The pond dig has begun!

[CountryEscape]

Thanks, all. JW, yes, water is slowly but surely (crossing fingers) clearing up. Yesterday I could see the pump which is at about 3', on top of the milk crate, which I could also see. It's not crystal clear and I cannot see things on the bottom yet, but I'm hoping soon I will be able to. And, at night when the lights are on under the waterfall, I can see the fish 8' away, so the light is penetrating farther in the water.
I got the dirt leveled tonight and then the brown mulch spread. Got 2 "scoops" and it turned out to be the perfect amount, and I didn't even skimp on it! Probably spread it 3-4" thick, which will be fine for now. I'm really happy how it turned out. Now I can put the porch swing (well, it's not on the porch, but that's type ... ) in that area and not have to move it to mow! The ground is still pretty soft, as we got 1" of rain last night, so the new dirt needs to settle some, I'll probably put a flat board under each leg so it doesn't sink into the dirt. Here's how it turned out:
Thought the trapdoor snails in this pic were kind of neat. They are next to the surface in the waterfall pool, if you look closely you can see the "foot" of each of them. Top right of pic and bottom left (bottom one is totally underwater, but if you look at the dark part you will be able to make it out).

 

[j.w]

Really looks perfect CE. I like how you used the two different colors of the mulch.
Trapdoor snails look pretty good sized! There they are cleaning and vacuuming like crazy. Must be awful to have to spend your whole life cleaning...............I can't stand it for an hour!

 

[CountryEscape]

I can see the bottom of the koi pond now! Woohoo!!! I can count rocks on the bottom, LOL and even the little rocks that fell in, river rock size, so I'm so thrilled! Remember, I said "as long as it's clear by Memorial Day weekend, I'll be happy"? Well, I'm very happy!!! Starting to see some algae growing on plants, but no string algae yet, except the stuff that was on the plants I moved into the goldfish bog. I pick that off but it's not string type, it's the spongy type.

 

[pondlover]

Congrats CE.... I know having both your ponds clear for your company this weekend is what you wanted. Awesome!!!

 

[addy1]

Good job ce!

 

[j.w]

Loved to hear that CE and now relax and enjoy your weekend!

 

[CountryEscape]

Clear to the bottom as of last week, FINALLY!!! I'm sooo happy!

And, does anyone know for sure if this is a bullfrog? It sure is marked pretty.

My Boston is enjoying raising her babies. Hardly leaves them, but this morning is laying in the living room, they are in the dog crate, not even crying. If they cry, she tends to them, but is learning she doesn't have to be with them 24/7. They are 6 days old today.

My sister was here from WI (and her daughter) and it was sooo funny, here she is trying to "teach" the puppy to latch on and have some milk. "Open your mouth" she kept telling him. LOL They are all getting to be fat little babies, so there is no worries about someone not getting enough food.

 

[j.w]

Yay clear water, neat frog, cute pups and a nanny to your pups all in one post,lol!

 

[addy1]

bullfrog ce

All frogs have an circle-shaped external hearing organ (eardrum) known as a tympanum located directly behind the eyes of the frog. A Bullfrog has a ridge that runs from the back of the eye around the tympanum and then stops. On the Green Frog, this ridge extends beyond the tympanum down along the back of the frog. a Bullfrogs call is deeper and longer. A Green Frogs call is high pitched and shorter. Lastly, Bullfrogs are much larger than Green Frogs. An adult Bullfrog is usually 3 ½ to 6 inches in length, while an adult Green Frog is usually only 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches in length.

green frog

 

[CountryEscape]

Thanks, Addy, and having the two pics to compare that ridge helped, too! I'll try to watch for that in future pics. It's funny how when I take a pic, I think the frog is green, or brown, or whatever, and then when I see it on my computer screen, I think Wow, that's a pretty frog! LOL

 

[CountryEscape]

I found this "Spindle Palm" at Menards after work today, and at 6' tall and only $12, I had to get it! They had other palms, but different types. It says to keep it wet and not let it dry out between waterings, almost wondering if it could go in the bog or in the pond! But, planning on leaving it on my deck. I will get another pot like the one next to it, but I have a couple of ideas, hoping someone with knowledge of palms can answer.

Would it be best to keep it root bound and leave it in this smaller pot, but pack rock around it to keep it steady and less likely to be blown over (it's VERY top heavy right now the way it is), or best to repot it into a larger pot and use the dirt to keep it stable?
Also, I will have to bring it inside over winter, and although I plan to bring in a couple of other large pots, if the banana trees grow well that is, that means 3 very large pots in my spare bedroom by the east window, which is fine. However, it would be far easier to bring this one inside in the smaller pot. BUT I don't want to starve it from having room to spread out the roots and grow either.
So, keep it root bound in small pot, or repot it to very large pot, like the one next to it? That is the question!!! Please and thanks.

 

[CountryEscape]

Well, I looked up the spindle palm, and it sounds perfect for me! Slow growing, can tolerate down to 30 degrees for short periods of time, and prefers full sunshine. So, my deck will be perfect for it! It says it prefers moist well drained soil. so I think I will repot it into another red pot like what it is sitting next to, put about 4" of rock in the bottom (there is no hole in the bottom, so will leave it that way for now anyhow, although it's plastic and can easily be drilled) and fill it with good potting soil, hoping the rock in the bottom will help weight the base. I water all the plants on the deck daily if they are dry, so this one will get plenty of water. And, as a bonus, it gets some type of flower. This is what the website said:
Flowers/Fruits: The Spindle Palm produces fragrant creamy flowers that are supported by 2-3ft long inflorescence that emerge at the point where the crownshaft meets the trunk. The Spindle Palm Tree is monoecious, male and female flowers are born on the same plant. Flowers are followed by orange oval fruit, around 1 inch long.
That will be something to watch for in the future as it grows. Now, I'm hoping it doesn't get much taller, as it's already 6' tall! Guess it can get up to 8' and still fit in my house. LOL

 

[fishin4cars]

everything is really coming together so nice, your making me jelous. lol what is the tree with the red leaves in the new bed? IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A RED MAPLE AND I KNOW WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED YOUR PROJECT YOU WERE WORKING WITH IT IN YOUR PLANS. ( SORRY FOR THE ALL CAPS, WE ARE HAVING WIRELESS COMPUTER PROBLEMS AND THIS OLD KEYBOARD ON A 10 YEAR OLD DESK TOP HAS HAD ONE TO MANY DRINKS SPILLED ON IT.
)

 

[j.w]

It's a pretty palm CE. Don't know anything about it tho. Glad you figured it out. If I was you tho I'd put a hole in the bottom of that pot as too much standing water in a pot can kill a plant. The garden guy on our radio always tells us not to put rocks in the bottom of plant pots but I forgot why.............think it blocks the flow of the water but not sure. You can also put a coffee filter or nylon stocking material between the soil and the rocks so the dirt doesn't clog up the rocks and prevent air spaces for water flow.I have some kind of indoor palm and from Spring to Fall I feed it w/ a liquid fertilizer such as Miracle grow.

 

[sissy]

gosh when you get addicted ce you go all out and love those cute as button puppies .