in my "local" pond center. I called last week to ask about her plants, and she said everything was out, due to our super warm temps (it's been in the 90's since the beginning of March.) I specifically told her how far I was coming from, and she said everything I could ever want was looking lovely.
So, we drive an hour and a half over there. And wow. Her actual ponds looked great. The ponds holding the plants for sale... not so great. There is string algae choking everything, and clinging to all the lilies. One tank had lilies and fish, and was the color of strong tea, no pump, no filter, nada. Too bad, I would have bought 4 of the fish in there on the spot. They had gorgeous markings. But. I couldn't tell if they were healthy or not. She had several umbrella plants, all in various stages of death. Nothing else. She said it would be several more weeks before anything else was out.
She had the fish in a greenhouse, in huge stock tanks. Water color was horrible, you couldn't make out what any of the fish looked like at the bottom. There were at least 4 dead fish floating in every pond. Apparently, they occasionally scoop out the dead ones and fling them to the side of the walkway, or wherever happens to be easiest. There was old fish bodies every where. The coup de gras, was as we were walking out the door of the fish house, my 9 yr old son stepped on a huge goldfish, maybe 8 or 9 inches. That had been laying there maybe 4 or 5 days. Nasty, nasty, nasty. He almost left them a present, and he walked back to the truck in his socks. Shoes were thrown in a trashcan conveniently located outside the door. Maybe this was a common problem?
Her pond supplies were located in a quaint old cabin, that had no light, except from the open door. Probably so you couldn't read the prices. A barley bale was 35$. THIRTY-FIVE DOLLARS!!!!! Really? Wow. Her de-chlorinator was $29. For maybe 6 oz. Who knows, maybe I misread and it was actually liquid gold?
After touring the whole facility, she finally shows up. We shall leave unsaid the things I told her. Just use your imagination....
~ I'm glad my kids were in the truck already, my DH hurried them off when he saw her arriving.....
Needless to say, I am planning to buy most of my plants off of the wonderful members here. I am planning a trip to Albuquerque (6 hr drive, one way) to visit the Albuq. Water Gardens, whom my mother has used for years. At least I KNOW I can count on her fish/plants to be super healthy and in fantastic shape. P.S., if anyone is ever there, swing by. Her place is a desert oasis, and I vouch for her completely.
So, in conclusion, Never. Ever. use Natural Ponds and Gardens in Odessa, TX. Unless, perhaps, you ARE in the market for algae and dead fish.
P.S.S. - I did happen to find mini-cattails and an odd plant (can't remember the name) at Lowe's, in the pond section. I would normally pass, but they were growing like crazy in the container, and stood straight up within 5 minutes of removing them from the bag. Wish them luck!
