The pond dig has begun!

[CountryEscape]

Larkin, the trees (there are 2 of them) are red leaf Red Bud trees. They were planted last fall, and I was able to leave them where they are when I added the Goldfish pond. I love them! They only bloomed slightly this spring, but the leaves are pretty enough, and last all summer long. Slow growing type of tree, which I prefer, too.
Sissy, yep, you could definitely call it an addiction. LOL
JW, I think you are right, I will drill holes in the bottom of the pot. Just remember to water it more often. And, when I get the pot, I'll make sure to find something to put under it for a tray when I bring it inside, or even while it's outside. And, if your tv guy says no rocks, then no rocks it is! I was thinking of them for weight and drainage, but I can see where the potting soil might get clogged in them. Funny, but you would think the rocks would keep the soil from compacting at the bottom, whereas just soil would compact. But, I'm no pro for sure, and always listen to the experts.

 

[addy1]

lol ce depends on which "expert" is speaking.............

 

[CountryEscape]

Sooo true, Addy. Read 5 different posts, will get 5 different answers.
Planted the Spindle Palm, still wanted to blow over, it's so top heavy with those big branches, so put some landscape stones on top of the dirt. LOL Works so far. Otherwise will have to tie it to the deck railing to keep it from blowing over. Did go ahead and drill holes through the pots, though, and the other 2 had water draining out of them, so that was good to drain it, not good for standing water with no where to go.

 

[CountryEscape]

I saw my first fry in the koi pond this evening! Was putting fertilizer tablets in the lilies, and saw it swim around. Wasn't afraid of me, but stayed close to the lily. I've been watching around the plants in both ponds for a couple of weeks, even made a challenge when I had company Memorial Day weekend "prize for anyone who sees a baby fish" ... guess they weren't as interested as me. It was light colored, almost white, so we shall see what they end up to be. Probably goldfish, but I'm hoping possibly a few koi since I saw the big yellow female spawn! Always fun to see them dart around when you least expect it!
Tonight, the big bullfrog (he's the loudest) was competing with the toads. Toads are still singing, bullfrog is quiet at the moment. Love my frogs!!!

 

[j.w]

Neat you found one and hope you find some more and they turn out to be koi babies for you!

 

[CountryEscape]

Well crap and double crap. My Sunterra pump stalled again yesterday. It had done this a week ago on the weekend when my mom and her boyfriend were here. I was sooo frustrated trying to get it apart, then trying to get it back together, but know how it's done now, and that part was easier this time. It worked for a week, then got home from work yesterday, no waterfall or fountain. Took it apart, see nothing in the way of the impeller, put it back together, worked ... for about 15 seconds. :-( It looks like some sort of collar in the pump mechanism is broken. I saw it, thought maybe it would be ok, but it's not. So, now I can't find my paperwork to see if there is a picture of what I think is broken, so will have to go on-line tonight to try to see if (1) the pump is warranted (I've had it over a year, and probably just a year, darn it, but at least I got it at Menards, and duplicating a receipt will be easy), or (2) if I can order the part and see if that fixes it. Sure don't need this!

 

[j.w]

Darn CE I hope you can get it fixed!

 

[addy1]

Bummer hate problems like that, good luck on getting it fixed. Your problem made me just dial into home to make sure ours was running! and it is whew!

 

[CountryEscape]

Well, this is the Sunterra that I had problems with less than a month after starting my pond up last year, but got it cleaned out (inside in the "sleeve", there was what my former boyfriend called lime buildup, that he scraped off and it worked fine), and has worked ever since. I think there is a broken part, and having to order it, yuck. Going to get the air stones up and running tonight, so have that circulation at minimum. Run water down the waterfall when I add water, which is almost daily in this 106 temps like we had today. Yuck!!!

 

[CometKeith]

Hi CE, Your pond and fish are looking really nice. I had to ditch my sunterra pump this year when it broke and went with a laguna. I actually have two now. One for the filter and one to make the waterfall splash more water. I don't think it hurts to have an extra pump in the pond and it can be used for emergencies if your filter pump goes out.

 

[CountryEscape]

Yep, I have a Laguna in the goldfish pond, so will probably order one tomorrow on-line. I had the Laguna as a backup, when the Sunterra quit, and then used it for the goldfish pond, so now have no extras. Good news is that the Sunterra has a two year warranty, so I will either get a new pump or repair the old one, either is fine with me. Will be sending it in tomorrow, hopefully..... was in WI this weekend helping friend move some of her furniture to an apartment up there. We rode back home here together, or I would have contacted you about picking up any water lettuce you had leftover. BUT, my hyacinths are all dying, so my water is not good for them, so I will have to concentrate on other floating plants that I know do well, darn it. Lettuce would likely die as well. I think I read somewhere that the hyacinths need a certain PH, and my pond was I think too high for their liking.

 

[CometKeith]

okay, If you want some free floaters just let me know. We are 5 minutes off of Interstate 94 just north of Chicago. I am going to be getting rid of a lot of floaters this year. I don't have any problem with them growing. It would be nice to give them to a good home! I think it helps that our pond only gets full sun 4-5 hours. I don't think they like being in the sun all day. We drove to WI the other day too. Our daughter is a camp counselor close to the dells. We dropped her off and drove back the same day and stopped in Madison on the way home for a quick dinner. We are going to Door County next weekend for a couple days.

 

[addy1]

I am not doing water lettuce or hyacinths, they just don't do well, not worth the effort. Have some edge plants, ow lilies, they are all doing great.

 

[CountryEscape]

I'm thinking that the floaters like hyacinths and lettuce don't do well in my pond because I'm in full sun. All my hyacinths are dying, pretty much dead. I tried last week to put them in buckets of Miracle Grow, but that did nothing to help them out. I just need to pull them all out and get rid of them before they are all gross and decomposing. Most are black already. Oh well, can't say I didn't give it a valiant effort! Thanks for the offer of the lettuce, Keith. We drove right past your home yesterday on the way home, but friend was driving, and we were trying to get home by a certain time for her dinner date, which she ended up being about an hour late for. Long tiring weekend, just 2 days, but lots of heavy moving. Just the two of us, so that won't happen again! We needed to have had at least 2 men to help out. Next time, no men helping, I'm not helping either. I'm getting too old to lift queen size mattresses and dressers and a 80 something inch couch! Good thing there was an elevator in the middle of the building and she was middle of the building, too! I would never have made it otherwise.
Glad to be home! All is well here, flowers are blooming, since I've been watering them, and got a nice shower this afternoon finally, along with lower temps with the storm.

 

[buckry]

I've got hyacinths in full sun, not sure I'd say they are going crazy, but they are all nice and green and multiplying. Then the little babies I cut off all seem to be fine, a few of them are full grown, the rest are at least green and growing new roots.