The pond dig has begun!

[callingcolleen1]

Well CE, Rome was not built in a day! That's how I look at things. I got parts of my yard in the very back, that I call "under natural restoration" ha ha ha!!!

 

[CountryEscape]

OK, for those of you wanting Karly Rose starts, here are some recent pics. I'm planning to dig some up on Monday, ship them on Tuesday.

So far I have heard from the following who would like some Karly Rose: Pondlover, Shoestring Ponder and Brandonsdad.
I also have a LOT of Water Clover and a good amount of Water Parsley. These are bog plants, so would go well either in a bog, or in a pot just below the surface of your pond. Not sure if the koi will eat them, but would guess they WOULD! Probably would do ok in a goldfish pond, though, as goldfish tend to not be such aggressive grazers. Otherwise probably best in a bog situation. Both multiply easily.

Then, for those of you who like to start plants from seeds, my newest FAVORITE annual is this type of zinnia. It only gets 12" tall, forms a mound of flowers about 2' across (or little less) and blooms throughout the summer. These plants have not stopped blooming, even in the extreme heat and drought we have had here. I was watering them lightly each day when I watered my potted plants, though. I have dark pink, one that seems to be more light/dark pink, orange, and white. Here are the pics. I have tons of seeds from these. I could literally start a flower bed with just the seeds, but I don't intend to do so.

So, if anyone would like any of these, please PM me with what you want and your address. I'll be happy to send seeds for free, if that's all you want. I already know Sissy wants some of the zinnias. I'll put them in separate envelopes so you know the colors. If you want any of the plants, I'll be getting the Priority Mail boxes and will put as much in a box as possible. I will cut off the Karly Rose but you want the roots to grow this fall, not so much more tops, although I'm sure they will send up new tops, too. Keep in mind that Addy sent me a small clump, maybe 15-20 stems, and I separated them into about 6 clumps, and now look at the size of those clumps! There is one clump behind my cat, Grace, and one to her side.

 

[sissy]

karly rose looks like fountain grass .But gosh love your zinnias .I lost mine the winter of 2010 .I mulched the seeds in and the plants but still lost them .I had them for over 5 years coming up in that spot too .The others look like they need shade and all I have is all sun .None of my trees are big enough yet .



my fountain grass

 

[sissy]

:razz: I had to go back and look again .I did not even see kitty hiding there

 

[CountryEscape]

Nope, this is not fountain grass, as that is not hardy in Zone 6 for me. It's different. Purple Fountain Grass around here is annual. This is not as dark of pink heads as fountain grass either, more creamy to light pink. It's in full sun.
All my stuff is in full sun. In the early a.m., the only reason it's in the shade at all is the small oak tree that was temporarily shading the parsley. I'll take a pic of the whole area and post it so you can see what I mean.

 

[CountryEscape]

Here's a picture of my backyard. As you can see, that small oak tree past the second pond (goldfish pond) is what was shading the parsley in the pic when I took it. It is now in the sun, and will be til the end of the day. You can also see the Karly Rose along the right side of the stream ... well you can't really even see the stream, just have to imagine it between the koi pond (close) and the goldfish pond (far).

 

[sissy]

purple fountain grass says annual for here too but if I mulch it good it comes back every year .But the 2010 winter killed a lot of my stuff ,even my elephant ears and cannas got wiped out and i have been replacing them slowly .I even lost two of my pampas grass ,one pink and one white .Now this summer going to divide them so I can replace the two . .

 

[CountryEscape]

None of those items you mentioned (elephant ears, cannas, fountain grass) will over-winter here, even if mulched heavy. It just freezes too deep for them. Maybe if they were mulched deep and right up against the house on the south side they might have a chance, not sure. Never had pompas grass. I think that's one of those really tall grasses, isn't it? I like the shorter ones. Not sure why ... one day I'll find a place for taller grass, but right now, I want to be able to look over it. Don't really have a "back" to anything yet. LOL

 

[sissy]

I put it down at the bottom and top part of hills as it keeps the soil from washing away ,nice fine roots and plenty of them.My neighbor just got them but the shorter version .I found out it is new to the plant market .They have one at the nursery that gets dark purple fronds and it is sure expensive 80 dollars for it .I guess as time goes on it will get cheaper .

 

[addy1]

What is nice about the karly rose grass, it blooms all summer. It is not just a spring, summer or fall bloomer. Once it starts growing it blooms only stops when it freezes. It likes room, put it somewhere it can grow or be ready to decrease in size off and on.

 

[callingcolleen1]

CE that picture is sooo nice and looks like a Home Sweet Home picture with the sky so blue it reflects in the water! That old barn makes the picture looks like an old "homestead", and the swing look perfect to relax and view the pond! Very nice pond you got CE!!

 

[CountryEscape]

Thanks, Colleen. That old barn has not been touched yet since I bought this place. Was going to tear it down, don't really need it, but my son said, "Put a new roof on it, save it", so I think I will do that maybe this winter. The wood in the barn is in really good condition, will need new nailers on the roof, but not all of them. Siding is yucky, flat sheet metal put on sideways. Looks pretty stupid. I think they did it to keep the air and rain out as the inside of the main part is 2 corn cribs. LOTS of wood in this sucker. But, I probably would not get anything if someone came to tear it down, might have to pay (if that was the case, I'd just burn it), but I do use it. So, will reroof it for now, wait to put the siding on.
The shed to the left is my dog's pen and storage for the pond. It's insulated. It needs new siding, but probably will try to match the house since it's pretty much in the back yard. Then keep the white siding/maroon roof theme for the outer barns. The swing keeps getting knocked over in the wind, but just stand it back up. One storm last year, it blew over and over and went about 35'!

 

[sissy]

Things grow so fast here and usually we do not get a frost until late November and last year it was December

 

[callingcolleen1]

Must be nice not to have frost till December!! Pond can look good for a long time then. Some years we luck out and don't get frost till the end of September, or very early October, but that does not happen often. I remember halloween with lots of snow and very cold. :'(

 

[sissy]

3 christmas ago and this past christmas it was 70 degrees .I had company and they came down from NJ and had to go to walmart and by some leftover summer clothes there .We will get 2 or 3 days of warmer weather here and there .The 2010 winter was the worst since I have been down here .If we get snow it will last a day or two .The pics of winter was 2010 winter .