Country Escape's 2nd pond - Goldfish only

[CountryEscape]

Oh, well maybe that's why it was rocking back and forth, to scare the HUGE doggie away. LOL Peewee, poor little guy, that Praying Mantis probably looked pretty wicked, and you never know when they sting or bite, so best he was leery and stayed away. When I was taking pics of this one, the puppies came romping up and almost stepped on her, so I had to quit and lure them away.

 

[j.w]

Oops CE I got it wrong it was stick bugs that eat blackberry bushes not praying mantis,lol!

 

[CountryEscape]

The water hyacinths I saved from sure death, and thought they would still die, ended up making it to my water "pots" that I had bought for lotus plants. They are thriving now in the pot, along with some creeping ludwegia from the farm pond. Hyacinths are blooming in another pot this morning, but will wait to post that pic until all 5 of the blooms are open, maybe ....

 

[j.w]

Neat CE and I hear they make some lovely fragrant blooms. Never got to see any bloom here or smell them. I gave up on them. Even if they grew here I don't think they would bloom. Don't know if anyone in this area has ever gotten any to bloom. Wonder if Kougs got his to bloom?

 

[CountryEscape]

In this pot, two hyacinths are blooming, and there are 3 more getting ready to. I was hoping they would all bloom at the same time! I stuck my schnoz right up next to them but don't smell anything, good or bad.

 

[j.w]

Whoa, ya mean Water Hyacinth don't smell pretty. I must have them confused w/ the Hyacinth plants that grow in the garden cuz they smell wonderful!

Somebody on the net said this: Water Hyacinth have strong and pleasant fragrance with an aqueous nuance to its scent profile.
and another: A question is coming into my mind : could the smell of water hyacinth have similarities with the smell of water lily, an other aquatic flower ?
Or has it more to do with the smell of the "classic" hyacinth flower (which I can't stand, BTW ^^ ) ?

 

[sissy]

I don't think i would care if they had a smell ,the flower is pretty enough on it's own

 

[CountryEscape]

Agree with Sissy, they are beautiful, and who is going to go into their pond to smell them? LOL But, I found no smell to mine. It's very possible there are other varieties that are frangrant, though. The spring hyacinths smell wonderful, my favorite spring bulb flower! The make my whole yard smell wonderful for about 2-3 weeks.

 

[fishin4cars]

I've never noticed a smell with Water Hyacinths, Even in large masses. My night blooming lilies always smelled really good, and a few tropical water lily's have a very sweet fragrance. I don't think I have ever noticed pickeral rush,(Which is one of the other frequent blooming aquatic plants I see bloom in my pond) and sitting here trying to think of any other water plants that smelled good. Off hand I draw a blank.

 

[CountryEscape]

The other 3 hyacinths are getting ready to open, so if they are still open, and hopefully the first two as well, tonight, I will snap another photo. BTW, I found out why the Praying Mantis sits on my hummingbird feeder! It was there last night, different one that originally photographed, and as we watched, it was guarding the feeder, not to keep the hummers away, but rather looked to be attempted to catch one! I got a couple of videos, but the PM never lunged at the hummer again, but still shows how stealthly it was advancing on the hummer. I'm downloading them on YouTube now, so it will be this evening when I get home from work before I get the chance to upload them on here. Here's the Praying Mantis that was having fun last night:

 

[CometKeith]

Cool picture CE, What would he do with one if he caught it? Also really great wh pics. I have had blooms on mine but they are different flowers than what you have. I read that they bloom to send out seeds when they are under stress to propagate more wh because they think they may die. I don't know what stresses them out.... lack of water, sun, or food? I know what stresses me out.... our kids!

 

[sissy]

I planted lots of the hyacinth in my gardens for that spring smell to CE :blueflower: .You can get high on the scent of them .Remember cometkeith you where a kid once and probably did the same to your parents too :razz: even though we will never admit to it .I WAS A PERFECT CHILD PERFECT I SAY .AN ANGEL or had an ANGLE

 

[CountryEscape]

Keith, I wonder if the fact that they are pretty crowded in the pot is why they are blooming. Yes, they bloom only one day, then the bloom stem leans over, hits the water, and becomes the next WH plant! Very neat to see it grow from the bloom stem. If they are in your pond and you surround them with something to crowd them, I bet yours will bloom, too! Try it with either water noodles, or any type of flexible tubing that you can seal off the ends. I used the cheap sewer pipe and a connector, makes about a 3' diameter ring, and that holds them in place.
Sissy, I, too, was a PERFECT ANGEL, just ask me!!!

 

[sissy]

I think not it could be a horror story and good for halloween ce :razz: :salook:

 

[sissy]

anyone know about iris .Mine are blooming again and a lot of them have buds on them .I planted them last year .How many times do they bloom