The pond dig has begun!

[CountryEscape]

The vine is annual, won't dig it up, it's easy to grow, evidently. LOL I had supertina petunias in there with them, but they got crowded out, I guess. They are the tiny petunias that bloom like the wave and keep on blooming, you don't have to dead-head them. But, this year, it was hard having plants in a pot with other plants, as some required watering twice a day in the heat and drought, others were good to get somewhat dried out in between.

 

[callingcolleen1]

CE, your very lucky to have the praying mantis, they eat lots if bad bugs. I just love bugs too, find them very interesting. I like to study all types of bugs when I'm by the pond, so many different spiders and Beatles too. It's such a nice day today by my pond, going to relax and soak up some more sun.

 

[sissy]

You do get flowers on the sweet potato vines but yours may not have gotten to that point .Mine last year grew into this year and my neighbors dog destroyed them and tried like crazy to put rooting hormone on some of the roots but it did not work .I did find little things hanging off the roots and was told the were actually sweet potato's .I never knew they got the sweet potato's on them .I thought that these were like a knock off of the real thing .But read up on them and found the can produce sweet potato's in the right conditions .I was told then about the little pink flowers I was getting on them was that they were going to seed .

 

[CountryEscape]

Yep, I wondered if they were going to make sweet potatoes, but figured as late as it is that they are blooming, no way will the fruit develop. But, when I dig them up in the spring, will see what is in there! Or, maybe do it this fall when they die back.

 

[CountryEscape]

I think this is a video I took of the Praying Mantis trying to capture a hummingbird!!! Let's hope it works. Time for work!

 

[humbirdlover]

Love it, CE That little humbird is too fast for that thing. But they are good bugs, we have lots of them here. Thanks for the heads up

 

[CountryEscape]

That Praying Mantis was stealthy, hiding around the glass, watching through the glass, but when it moved it was in slow motion mostly, except the once it lunged at the bird. That was hilarious! Good thing I was not videotaping when it happened, as my brother and I both laughed really hard, so shocked the BUG tried to get the BIRD! One of the hummers was really teasing the PM, too, flying right behind it, close, maybe 3" away, tail flared out, and zig zagging back and forth teasing the PM. Was a fun show to watch! And, here I thought the one I saw on the feeder that one day was trying to get out of the wind! Pish posh! Love the PM's though, lots of them this year, see them flying around all over now. They are welcome to stay and come back next year, too. Like bats, would love to have a big group of bats flying around here at night, too, taking care of the mosquitos.

 

[humbirdlover]

Oh yes, bats are a good thing. We have quite a few, used to have one that liked to get in my patio umbrella when it was closed. Scared the crap out of me everytime. I need to start at the beginning and go thru your thread. I like seeing other people's pond and how they built them. Some beautiful ponds one here

 

[CountryEscape]

Oh my goodness, if you do that, just scan the pics. LOL Lots of questions along the way, lots of dirty pics LOL and tons of fun watching it emerge. I should put together a showcase, but needed the feedback as I was building. Now it would be a matter of picking and chosing which few photos to put in the showcase, but would be easier to view if someone wanted to see from start to finish ... well start through today!

 

[rebelangel_3733]

That is so kewl! I also wanted to note...we've grown that sweet potato vine for the past two years and yes they do produce sweet potatoes lol we even have a sweet potato we took off of last years plant in a jar of water and it's been growing ever since this spring...it just sat in the jar of water all winter (toothpicks through it holding it up) and this spring just took off...just have to remember to keep putting water in the jar is all.

 

[callingcolleen1]

Love that video CE, very cool! I wish we had PM here, but we don't, got lots of ladybugs though.

 

[humbirdlover]

Oh my goodness, if you do that, just scan the pics. LOL Lots of questions along the way, lots of dirty pics LOL and tons of fun watching it emerge. I should put together a showcase, but needed the feedback as I was building. Now it would be a matter of picking and chosing which few photos to put in the showcase, but would be easier to view if someone wanted to see from start to finish ... well start through today!

I'm about halfway thru, and it's amazing the work that you have done! I didn't know this forum existed when I did mine, sure would have done things different

 

[CountryEscape]

HBL, I could not have done my pond without this Forum. I literally was "winging it" from the get go, and would not have attempted it had I not gotten on this forum. I think RSFish hooked me up, when I was looking at koi on the internet, but I must have been researching the fish before the pond LOL to have done that. Anyhow, glad you're enjoying my thread(s). I think my favorite photo is the "I did it!!!" photo where I'm all covered in dirt and mud, standing in the bottom of the koi pond, finished with the "dig". What a feeling of accomplishment that was! Little did I know that I was only beginning ... figuring out the water lines, filter, etc. was coming up! But what a joy it has been to not only do it, but learn and understand it. I know how others feel, thinking we are talking over their heads. Sissy has a really good way of simplifying things, and she usually has photos to back up what she's talking about. And, the DIY section was fabulous. I learned about my filter form there. Had a tote sized one at first, had to go bigger, garbage can size now. No filter in the goldfish pond (Country Escapes Second Pond - Goldfish Only thread in Pond Construction) only the long bog on the back side of it. And I must agree with Addy, that the bog makes that pond ALWAYS clear, no matter what. I would definitely suggest a bog to new pond owners, especially if they love plants as much as I do. :razz: :razz:

 

[CountryEscape]

I've been walking from the deck, to the "rock bridge" going across the stream, and there was an area that the lawn mower could not get to, bad "curve". So, Friday I decided to make it into a path, since I had flag stones left over needing to be put somewhere. Had to buy a few more edging stones to match the others, and needed another load of mulch to spruce up the areas I had finished lately, and for this new area. I think it turned out pretty well, and am pleased. Only problem is that the area is somewhat low, so water from the sidewalk will wash across it. The 2" we got on Sat. proved that the mulch is going to float and try to wash out of the area, so was glad I didn't put the edge stones in the ground. Mulch has 2" before it will wash over the edge, so the 2" rain didn't quite push it out. Also put leftover pea gravel under the mulch, hoping to direct the water out under the mulch, but not sure that actually will work. It was a thought anyhow.

 

[humbirdlover]

Great job, CE. the color looks good with your pavers. If I could, I would dig up all the grass around here, and put down mulch, LOL