"Greg Cooper" wrote in message
news:O_jfe.52725$tg1.582@edtnps84...
To day I was wading around in the pond. Cleaning out some string algae
and re-stacking some stones that had fallen down from the sides due to the
occasional visit of our local raccoon (a big old bruiser - saw him in the
daylight last week looking a _LOT_ worse for wear, missing half his tail -
I think maybe he tangled with a coyote) The fish really seemed interested
in what I was doing in their home. I guess it is big excitement for
them - not to mention turning over stones giving them access to nice
snacks. Water temperature about 60 deg F. The pond does not get a lot
of sun so the water lilies are not doing too much yet but the water cress
in the top of the water fall came back and is growing well and the marsh
Marigolds just finished blooming.

(Had to post something to counteract all the spam happening lately.)

Our raccoons have great respect for the electric fence. Momma even teaches
the young ones to stay clear.

My pond (puddle) sounds smaller than yours, so wading is not really an
option. I can foresee taking a bath if one were not careful with the steep
sides. I was rearranging the bricks and pail my fountain sits on (knocked
them over yesterday) and the GF were quite interested in the rake handle I
was using to move the bricks around. They seem quite brave today (spawning
frenzy).

The water is probably around 55°F today, but I haven't measured it in a few
days. It was quite chilly here this week, still dropping down to freezing at
nights.

My lilies were actually growing in the dark. They were already about 8" long
when I took the cover off, despite being in the dark for six months.
Although they have not reached the surface of the water yet. So far the
duckweed is keeping ahead of the GF, which seems hard to believe. Maybe it's
too cold fro them to be eating, although they look pleasantly plump.