Messages

61

Koi Corner / Re: New Koi

« on: June 07, 2008, 11:39:03 AM »

So he may end up as a black Koi? That would be fun to watch happen. A month ago I bought a white metalic Koi with diagonal black racing stripes and they are pretty much gone now. Is this real common?

62

Pond Chat / Re: Fish in skimmer

« on: June 07, 2008, 11:31:24 AM »

Do you have a baffle in the leaf slit? Until something ate my goldies they frequently got caught in the skimmer when the baffle wasn't up. (new dumb ponders we just figured out the baffle was supposed to be up; skimmer sucks way better that way)

63

Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Exchange / Re: Desperate for good sized lilies

« on: June 07, 2008, 11:20:45 AM »

I wish I could help you, being I'm in Omaha and all. But I am still adding lilies to my pond. I do have a new crop of hyacinths and that nice Chrysanthemum water lettuce. Don't know if you need marginals but I could share some dwarf cattail and some kind of reed. Also iris siberian and regular. My purple pickerl had a baby too.

64

Chit Chat / New pond additions

« on: June 07, 2008, 11:00:45 AM »

Found a turtle that won't eat my plants or fish and some permanent cattails. Just love art fair season.

65

Terrestrial Gardening / In the last three days

« on: June 07, 2008, 10:52:09 AM »

The Knock Outs started opening in the last three days. I think I have about 28 of them in front of the house.

66

Pond Chat / Can't believe this

« on: June 07, 2008, 10:44:03 AM »

This isn't the best pic, but las year I planted this lily(smaller upper pads) directly in the rock 8-10inches below the budding lily (larger lower pads) it spead upwards? Didn't know they did that.

67

Koi Corner / New Koi

« on: June 07, 2008, 10:39:21 AM »

I had never seen a blue koi with black spots before. Know he's probably not prize material; but he's so cute

68

Terrestrial Gardening / Just gotta love WalMart

« on: June 07, 2008, 10:36:09 AM »

You just gotta love WalMart...I bought the Bloodgood Maple for $10 on close out 2 years ago, last year the Artic Willow and the honeysuckle were also extremely reasonable

69

Pond Chat / Re: First Lilies of 2008 (add yours!)

« on: June 01, 2008, 09:12:14 AM »

This is the third day. Laydekeri Fulgens is frequently first I guess.

70

Pond Chat / Re: Tuberous begonia and more

« on: May 31, 2008, 10:09:12 PM »

Your yard and fish make me drool.

71

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Some of my new Clematis

« on: May 31, 2008, 09:57:40 PM »

We have a problem with Clematis and bunnies. I found honeysuckle to be a great alternative. It is thicker and woodier plus it blooms longer.

72

Pond Chat / Re: Foolish... What do mink like?

« on: May 31, 2008, 09:53:03 PM »

Well I didn't have tuna or cat food so DH put a couple of shrimp for tonight. My neighbor that loaned me the trap said to put a feeder goldfish in it, but I couldn't do that.

I was afraid if we cut the holes bigger then the mink would get in.

Crossed fingers.

73

Pond Chat / Foolish... What do mink like?

« on: May 31, 2008, 12:28:07 PM »

I was was foolish.  :'(

I live more or less in what is now the middle of the city. One block off the main east/west route through the city. We have a billion rabbits, but I didn't think we had raccoon or mink or whatever. Something got all my small goldfish and has scarred the Koi to death. For 2 days they lay motionless on the bottom, like fish sticks.

I put a black milk-crate in the middle in the deepest part of the pond and put a lily pot and rocks on the top. This morning the Koi were all inside. They swim around and eat but really stay in a bunch. They hide when I approach the pond. I am afraid to feed them because I want them to stay scarred. They used to come to meet anyone who came near the pond.

I put out a havahart trap last night near where we found a little piece of gold tail. But, had no clue what bait to put in it. The local pond store says there are a lot mink in the area. What do mink eat besides goldfish?

My other question is what happens when they grow to big to squeeze into the holes of the milk-crate? My biggest is only about 10 inches. Some have tripled in size since I got them last summer. Each morning I spy from afar to make sure everyone is accounted for.

74

Pond Chat / Re: Help with Aquascape forum

« on: May 30, 2008, 06:54:15 PM »

It doesn't seem to be working, something is messed up. Sorry

75

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Blooming machine, perennial

« on: May 28, 2008, 06:28:54 PM »

The ones I got from Lowes say late spring. But it says (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) and I found this on the internet.
Stout Blue-eyed Grass (Narrowleaf Blue-eyed Grass)
Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Stout blue-eyed grass is probably the most common of six species of blue-eyed grass found in Connecticut. The photo below right shows some of the distinguishing features for stout blue-eyed grass. Incidentally, don't rely on the name narrowleaf blue-eyed grass; this species, in fact, has the widest leaves of any blue-eyed grass in the state.
• Family: Iris (Iridaceae)
• Habitat: meadows, shores
• Height: 4-20 inches
• Flower size: 1/2 inch across
• Flower color: blue
• Flowering time: May to July
• Origin: native

I'll just have to wait and see I guess.

76

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Blooming machine, perennial

« on: May 27, 2008, 02:40:22 PM »

Went to Lowes and picked up a couple more "blooming machines"

77

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Some of my new Clematis

« on: May 26, 2008, 06:41:10 PM »

  I love "Blue Bird" How is it for Hardieness? I need to search for one.

78

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Blooming machine, perennial

« on: May 26, 2008, 06:36:23 PM »

I'm so glad to hear you like the "blue-eyed grass". I bought one this year at Lowes and think it is really cute. My husband and I commented today how it seems to be one of the few things the bunnies don't eat.

Makes me want to go pick-up some more.

79

Pond Chat / Re: Container ponds/pot... show them now and as they fill out.....

« on: May 25, 2008, 06:18:43 AM »

My container isn't clever, but... Trying something new this year; skipped the annuals and going with topicals. Wonder if I can hold them over in the garage this winter?

80

Pond Chat / Re: Pond Photos: Then & Now

« on: May 25, 2008, 06:09:26 AM »

All of your ponds are so beautiful. I look at these pictures and can only dream about how my pond could maybe look. With my pond only a year old, didn't think I had anything to show.

Then I stumbled across the 1st pic and thought even a year can make a difference.

81

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Last to Bloom

« on: May 24, 2008, 07:17:20 PM »

That is absolutely gorgeous I've never seen anything like it.

82

Pond Chat / Re: Does anyone know if bird house next to a pond is a problem?

« on: May 23, 2008, 11:42:33 AM »

We have had a real problem with Grackles this year. Apparently they clean their nests and drop the baby Grackle poop in streams to confuse predators. They have decided the streams to my pond is a good place to dump the babies do-do. Yuck!

We have bird houses but none of them are large enough for Grackles.

83

Pond Chat / Re: Water Lettuce - Water Temperature?

« on: May 14, 2008, 07:11:20 PM »

My nursery says water temp 70F -- I too am impatient and don't know if I can wait that long.

84

Koi Corner / New little disabled butterfly

« on: May 11, 2008, 12:06:13 PM »

  Love my new little blue butterfly koi. I couldn't resist adopting him when I noticed he was missing his left pec fin. Doesn't seem to slow him down at all.

85

Pond Chat / Re: absolute favourite gold-fish-wots yours

« on: May 11, 2008, 12:02:48 PM »

My favorite goldie in my pond -- Oscar he's over 6 inches long

86

Pond Chat / Re: Help with Pond Water After Rain

« on: May 08, 2008, 12:45:07 PM »

I would definitely use a bacterial clarifier, probably weekly for while especially if your water temp is above 65 or 70 degrees. Which mine was that warm.

87

Pond Chat / What have Koi got against...

« on: May 08, 2008, 12:38:35 PM »

What have Koi got against string algae? Or goldfish for that matter. Why won't they eat it?

I certainly have enough to go around. They wait 'til I scub it off a rock then chow down on the hair algae that's left.

88

Pond Chat / Re: Please define a bog pond

« on: May 06, 2008, 05:32:26 PM »

Cedric, that is very sad  :'( about your fish loss. I'm crazyfishlady, not because I know a lot about fish; but rather, I'm a little crazy about fish.

My streams are man-made and not natural as yours are. My streams are dry during our frozen winters and my fish are hidden under a layer of ice and snow. Thankfully, I had only three fatalities or more accurately disappearances over the winter.

What you describe sounds most likely related to runoff and upstream contamination or possible something leaching in upstream from you? Maybe a PH crash? I'm know there are more knowledgeable  people here that can help you.

89

Pond Chat / Re: Dutch Iris (Iris Hollandica) can I put in watergarden?

« on: May 05, 2008, 07:14:52 PM »

I have bearded Iris and Siberian Iris in my bog and along the stream in rock and bare root. They do fine even over wintered when there isn't any water in the stream or bog.

90

Pond Chat / Re: Please define a bog pond

« on: May 05, 2008, 06:55:19 PM »

I have what I call a "bog" at the top of the streams leading to the pond. It is about 4' by 3' and 3-4' deep and filled with river pebbles. I have plants around the edge but (2) 4 inch hoses from the pumps in my skimmer that are buried and the water flow is to fast to have plants in the middle.

I think a traditional bog doesn't have rapid water movement and it contains marginal plants. The thing I find fascinating is my bog has no water in it through the freezing winter. But my marginals all came up this spring, even a tropical water fern. Beats me.