Messages

781

Photo Album / A few new lilies in Bloom

« on: June 21, 2007, 07:22:27 PM »

Here are a few new lilies. The first shots are of Foxfire.
I have one in a spot that is shaded in the early morning and one in full sun to see which one will do better for me.

Tim

782

Pond Chat / Re: Signs of too much fertilizer?

« on: June 21, 2007, 05:29:44 PM »

I use tabs plus granular flower fertilizer as well as Osmocote all at the same time. I feed mine very heavy. The only time it has been a problem for me is if it a very new(think weeks old) plant. Otherwise they go crazy and bloom and bloom.

If lotus are not putting up aerial pads they can burn easily as Scott says.

I am trying a few victoria's this year as well. They are heavy feeders but while juveniles they can burn pretty easy too. I read that but still lost a few to leaves just melting away. I think overfeeding was the problem in that case.

Tim

783

Chit Chat / Re: Quick check-in.....

« on: June 21, 2007, 04:42:58 AM »

Hope you get better quick and can get back to ponding.

Tim

784

Chit Chat / Re: what was the hit song on the day you were born?

« on: June 20, 2007, 05:36:24 PM »

Mine was "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las.

Nov 27 1964.

Tim

785

Photo Album / Re: A Picture of Our Pond

« on: June 19, 2007, 05:02:21 PM »

Great shot. Love the dark Koi.

Tim

786

Photo Album / Re: my hobby

« on: June 19, 2007, 05:00:59 PM »

Hi lorraine.
Welcome to the forum. Hope you enjoy it here.
That hobby is an obsession for many of us. LOL

Tim

787

Hybridizing How To's... / Re: Joyce on your lotus in a barrel tutorial

« on: June 19, 2007, 04:40:50 PM »

I think she did it just once per season. If I am incorrect hopefully someone here on the board will bump this post.

Tim

788

Pond Chat / Re: Guess what this is!

« on: June 18, 2007, 12:36:16 PM »

Man I would love it if our Koi would spawn like that.

The wife is always looking to buy some. That would help me get her to slow down and you might get some fantastic surprises in the lot.

Tim

789

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Gunnera hits 18 feet

« on: June 18, 2007, 12:32:19 PM »

That is so awesome. Now that I have been told it is not a true rhubarb relative(I'm severely allergic) I might just have to try and get one.

Tim

790

Pond Chat / Re: Unknown white

« on: June 18, 2007, 12:30:16 PM »

miguynmkoi,
In case I was misunderstood... azolla is that little floating organism below the lilies. It grows from microscopic spores(I think). I know that I have not been able to totally eradicate it here for 2 years now. I kill it all and sooner or later it comes back and creates a 2" thick carpet that will cover a 5' kiddie pool in less than 3 weeks.
Now you know why I call it a monster.

Up north it is killed by the harsh winters but like mosquitoes, we can never really kill it here in Houston.

Tim

791

Pond Chat / Re: Timgod... fishies in lily ponds

« on: June 18, 2007, 12:25:18 PM »

I'm no master. I learn something new all of the time.
I tried for 3 years to get seed to set for hybridization.
Not one pod. I learned that many of the hybrids are sterile or at least not very fertile.
To that end I bought 4 species lilies last year. Species lilies are where are the hybrids and crosses started.
By crossing into some hybrids with a species or crossing a hybrid back into a species I was able to get some seed to set.
I didn't do so well when I got the seed though.
I planted them in little black Rotisserie chicken containers, black about 2.5" tall with a 4" clear domed lid.
I thought the greenhouse effect would warm the water for the seeds and speed up their growth.
I was right about it warming the water.....waaaaayyyy too right.
Even in November here it basically cooked my seed.
I have a few seedlings popping up now but I really screwed up my 1st go around.
Oh well you live and hopefully you learn.

The master's at hybridizing here on the forum are Craig..obviously as he has won more lily of year honors than most anyone, Sean and Lou also created some great looking hybrids. Now we just have to get them to propagate them, name them and hopefully sell them to us.

One day I will be at their level but I can be patient.

Tim

792

Pond Chat / Re: Unknown white

« on: June 18, 2007, 12:07:06 PM »

Very nice pictures.

Aaahhhhh.... head for the hills...

You have the azolla monster. LOL

That is a nonstop pest in a few of my little buckets and one pool with marginals.

Tim

793

Pond Chat / Re: Timgod... fishies in lily ponds

« on: June 18, 2007, 12:04:21 PM »

Kim,
Oh believe me I know. I have some beautiful goldies that are up to 6" long now.
That is why I put them in the bigger pond. So I can see them more often... as well as the wife.
My propagation pools get so full of pads that you can never see what is lurking beneath. I actually have to trim as often as I can so I can look for developing seed pods. I've already had at least 4 pop this year that I was not aware of. This is a lot earlier than last year but I have more lilies and it has been quite a bit hotter here as well.

Tim

794

Pond Chat / Re: Timgod... fishies in lily ponds

« on: June 18, 2007, 09:19:57 AM »

No problem girl,
Hope you do well.

Tim

795

Aquatic and Terrestrial Plant Exchange / Re: Black GameCock going to seed?

« on: June 18, 2007, 07:21:09 AM »

A few of mine are already starting to split as it has been so hot for quite some time already.

Tim

796

Pond Chat / Re: Guess what this is!

« on: June 18, 2007, 07:15:23 AM »

Wow you must have some pretty happy fish.
Are they goldfish or Koi fry?

Tim

797

Pond Chat / Re: Timgod... fishies in lily ponds

« on: June 18, 2007, 07:11:11 AM »

They do fine.
My heat is always in the mid 90s or higher.
Once your lilies and any oxygenators you put in there fill out it usually provides shelter from the sun as well as any possible predators.
I buy the cheap 10¢ and 25¢ goldfish feeder fish and toss in a handfull.
Within a year or so they are usually 3" to 4" long and I move them to the bigger pond.
I tried some native mosquito fish once but they didn't last for whatever reason. Who knows maybe they got ate by the bigger fish as they were about 1/2" long.
Tim

798

Pond Chat / Re: Turtles eye view of pond & lotus

« on: June 17, 2007, 04:14:38 PM »

Good Eye Jerry.
Nice angle.

Tim

799

Pond Chat / Re: I'm HOME......and I have bloomers.....lily and lotus pics.....

« on: June 17, 2007, 04:13:09 PM »

Great shots tranquility.

Tim

800

Pond Chat / Re: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

« on: June 17, 2007, 04:02:39 PM »

Happy Father's Day to all you guys who do what you have to day in and day out. Especially to all of you newer dad's and grandad's like Sean.


Hey El Jefe.....

It's been a pretty good father's day... militarily speaking.

I worked for about 10 hours. Just got home.

The wife bought me a new water lily for Dad's Day... General Pershing. Here is a pic taken by our own Lou Belloisy of what the general looks like...


This morning we missed the call but my oldest called from just outside of Bagdad. 1st we've had any contact since he went there just over a month ago.
He was calling to wish me Happy Dad's Day and the wife Happy Birthday... hers was Friday. Didn't get to talk to him but it was good to know he is doing fine.

Tim

801

Technology Talk / Re: I need a back-up computer. Suggestions please.

« on: June 17, 2007, 03:50:04 PM »

I bought an E Machine last year. My first computer from about 10 years ago was doing the duty of hosting my internet and running the routers and firewall. Basically just an old workhorse. It finally gave up the ghost. I bought an E Machine to replace it. I didn't even buy a new monitor. It was roughly 6 times faster than my old one. It is not as fast as my everyday use computer but it does what I need it to. If I wanted to max out the ram it would probably be pretty good. I however am pretty demanding of my computers. I always have at least a 1/2 dozen pieces of software running including memory pigs like photoshop, word etc.
I finally bought a laptop in December but I got a top of the line because of what I do so it wasn't cheap. You can usually get almost twice the computer for the same money when buying a desktop vs. a laptop. It just depends on your needs. Always buy a little more power than you think you need because sooner or later you will regret it if you don't.

Tim

802

Photo Album / Re: Come on...come on already...YES!! Finally... And now the end...

« on: June 16, 2007, 07:50:13 PM »

Thanks So Much Ladies.

Tim

803

Photo Album / Re: Transplanted Baby fish

« on: June 15, 2007, 05:03:03 PM »

Here is a closer look at the little monsters...LOL

The pads in the bottom are Queen of Siam vivips I put in there today.

Tim

804

Photo Album / Transplanted Baby fish

« on: June 15, 2007, 04:56:29 PM »

Rescued babies from the spring fish fling in the kiddie pools.

I am getting these guys up to a decent size so they aren't dinner for the bigger guys in the pools.

                          

Tim

805

Photo Album / Re: Come on...come on already...YES!! Finally... And now the end...

« on: June 15, 2007, 04:52:00 PM »

And now the time had come to say goodbye..... :'(

But all is not lost. The last two shots show the past as well as the future both taken in the present.

How's that for a conundrum?

Tim

806

Pond Chat / Re: Found this little guy

« on: June 15, 2007, 04:17:14 PM »

Trying to ID a lily by a photo is usually problematic at best.
If it is a distinctive looking lily then you might at least get in the ballpark.
However with a white that appears to be a hardy it would be next to impossible to say for certain.
There are too many whites that share a lot of the same characteristics.

The other problem arises from the picture itself. Is the color in the picture true to the color your eye would perceive.
Think about how hard it is to photograph Green Smoke and capture the true color.

ID'ing lilies is best left to experts and then in person so they can see the bloom inside and out as well as the pads.

Nice shot by the way.

Tim

807

Pond Chat / Re: Pink Ribbon lilies on eBay

« on: June 15, 2007, 04:06:27 PM »

Here is the link to the pdf of The Nelson Watergardens Site.
http://www.nelsonwatergardens.com/data/resources/other/17_lindsey%20woods%20article%20w.pdf

Tim

808

Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Evergreen Wisteria

« on: June 15, 2007, 08:57:55 AM »

I actually just bought 2 about a month ago from online.
I bought the Hon Beni Wisteria

and the Issai Wisteria

If they live and do well I plan to train them to cover the walkway up th the porch. I hope...

They were in 4 inch pots. One was stressed during shipping. Right now they are getting good foliage again and are about 8" to 10" tall.

Tim

809

Pond Chat / Re: Pink Ribbon lilies on eBay

« on: June 15, 2007, 08:26:05 AM »

When I first saw this a few months ago I thought about bidding... that was before I saw the starting price...OUCH.

When the Nelson's introduced the Lindsey Woods several years back they charged a $20 fee over the regular lily price to donate to a cancer society in little Lindsey's name.

The Pink Ribbon lilies could sell for 3 lilies for at least $500 = $1500.

In the last 7 years the Nelsons have been able to donate over $31,000 dollars to the Texas Children's Hospital in Lindsey's Name.

I applaud the idea behind the auction but perhaps the Nelson-Woods idea would be a better model to try and raise more funds in the long term as well as have many more people be able to afford to buy the lily as well as help the charity.

Just my thoughts.

Tim

810

Photo Album / Re: something finchey

« on: June 15, 2007, 07:40:42 AM »

They are so pretty. They almost look like something someone would sell to you for an arm and a leg. LOL

I find squirrels fascinating. If they come close enough I always try and get a picture which is not very often.
It's funny, if they are not doing something you dislike they are the cutest things but as soon as they cross a personal boundary of yours they become "rats that live in trees".

Tim