Greenthumbnails was kind enough to post a link to another site in my pond chat post) with directions for making floating islands. It looked easy enough, so I bought the supplies yesterday, and whipped one up this morning lickety split - less than 10 minutes. I substituted power lock cable ties for the plastic screws, as my husband had a huge container of them, and I thought they'd be easier to use - they were really easy!
![Afro O0](https://www.worldwidewatergardeners.org/forum/Smileys/smilies_smf/afro.gif)
Here are the supplies -
1 - green styrofoam floral wreath. I only found these at Michaels - the other stores had flimsier white ones that came apart when I touched them - I figured the fish could swallow parts - not good!
1 - coco liner - again, only found this at one nursery and 12 inches was the smallest size they had.
8 - power lock cable ties.
A scissor to cut the mat to fit to size.
The mat was too big for the wreath, so I had to cut a small wedge out of it to fit. This was fine, as the mat split on one side as I was handling it, and it was the perfect place to cut.
The split area
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/LynneNY/ponding/floatingislandcocomat7-1-12.jpg)
Cut and pieced together
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/LynneNY/ponding/floatingislandcocomatsmaller7-1-12.jpg)
Checking the fit before attaching
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/LynneNY/ponding/floatingislandcheckingfit7-1-12.jpg)
Cable ties locked around liner and wreath
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/LynneNY/ponding/floatingislandcocolinerinwreath7-1-12.jpg)
Planted and floating in pond
![smitten o(:-)](https://www.worldwidewatergardeners.org/forum/Smileys/smilies_smf/smitten.gif)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/LynneNY/ponding/floatingisland7-1-12.jpg)
I didn't have the best plants to put in it, but I had gone to many private nurseries yesterday and they are mostly closing out their plants already for this season. I put a lantana in the center, surronded by marigolds and dwarf zinnias. Hopefully they will fill out soon.
I am planning on making a couple more, and hopefully I will be able to find different plants. The pond is in full all day sun, so that's a bit of a problem for plants.