We've had so little rain here recently that the middle pond has now
dried up. I shut off the pump for the air stone because the gentle
bubbling from the air stone had turned into a rather sinister hiss.
Right now the bottom of the pond is a bit muddy, but in just a few
days I wouldn't be surprised to see the bottom rock hard and dry, dry
enough that I can probably drive the tractor and bush hog down into it
to do some real heavy duty weeding.

However, late last year I began digging a tiny pond in the back in an
old fire pit. Being as how I am no longer the earth moving machine I
used to be, it took me about a month to dig the silly thing, and it is
only 2 feet deep at the very deepest. The skimmer is way too low and
the liner is wrinkled. The cinder blocks lining the thing should be
down at the water's edge. It is a textbook example of things to avoid
while building a pond. But at least it holds water. There are no
fish, and if I get around to it, all the holes in the cinder blocks
will eventually have plants, and my fervent hope is that eventually
the plants can grow enough to hide many of my mistakes. That being
said, here is a picture of the backyard mud puddle that holds water:
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x...n012008012.jpg
Don't ask me what plants are there now, I don't remember. My style of
gardening is to stick a plant in the ground (green side up, if the
plant is lucky) and see if it grows or dies. By the time I can tell
if it is worth remembering the name of the plant or not, I have long
since forgotten the name anyway.

Galen Hekhuis

I see the potential :-))
I have the same method of plant care - survival of the
fittest and sorry, I can't be bothered to learn your name.
DH actually took a plant into work where a master gardener
lives and I still don't believe the prognosis.

k :-)

I like the native plants. Reduces care. What about mosquito fish for
mosquito control?

Jim

On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 16:27:17 EDT, Phyllis and Jim
wrote:

I like the native plants. Reduces care. What about mosquito fish for
mosquito control?

Being as how native plants and imported plants get the same care from
me, that is, no care, so it doesn't really reduce my workload. I
haven't seen any mosquito larvae. I don't know why, but there don't
seem to be hardly any critters in the water.

Galen Hekhuis

On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 12:24:04 EDT, Galen Hekhuis
wrote:

fish, and if I get around to it, all the holes in the cinder blocks
will eventually have plants, and my fervent hope is that eventually
the plants can grow enough to hide many of my mistakes.

That will be the most interesting thing, which plants can handle being
surrounded by cement. I know Corsican mint doesn't seem to mind, but it is
a short ground cover. I bet some sort of ivy would fit the bill, doesn't it
grow on and in everything? Flamingo water celery (or parsley) also does
well in the blocks. Better in the blocks than the pots in the pond for me.
~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 12:29:11 EDT, kathy wrote:

I see the potential :-))
I have the same method of plant care - survival of the
fittest and sorry, I can't be bothered to learn your name.
DH actually took a plant into work where a master gardener
lives and I still don't believe the prognosis.

k :-)

There must be more story here, what was the prognosis? ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

Any one ready to get rid of any water hyacinths or water lettuce? I
am ready to restock my veggie filter and need some of those plants.
My parrots feather made it over the winter as did the hyacinths and
lettuce but I think I put them out too early and they were hit by a
late (in Colorado? What is considered late??) frost and bit the dust.

Thanks!
W. Dale

PS Also looking for yellow, red, pink, etc, water lilies if anyone is
dividing and throwing away.

On Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:46:22 EDT, ~ jan wrote:

That will be the most interesting thing, which plants can handle being
surrounded by cement. I know Corsican mint doesn't seem to mind, but it is
a short ground cover. I bet some sort of ivy would fit the bill, doesn't it
grow on and in everything? Flamingo water celery (or parsley) also does
well in the blocks. Better in the blocks than the pots in the pond for me.
~ jan

Those blocks used to be part of a firepit and have been out in the
weather for at least five years, and it wouldn't surprise me if they
were outside a lot longer than that. There was no evidence of the
firepit having been used at all recently when I moved here. In any
event, anything that might have leached out seems to have already done
so. None of the plants I have stuffed in the cinder block holes have
died, I think a lot more of clippers and stuff than fertilizer when I
look at them now.

Galen Hekhuis