionally efficient, as 100% of the energy is emitted as light. Compare this to an incandescent bulb, which emits only 10% of its energy as light and the rest as heat. No wonder incandescent bulbs are no longer produced!
After mating, the female deposits eggs onto the ground, typically under tree bark and/or in a moist place. The larvae then feed on snails, slugs, and earthworms. They are able to do this because of the chemical they inject into their prey, which paralyzes it and aids in digestion. The adults may feed on pollen and plant nectar, or may not eat at all, as they only live long enough to mate and lay eggs. Some females are quite the actresses, as they trick males of another species into thinking they want to mate. As soon as he lands, he becomes a meal. Best case scenario is that a lightening bug will live for a year.
Sadly, lightening bugs appear to be disappearing! Most likely this is due to light pollution and loss of habitat. Our forests and fields are diminishing because of development, and as our population grows, so does our need for electricity. Too much light at night interrupts the mating ritual of flickering or flashing. Both of these factors are having a negative impact on our population of lightening bugs.
At Lake of the Woods, we are fortunate to provide the perfect environment for these “stars of summer” to continue to shine. My wish is that our future generations will also have the opportunity to enjoy the magic and mystery of the “flying lights.”
Until next time…It’s another beautiful day at the lake! Pat Licata, REALTOR Licata on the Lake
If you have ever visited a home with wooden eaves, most likely you have seen and heard the massive bees hovering around and softly buzzing. I happen to live in a home with wooden eaves at Lake of the Woods, so I am quite familiar with these pests that bore perfectly round holes in my eaves with such precision that you would have thought they were made by a drill! Initially afraid of these invasive bees-on-steroids, I decided to investigate.
Similar in size to bumblebees that nest underground, carpenter bees nest in wood, preferably at least 2 inches thick, or in tree trunks. The initial entryway they excavate is about an inch long, and then tunnels are made at right angles inside the wood. Carpenter bees, while a pain in the wood, shouldn’t be a pain in the neck, back, or shoulder! The male does not have a stinger, and the female is docile and typically stings only if handled. Even though I know this information, I must admit that I’m still run for cover if approached!
The real problem here is that these bees are capable of causing substantial damage. The small ½ round hole that’s visible is only the proverbial “tip of the iceberg.” The single hole made by a female is easily correctable; the issue is that the subsequent brood will enlarge the tunnel, causing more damage that you can’t see. The bees don’t eat the wood; they simply drill through it to make room for themselves, the chambers they construct, and their nests.
They winter in these tunnels, emerging in spring to mate. Then the female lays her eggs in the chambers, where she has deposited pollen on which her larvae feed. The new brood emerges as adult bees in the summer, and then it’s back to the chamber for winter hibernation.
Getting rid of these pesky critters isn’t easy. Based on my research, a dust pesticide applied inside the hole works best. However, precautions must be taken with pesticides. It may be advisable to have a professional exterminator do it. Or, another approach is to fill the hole with a wood putty and re-seal or re-paint. OR…you can try, as I have, lying in wait for them to come close enough to “hit” with a wasp and hornet jet-stream foam. Of course, it’s just my luck that cedar is their preferred wood type. I live in a cedar home.
I happen to find this comical: Their only predators are woodpeckers (which I really don’t care to welcome at my cedar home), and the Green Lynx Spider. Hmm…which do I prefer?
So here I stand, watching the squirrels continue to dig up my yard and the bees drilling holes in my eaves. The bees are good pollinators of flowers and plants, so perhaps they will assist with my landscaping that the squirrels haven’t yet destroyed. Instead of adding bees to the growing list of creatures outwitting me, I think I’ll just go jump in the lake… and hope that a turtle doesn’t get me!
Until next time…It’s another beautiful day at the lake! Pat Licata REALTOR Licata on the Lake
Sources: Answers.com; ento.psu.edu;en.wikipedia.org;buzzaboutbees.net
I’ve always considered myself to be reasonably intelligent…until I was outwitted by the squirrels.
Feeling a little down due to the impending dreary, cold winter months, I lifted my spirits by purchasing and planting $200 worth of flower bulbs. In my mind, I had skipped right past the visions of sugarplums dancing in my head and replaced them with daffodils, tulips, crocus, and allium welcoming my gaze from my window in a few long months!
In mid-November, I was a slave to the hard clay. Preparing the ground to accept my precious bulbs, I struggled. It took at least 3 tools to penetrate the red concrete, and that was just to dig the holes large enough for the actual bulbs. Adding at least 2 inches to each hole to account for the additives necessary to mix with our sorry-excuse-for-soil, I was exhausted just giving the bulbs a fighting chance! Virginia is so rich in culture, history, resources, etc. But why is our great state so lacking in decent soil?
After an eternity (2 days, in reality), my bulbs were planted. I mulched over the bulbs with precision, which looked as smooth as the lake on a still day at dawn (so that the squirrels couldn’t tell where I had planted). I was so proud of myself! Smiling with anticipation as I peered outside, I saw beautiful flowers smiling back at me as my mind fast-forwarded to spring. I felt a sense of accomplishment. I felt that winter would be tolerable.
I recently noticed that my yard is home to nice-looking squirrels. Not the skinny ones with the scrawny tails that inhabited it when I first moved to the lake. My squirrels could easily be mistaken for medium-sized cats: big round bellies with long, thick, fluffy tails! Yes,I’ve unknowingly been providingmy squirrels dessert, and more dessert…$200 worth of dessert! I pleaded, “You have more than enough acorns and hickory nuts! Leave my bulbs alone, please!” I begged repeatedly as I personally witnessed a few particularly robust squirrels feasting on my bulbs. Upon full investigation, that mulch that I so carefully laid over my bulbs now resembles the deeply cratered moon rather than our smooth lake. Digging around, I couldn’t find a solitary bulb. I believe they have all been enjoyed by the acrobatic creatures I’d love to hate–but just can’t.
I am perplexed. Unlike the squirrels, I am smart enough to look both ways before I cross a street. But apparently I am not smart enough to hide my bulbs. So next fall, when I’m so desperate to attempt this process all over again, I am determined to outwit the enemy. I am smart enough to ask for help! If you are smarter than the squirrels, please comment below to share your triumphant secrets. “It’s another beautiful day at the lake!”
Bella is wearing the green necklace, and Beauregard is behind her.
As you may know, Bella, the permanently injured swan, was relocated to Chicago via the US Postal Service, right from our local Locust Grove office in mid-December! I am happy to report that Bella is doing fabulously well! At this point, she has gained 8 pounds, enough strength in her wings and “good leg” that she is able to hop onto the shore from the pond! I actually never thought that was a possibility, as when Bob Knox, Bella’s new swan keeper, retrieved her from his local post office, even that good leg was not working! I was so worried that having been sitting on it for a week and unable to move it, it too, would be a useless. With council from the Regal Swan Foundation, Bob pumped Bella up with vitamins and medication. It did the trick!
Bell now has a new beau, appropriately named…Beauregard! Beauregard began courting her when Bella was segregated behind a fence, as she was too weak to swim back to the feeder if the wind blew her too strongly in the opposite direction. A fence can’t stop true love: Bella and Beauregard began doing “the love dance” with the fence between them. As she gained strength, Bob removed the fence, and Bella and Beauregard became a bonded pair!
What does the future hold? Cygnets, I hope! Now that Bella is able to stand on one leg, she won’t crush any eggs or cygnets. Had she been unable to stand, she would only have been able to drag herself on the ground, using the “elbows” of her wings. This would have made the survival of any egg or cygnet questionable, at best. When spring arrives, Bob will place Bella and Beauregard together in their own pen to ensure safety and privacy during their mating season.
I wish Bella and Beauregard a beautiful life together! I am so thankful that I was involved in such a heart-warming experience.
Earlier in the week, I received a call about a downed swan over by the small lake. I left my office and rushed over to find it, only to learn that it was dead. Last night, I was told there was a swan on a resident’s property on Birchside that hadn’t moved for days. Immediately I called Kaylee, the rehabilitator, putting her on notice while thinking the worst. I rushed over there this morning at 7:30, crate in my car, blankets, towels…all ready for a rescue. What I found was…a handsome, plump, plastic swan! Oh well, better plastic than injured or ill! An interesting way to begin my day at Lake of the Woods!
Until next time…it’s another beautiful day at the lake!
Many people have asked me about the history of my logo. In case it isn’t apparent to you, my logo is comprised of my initials, P and L, that form a swan. Immediately upon moving to Lake of the Woods, I was adopted by a lone mute swan that I named Carl (for the star of Alexandra Day’s childrens’ “Good Dog, Carl” books). Carl was a character! He amused me daily with his antics, which you can read about here. To me, Carl represented everything great about this community-nature and wildlife, caring people, and a true sense of community.
A professional image to convey the level of real estate service I provide my clients is important to me, so I pursued commissioning a personal logo. And not just any logo. If you know me, you know that I am a thinker, and I am a perfectionist. I drive myself crazy; I drive others crazy in pursuit of perfection. My logo had three criterion: to represent something personal about me,the Lake of the Woods community I serve, and my professional ethics. The swan logo did just that! I love swans (which is personal), and when I think of them, I think of loyalty. And had I never moved to Lake of the Woods, I never would have had the pleasure of experiencing Carl, and learning more about me in the process. I am loyal to my clients, providing them with the best real estate service possible, whether buyers or sellers. They, in turn, are loyal to me. So the end result, for me, was perfection!
So now you know the journey to the logo, as well as a little more about me!
It’s another beautiful day at the lake! Pat Licata, REALTOR Licata on the Lake
In October, I had the privilege of sharing Lake of the Woods with fabulous Washington Post freelance writer and nature photographer, Ann Cameron Siegal. An avid wildlife person like me, Ann, my husband John, and I trolled around the lake, and Ann was able to take some incredible photos of her favorite, the Blue Heron, and my favorite…the swans. Ann spent the weekend with me and was truly able to gain the “Lake of the Woods experience.” We had a great dinner at Clearwater on Saturday night and a great brunch at the Clubhouse on Sunday. Ann stopped people walking their dogs and kids fishing to learn how they felt about life at the lake. Overwhelmingly, residents love the community! I believe that Ann captured the essence of Lake of the Woods extremely well in her feature. But don’t take my word for it: please click on the link to see why “It’s another beautiful day at the lake” each and every day at Lake of the Woods! Where We Live: Behind the gates, a quiet escape
Another swan rescue! A few days after my article in Lake Currents appeared with my contact information for residents seeing swans in distress, I received a call from Holly Marshall! Thanks to the keen eyes of her dad, Fred, and Holly’s having read that article in Lake Currents, Holly called me about an injured swan. The following day, I was able to rescue Bella, another female mute swan, which wasn’t easy. I found her in Section 1 off of Mt. Pleasant, in the creek that leads to the lake that goes under Mt. Pleasant. The embankment was about 5 or 6 feet above the creek, and it was pouring rain. Thanks to Bella for her cooperation, Walt Benton, Don Roth, a helpful passerby, and especially Jim Simprini, who loaned me his waiters to climb into the creek and provided a loaf of bread, the rescue was accomplished!
Bella and I made the trip to rehabilitator Kaylee, who advised that she believed Bella had a fractured leg that healed improperly. Bella spent the night in a crate in my car, and the next morning we were then off to Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, where we learned later that day that, in fact, Kaylee was correct, and nothing could be done. The trip to Blue Ridge Wildlife Center was a trip I hope I don’t have to repeat anytime soon. Bella having been in my car all night (and, well, you know, Bella exhibiting normal swan bodily functions), I almost gagged when I opened the car door! Unfortunately, it was absolutely pouring down rain, so I barely opened the windows! I alternated between holding my nose and opening the windows anyway, with the rain coming in! The next day, I picked Bella up from Blue Ridge and transported her to Rikki’s Refuge, a fantastic place for many animals, but Rikki’s just simply wasn’t a great fit for Bella. Due to her injury, it’s best for her to be in water as much as possible, and Rikki’s doesn’t have a pond. So…more calls…
Well, if you know me, you know that I am extremely persistent! As a full-time REALTOR, I am successful in finding either the perfect new home or the perfect buyer for my clients. Why not put these skills to work for the permanently injured swan? I did just that!
After countless hours of additional phone calls, Sheila Bolin of the Regal Swan Foundation found a forever home for Bella…in Chicago! At first, the plan was to fly her to Chicago on Delta, but the regulations changed. So…I’m basically putting a stamp on Bella’s butt and sending her Express Mail through the US Post Office!! This is by no means a great way for her to travel, but the only alternative is euthanizing her. Frankly, she is totally healthy except that one leg and foot simply do not work. In the water, she’s fine. But because the lake at LOW freezes, she would freeze to death in the water, since she is unable to get out.
Bob Knox, the fabulous man who is taking Bella, is a swan breeder. He has all species of swans (whoopers, trumpeters, tundras, blacks), and a pond that he uses for those that are handicapped. The conditions are perfect! This pond is only 3 inches lower than the shore, so Bella won’t have any trouble thrusting herself out to dry off. Bob keeps a bubbler in the pond so that it doesn’t freeze in those cold Chicago winters. AND he has a male…so who knows? Bella may find a mate in addition to a perfect, forever home!
As I write this, Bella is swimming in my bathtub, patiently awaiting her “flight!” My interest is swans began when I moved to Lake of the Woods and was adopted by Carl, an old, lone swan. It is in his honor that I do whatever I can to assist our swans at Lake of the Woods. Click here to read about my adventures with Carl; I hope he is proud!
Although Lucy gave it a truly valiant effort, she passed away in the care of a swan technician in Boston, VA, over the weekend. I am so sad that she didn’t make it…and I’m concerned about the future of swans on our lake, as the numbers have dwindled. Did you know that mute swans are viewed as evasive and are being removed (killed) from the Chesapeake Bay? This makes me sick! While I can’t control what happens, I’d like to be in position to help any little animal in need. If anyone is interested in being part of a wildlife rescue team, please let me know. I’ve already thought of the name…FOWL (Friends of Wildlife at the Lake) and have a rehabilitator who will assist! Let’s care about the wildlife at Lake of Woods in addition to each other! Please contact me!
