Messages

1

Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Exchange / Re: Nymphaea 'Louise Villemarette'

« on: May 31, 2009, 09:24:57 PM »

Joe and Louise Villemarette live in Oklahoma City and were well aquainted with Perry Slocum and Kirk Strawn before there passing.  The Villemarettes were long time owners of Patio Garden Ponds in south Oklahoma City untill retiring last fall.  Some years back Joe was really excited when he told me of the lily being named after his wife Louise.  I am still in contact with Joe and Louise on occasion.  If I can be of help let me know.   



Paul

2

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Need clematis advice

« on: May 18, 2009, 12:24:26 AM »

Pardon me for the intrusion but my friends from Oregon, New Hampshire and Massachusetts no longer try to advise me about plants after their summer visits to the central Oklahoma Dutch oven in which I reside every summer.  Clay or sandy soils exposed to the sun get quite hot in the summer here, and many plants even in soils of good tillage and aeration refuse to produce thick succulent roots for robust growth.
Many a immigrant from northern states have approached me in the past asking why they have little or no success with their plants down here.   In all honesty I can only tell them two things and still be true to myself.  Either continue with a light or moderate amount of effort and only grow what the majority of the natives grow, but if gas station plants doesn't quite cut it, then one must  hump up and rise  to the task of incorporating wholesale quantities of compost in the beds and a good layer of mulch to insulate the roots from the heat then the composted soil beneath is sure to stay cool and loose for the accommodation of the kind of robust growth that fat juicy cool succulent roots can provide.    In short, without cool soil for the roots and full sun for the blooms in this area, my clematis used to turn to toast and frankly I can't remember the last time I watered my Jackmanii....mmm...I think 2003. 

3

Pond Chat / Re: Lots of pictures from around the yard and my slopes are filling in some....

« on: May 11, 2009, 06:55:02 PM »

Its been a long time commin' Tink but you got it goin'!!!  You've done yerself proud girl !!!   

4

Chit Chat / Re: Yard Art

« on: April 06, 2009, 06:54:17 PM »

Hi Fishlips.   They're made of metal rods.

5

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Greenhouse Shots

« on: April 05, 2009, 07:53:25 PM »

That's right Jerry.  These are small because they're pot grown but the ones planted in the ground in the spring produce big fat round ones. 

Yes JW, everything goes outside as soon as we get past any frost.  My DW sells pond supplies and plants to support our/my hobby. 

6

Pond Chat / Re: Thank goodness!

« on: April 05, 2009, 01:06:58 PM »

Hi Kat, That was a 40 X 100 foot roll originally.  I got it from Rainbow plastics but you might check Unit Liner, all here in Oklahoma.

7

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Greenhouse Shots

« on: April 05, 2009, 12:05:51 PM »

Just a few more.

8

Terrestrial Gardening / Greenhouse Shots

« on: April 05, 2009, 12:04:03 PM »

This home made greenhouse isn't particularly inviting, but it's fun just the same. 

9

Pond Chat / Thank goodness!

« on: April 05, 2009, 11:59:32 AM »

Well, the frame held up without a hitch and is quite sturdy.....now I can breath.   I fertilized the 13,500 gallons of 
water and it is now prime for a dose of fish eggs.  Just a little more work and it'll be finished.   

10

Pond Chat / Re: Why a bottom drain?

« on: April 05, 2009, 10:49:35 AM »

I installed two Tetra bottom drains in this pond in 1994 and have never had a problem.  I plumbed each drain into a bog bed, located to the left of the pond in the picture, with a stand pipe for each drain.  I pop the stand pipes daily and let the water gush into  the bog until it turns from black or dark green to clear then reseat the stand pipes. The pond pudding collects in the bog to feed the bog plants with fabulous results. There is also a picture of the back side of the bog. 

11

Chit Chat / Re: Yard Art

« on: April 05, 2009, 08:39:22 AM »

Here's some more stuff

12

Chit Chat / Yard Art

« on: April 05, 2009, 08:35:35 AM »

After 14 years of knowing this good friend and fellow "Hort Hound" I finaly thought to bring a camera on a mid March visit.

13

Pond Construction & Filtration / Re: Since someone started the rock thing.....

« on: March 02, 2009, 10:01:49 PM »

You might try checking any local dealer of fiberglass swimming pools or in ground liner swimming pools.  Ground water problems have surely been dealt with by them.

Paul 

14

Pond Construction & Filtration / Barrel filters again !??!

« on: March 02, 2009, 11:00:44 AM »

This is a poly flow media.  I  use the 1 ¼  inch coarse which offers about 360 square feet of surface area per cubic foot of media for biofilm development. Pea gravel gets you about 100 sq. feet of surface area per cu. ft. of gravel. Bio balls has two sizes. The 1 ½ inch diameter provides 125 sq. ft. of surface area per cu. Ft. of media and the 1 in. diameter bio ball yields 160 sq. ft. of surface area.   According to the L.S.U. studies  on recirculation systems. 400 sq. ft. of surface area can provide enough nitro somonas and nitro-bactre to keep the water safe enough for 25 pounds of fish with light maintenance and 50 pounds of fish with moderate maintenance at a feed rate of 2% of fish body weight per day.  Commercial producers achieve 100 pounds or more per 400 sq. ft. at a much higher maintenance level.  I’ve been using this unit for 11 years. It is capable of supporting 170 pounds of koi in a 1000 or 2000 gallon water volume.  I built my first poly flow filter  in a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank  in 1994 which supported a maximum of 500 lbs. of fish with moderate maintenance.  So for those of you who suffer from the same “OCD eye candy” disease that I have….well, there is hope.  If you care to learn a great deal more, try this site.

http://www.aquanic.org/publicat/state/la/la.htm   

Here is a list of some of informative reading at this site.

Optimizing Nitrification in Bead Filters for Warmwater Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (PDF 458k)

Nitrification in Fluidized Bed Sand Filters for Use in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (PDF 31k)

Low-Density Media Biofilter of Recirculating Finfish Systems (PDF 717k)

Suspended Solids Control in Recirculating Aquacultural Systems (PDF 992k)

Intensive Finfish Recirculating Systems Overview (PDF 580k)

Biofiltration for Recirculating Finfish Culture Systems (PDF 339k)

Urban Aquaculture for the 21st Century: Using Recirculating Systems (PDF 132k)

Design of High-Density Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (HTML)
 
Design of Recirculating Systems for Intensive Tilapia Culture (PDF 517k)

Categories of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (PDF 1220k)

 A Feasibility Study of Using Air-Lift Pumps for Aeration, Degasification, and Water Movement in a Recirculating Aquaculture System (PDF 66k)

 Water Quality Requirements and Environmental Impacts Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (PDF 1160k

The Bead Filter for Aquaculture Systems (PDF 99k)

 Developing Backwash Protocols for Floating Bead Filters: a Model of Solids-Loading and Biofilm-Retention Effects on Nitrification (PDF 656k)

Design and Evaluation of a Commercial-Scale, Paddle-Washed Floating Bead Filter (PDF 742k)

 Production, Characteristics, and Modeling of Aquacultural Sludge from a Recirculating Aquacultural System Using an Expandable Granular Biofilter (PDF 655k)

Interim Design Criteria for Warmwater Recirculating Systems Employing Floating Bead Filters and Blown Air (PDF 126K)

Sludge Production from Recirculating Systems Employing Expandable Granular Biofilters (PDF 750k)

Slow Sand Filtration Technologies for the Containment of Non-Indigenous Species in Recirculating Aquaculture Effluents (PDF 768k)

Have fun...Paul  

15

Pond Construction & Filtration / Re: Another wood frame pond comin' up

« on: March 01, 2009, 08:38:07 PM »

Thanks Kat and Bonnie, Though the fish are in the thousands in early spring, they are only three and four inches by summers end and the birds can eat hundreds that size per week as it takes quite a few to make a meal.

Paul 

16

Pond Construction & Filtration / Re: Another wood frame pond comin' up

« on: March 01, 2009, 08:30:48 AM »

Hi Kat,  I made this one for koi.  If it holds, it should be deep enough to herons out of the water.  When finished, there will be a six foot wire trellis for vines around the pond which will limit perching birds to three feet above water level.  I have a few hundred fish survive every year many thousands are lost to birds.  As a last resort I will install a solar powered fence charger around the rim and let the birds paint the woodwork white

Paul

17

Pond Construction & Filtration / Another wood frame pond comin' up

« on: March 01, 2009, 12:12:30 AM »

Well, it’s  fixin’ to get spooky around here.  As soon as the braces get cut down to the rim and half inch decking nailed to the inside wall, I’ll drop a liner in an’ fill ‘er up.  The walls are 39 inches high, which is 15 inches higher than I’ve ever built before.  If it holds together I’ll have in the neighborhood of 57 to 60 tons of water in it or approximately 13,500 to 14,500 gallons of water.  One thing for sure, when I fill it up the pucker factor will be rising commensurate with the water level ‘till I find out if it holds together.   

18

Terrestrial Gardening / To Johns

« on: October 29, 2008, 10:46:35 AM »

Hi Johns.   Just so you know a little something about me…..I started collecting and of course reading every publication of J. I. Rodale, Sir Albert Howard, and of course Robert Rodale, that I could lay my hands on in 1971.  I am aware of the benefits of composting organic materials for protection against the effects of heavy metals and pesticides.  As far as cotton seed hulls concerned, as a raw material have as yet had no ill effect on the sundry ornamental tropical, annual, and perennial plants that I favor.  As to caveats regarding the use of organic materials however safe and well composted, the high moisture retention of said materials if placed too close to moisture sensitive ornamentals and vegetables can and most assuredly will wreak havoc on those plants in the way of crown rot.  But, with practice and judicious placement of mulches and  not allowing direct contact with said sensitive plants, such disasters can be avoided in ornamental beds and the vegetable garden.   I use Cotton seed hulls extensively in my ornamental beds, mainly because it’s cheap and abundant in my location.  Were I to have a mind to focus on vegetables again, as I did the first nine years of my organic adventure, I would focus on tree leaves as my sole source of organic material for the vegetable garden.  I found that the variety of fall color in tree leaves is largely due to the trace minerals that each tree specializes in assimilating from the sub soils.  By incorporating the micronutrients that trees mine from the soil back into the garden in wholesale amounts allowed for all my plants to out perform those of all my gardening friends and neighbors, both in size and yield, which I must admit did result in a short period of ego bloat.  I might add as a footnote that however acid any of my raw materials have been, have as a result of thorough composting, offered no ill effect.  Thank you for the warnings and please pardon my usual wordy reply.


Paul.

19

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: To EagleEye and Brian

« on: October 27, 2008, 08:55:20 PM »

Hi Jonna.  The plant in the back is a giant reed Arundo Donax.  The 300 gallon Rubbermaid tubs are used as bio filters and quarantine tanks for fish.

Paul.

20

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: To EagleEye and Brian

« on: October 27, 2008, 07:41:17 PM »

Also, I like to insulate and heat a cold frame and compost it all at the same time.  In the photo on the right mostly out of the frame, is, or was a compost heap 3.5 feet high by 8 feet wide and 16 feet long.  For us, it’s not a lot.  The carbon/nitrogen ratio is such that all you need to do is add water and stir once or twice a week for excellent compost in 90 days or less.   Much less if turned twice or thrice a week.

Paul.

21

Terrestrial Gardening / To EagleEye and Brian

« on: October 27, 2008, 07:23:41 PM »

I use cotton seed hulls for mulch to cut weed growth, to cut evaporation, to cut compaction, and to insulate the roots from the blistering Oklahoma heat.  The cotton knits bind well enough that they don’t blow or wash bad and the cooler soil beneath allows for exceptional plant performance. 


Paul 

22

Chit Chat / Re: 3//4 ton truck

« on: October 27, 2008, 10:05:27 AM »

Hi Steve,    I’ve had this ‘89 Ford XLT, half ton, long wide bed since ‘91.  When I load it with 2500 pounds the bed sets about  ¾ to 1 inch
off the rear axle.  I’ve hauled over 300 loads of red clay, 20 loads of brick, 35 tons of rock, and over 80 tons of cotton seed hulls with 2200 to 3200 (I added overload shocks) per load.  It’s old and beat up just like me, kinda ruff ‘n ruddy, but I plan on using it to get 20 tons of cotton seed hulls each January until it dies.  But all the vehicles I’ve ever owned have different personalities just like the people that put them together and the people that own them. My ‘03 F150 Lariat Off  Road Crew Cab with bells and whistles is not a work truck per se but a very nice ride.

Good luck, Paul

23

Pond Chat / More new fish

« on: September 10, 2008, 03:03:31 PM »

Thank goodness I'm not due for more fish for at least another month.  I really need to start getting more picky........but.........it's..........haaaaaarrrrrrrd!



Paul

24

Pond Chat / Re: Blooms at night

« on: August 19, 2008, 01:56:01 PM »

Hi Annette.   There have been quite a few on the longwood and the cruziana this year but not early enough for mature seed (at least I don't think so).

25

Pond Chat / Charlies Pride

« on: August 19, 2008, 01:51:49 PM »

Thanks to Charles and Craig.

26

Terrestrial Gardening / Gigantea and Mickey Mouse

« on: August 19, 2008, 01:48:19 PM »

These have been loads of fun this year.

27

Pond Chat / Re: Blooms at night

« on: August 19, 2008, 01:42:19 PM »

more shots darkly.

28

Pond Chat / Blooms at night

« on: August 19, 2008, 01:38:43 PM »

or shots in the dark!!

29

Pond Chat / Re: Commentary

« on: August 07, 2008, 09:49:31 AM »

If this mop top is burnt just because it is a mere 103 degrees at 8 P.M. (five degrees lower than at 4 P.M.) I’ll take it.  In spite of whatever so called empirical evidence that may exist or be thought to exist, I know what I like and I know when and where I  like it.  I’m anal retentive enough, I need no further ratcheting in an effort to seek perfection.  I’ll leave that to the so called experts.  After all even the ancient Egyptians in their most perfect pyramid, incorporated a slight imbalance or imperfection, if you will, in the placement of the queens chamber (their call, not mine, ladies) or was it the kings, to mirror more perfectly the true nature of earth and all that inhabits it.  My wife and I sell lilies and still consider ourselves laymen.  We cater to our patrons demands and urge the experts put it…..well….er….uh….lovingly place it in the dark.


Paul

30

Koi Corner / New koi

« on: July 21, 2008, 11:14:41 AM »

Lord help me.......I have koi running out of my ears and I still can't resist buying more.  Shhhhh!  I think I hear some more coming......hmmmm.......sounds like a couple of weeks away!

Paul