Ponds in Canada

[callingcolleen1]

I'd be more worried about the floaters smothering the pond. Hornwort does give off oxygen during the day, night it may use some. I thin out plants as required. I don't think that the hornwort would use much, but the floaters on the other hand, the roots can touch the bottom of some ponds, and the surface plants can act like a blanket and smother if not thinned out good. Then because of the blanket effect, gasses can build up under the surface. You may get away with it if your fish population is small, but as they grow, they use more oxygen and next year could be a different story. It would be better to have a "spritter" spitting water and would cool pond way better. 86 degrees is getting pretty hot for goldfish, I'd be worried a bit. We had a heat wave for two weeks in July, temp was about 100 degrees during the day, pond stayed a cool 73 degrees thanks to the spitters and very tall sedges (now six feet) that shade without smothering.

 

[sissy]

I couldn't grow it either think is a plant that does not like me :razz:

 

[callingcolleen1]

Well it sure started out as a small little clump this spring, at the bottom of the "bottom" pond, laying in a sludge mess, but look at it now!!!! (Look at the before picture, you can hardly see it at the very bottom in the very early spring) and there was one point this spring when it started to grow really well, and then the fish nearly ate it all.... then the hot hot weather last month, was darn near 100 for days on end and I could barely breath, that when it really started to spread, then I took some to the top ponds and now it,s just so darn pretty I can't stand but post more pictures!!! Going for picture-aholic therapy soon :-D B-)

It's matted and tangled to the duck in the spring picture

 

[Shoestring Ponder]

Oh I agree 86* is getting pretty warm...but last year we were near if not at 90*. This year, I felt that 86* was pretty good since we were over 100* for a few days and in the high 90's many others. DT temps are now lower and we are down to 72*...much better. I have a fountain in one section of the pond and a frog spitter across from it in addition to the water from the filter. I did plant some Bull Rush in 3 sections and also have 4 areas where I have planted water lily's and this season they are putting out large leaves. I currently have 2 blooming as well. I continue to pull out water lettuce and the fish take care of the roots of the Floating Hyacinth. I just need to pull WL again. Should have done it today but we had storms. Maybe tomorrow.

:goldfish:

 

[j.w]

I gotta get me some of that nice looking Hornwort. Wonder if it grows wild somewhere around Washington? If not I bet I could find some online somewhere.

 

[callingcolleen1]

You can find hornwort at any pet store, and it winters well at the bottom of the pond as long as you don't mistake it for pond guck and throw it out. You can also keep a piece in a jar of water in the window and it will grow all year, with a little common tank snail.(just ask at the pet store, they usually give you some for free). The pet stores sell hornwort in small bunches for a couple bucks, it grows nice in fish tank too that has good lighting. I recommend that you keep a piece growing in a jar in case the fish go "Yummy" Lets eat!! They do this in the spring a lot and can eat quite a bit, but then it will out grow what they eat by July. As a last resort, just in case they ate it all, you will have more in a jar!

 

[callingcolleen1]

OK I know I joked about this, but can't believe there really here!!! I'm going to KILL them if I see any right away.... and POPPY said would bite them and Bear would help me take them down and murder them too!!! It's going to be all out WAR!!!! Just look at the new headlines for our local paper!!!

 

[sissy]

yuck rats .We get mice don't want rats .My one eyed owl just grabs them up .I was out in the shed and one ran out and one eyed swooped down and he was gone in a split second ,nothing stops one eye .I made sure to put more used quilt batting out for him again so he can winterize his nest .He has stolen 2 pieces before but I really don't mind ,he keeps me safe from the mice ..I can't grow things like that under water in my pond .koi just rip it apart and it gets stuck in my pump and stops it .

 

[callingcolleen1]

They showed up at the local dump a couple years ago, back then the paper said it "was just an isolated case" and I thought to my self, there's never just one. One rat will breed every two weeks and have very large litters, I heard on the news that one breeding pair can produce offspring of 100 thousand in just one year. AND they sure can get really big too!!! Some can get to the size of a cat!! I lived years ago in Fort Langley BC when I was young for a short while, and I seen the big rats there!!!

 

[j.w]

Just went outside just now to see what my big black cat Spooky was messing w/ in the grass..................and it's a smallish dead rat, must be a baby............yikes that means there is more! Our neighbor has a rooster and she had a ton of big rats here awhile back. They tried gassing them by hooking up a hose to their car exhaust. Stuck it down the rat hole and up came a bunch of them and they were hiding under the chicken pen. The guy ran in and got his b.b.gun and shot them all dead. Some did manage to run away. I kinda felt sorry for the poor things but guess ya can't have them around or they will take over and chew stuff up and spread disease.

 

[callingcolleen1]

JW be strong, there vermin!! They are very bad and I hate any vermin in my house! Had mice last year and the year before, the stories I could tell you, suffice it to say I got lots of "finger traps" cause they catch them dead and fast!! (And your fingers too sometimes when you set them!!) I discovered them by accident when I was building gingerbread houses late one night.... saw something out of the corner of my eye, thought I was seeing things. Then I went into the bathroom and opened a drawer and out popped a mouse!! I was very shocked! After that I started seeing them everywhere!! I got every mouse trap known to man and the finger traps are best! Once I caught several in one night couple years back. I found they were getting into the house from by the pond, saw them running around the pond in the fall. This house is old, there are several ways they could be getting in, so I find just setting traps in the basement with yummy Herseys Peppermint Kisses caught the most.

oh, about that gingerbread house.... someone ate the peppermint candy off the top one night as it rested on the table overnight drying... those darn mice must be able to fly!! How else could they get up there???

Oh, anyone need a slightly chewed gingerbread house??? Ha ha Ha HA HA......

 

[callingcolleen1]

Oh Sissy, could I borrow your one eyed owl for a while??

 

[addy1]

keep the snakes happy, they keep the mice away.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Well that garden snake could still be here, maybe he could eat some before they get in the house this fall, either way I'm still getting the traps out this fall again, catch them right away!

 

[sissy]

one eyed has never traveled off the property since he came here around 5 years ago .I have never seen him leave .He sometimes sits on the guest house roof or carport or house and guessing he is keep an eye out for dinner .He does like bagels and blueberry muffins .Funny to watch him hold it between his feet and rip them apart .He was after stray dogs this morning that were by my back fence ,i did not want to leave pee wee out .2 large black dogs 1 hunting dog and one black and white dog .They all have collars on but only been seeing them the last 3 weeks .so guessing someone new moved into the neighbor hood .I don't like no leash law areas