What is your weather like ... today

[brandonsdad02]

Addy, those 2 boxes weren't checked, so I got those fixed. Hopefully that will take care of the notifications.

 

[CountryEscape]

Same here, Addy. So, to tease my WI family, I posted pics of blooming hyacinths from last year. These pics were taken on April 7, 2013. So, it will be over a month for sure this year, as last year's winter was VERY mild in comparison to this years.

 

[j.w]

Pretty flowers CE!

Colleen I am feeling better now but because the stones are stalled, not moving, they do that and then when they start moving out again that's when the pain starts up again.

We got some snow last night and it barely covered the grass and frosted the trees. Raining now, taking it all away. Mixed emotions on the subject...............think I would rather have the sunshine unless we get dumped on big time w/ snow

 

[brandonsdad02]

CE, do those keep blooming all summer long? I'm looking to add more color to around my pond than just the grasses that I have planted.

 

[CountryEscape]

Nope, Ryan, they only bloom for maybe 2 weeks. The good thing about spring bulbs is that they are the first to bring color to your garden, then they are gone, and I mean totally gone! Once the leaves/blades die back, you can cut them down and they are invisible the rest of the summer. You can plant other annuals on top of them (marigolds, salvia, etc.) to get the color in the summer then. And, most of the bulbs come back every year, so you plant them once, and then watch them year after year. Daffodils multiply fast! Hyacinths very slow, tulips multiply but seem to take longer to be mature enough to bloom. Anyhow, if you plant daffs, be ready to dig up the bulbs in the fall and separate them and add more flowers the following year! I planted really expensive hyacinths and tulips the first year here. All came up and bloomed, then they all rotted in the ground, so I've gone to buying the cheap ones locally, when they are on sale. They seem to be hardier and come back every year. Some people say you need to plant tulips every year. This will be my 3rd year with tulips from Menards, so we shall see how they do. Tulips don't bloom as long as hyacinths, and neither bloom as long as daffodils. So, daffs are by far the best buy for your money, especially since they multiply so easily.

 

[brandonsdad02]

After living in Pella for a few years, I can assure you that tulips come back year after year. I might try some hostas back there.

 

[brandonsdad02]

One of my pond friends lives in DSM, anyways she has a half acre lot that she plants with perennials. Hardy for the area. She sales these plants for 5$ for a good sized piece that she digs up while you wait. We have gotten several bleeding heart plants from her.

 

[mrsclem]

60 today and taking a break from the flooring project. Both ponds are getting cloudy so tried to restart the second filter on each. The 3- 55gal. barrel filter froze solid and broke the connections between the barrels. Have to wait till the ice melts to move them and make repairs so just plugged in the UV. The 150 gal. stock tank had thawed on the other pond so got it up and running and you could see the difference in less than an hour! Massive string algae in that pond and the fishes are out for a snack. The lotus pond area that had frozen solid finally thawed so decided to clean out some of the leaves etc. I have tadpoles!! 1 1/2- 2". Not sure how they survived being frozen solid. I figured any that hadn't grown into frogs by year end would just not make it. Guess I was wrong- Cold snap coming again tomorrow so back to the floor project.

 

[callingcolleen1]

I am taking a break from the painting and stuff too this weekend, tired and finger sore where I bust a nail down half way moving big boxes and stuff at work. Fingers need a rest today and I have to work again this evening. Last few days I have been working extra hard at work.

Yesterday was nicer than today, colder and more ice on pond again. Filters need to be cleaned soon, cause those big round filters get full of algae this time of the year and then they start to float a little.
Yesterday by the pond....

I like that you can make the pictures big, that way it is easier to view from my tablet....

 

[mrsclem]

Glad I'm not the only one with a fat koi that looks like its ready to spawn. Ii have 3 females that look like they could lay eggs any day. Love your driftwood.

 

[CountryEscape]

I moved my waterfall Skippy filter water line last summer, after my line break in January draining my pond down to the pump (thank goodness on top of a milk crate!), and pretty sure that line is frozen where it goes up underground on the edge of the waterfall. Everything else is thawed out. Bog is frozen solid on koi pond, too, because that line has some type of clog problem, already had that issue last late fall/early winter, so unplugged it. Thinking junk got into the lines (I would pull the filter and basket from skimmer, without shutting down the pump, stupid me!), and even though I have a clean out, it was still barely running. Pump seems to be fine when unhooked from that line. Sooo ... neither types of filtering can be started up on the koi pond, not good, since that pond is getting lots of green growing. Not too worried, but would like to have at least the waterfall running again. Will keep trying each evening, in case the sun warms up the soil enough to thaw it out.
Even with the 56 degree temps yesterday, my koi are still staying on the bottom of the pond, hiding under the "garages". I saw Lucy, and 2 or 3 of the others, but there are about 15 koi in there, all hiding really well! Goldfish are out and about, most not hiding thank goodness, cause I needed a "fish fix" yesterday! Tried looking several times yesterday and today for the koi, since sun shining so nicely, but no go. Will just have to wait!

 

[callingcolleen1]

CE, most of my fish are hiding too, except in the top pond, cause there is no where to hide those fat fish!
GOOD LUCK getting those filters going again too! Let's trade weather again, cause I am sick of this cold weather!!

 

[mtpond]

It snowed all day yesterday and it's still snowing. I've had my fair share of snow this year and I now want it to STOP!!!! We are at 8F and half of the pond is starting to get a thin layer of ice. Bottom of the pond temp has dropped down to 38F.

 

[addy1]

Arctic air moving in again ..........they are saying snow, but we won't get a dump, I think lol
Down here rain rain rain for the week cold spell. 78-82

 

[CountryEscape]

Getting colder here, but at least staying in 30's for highs and no lower than teens for lows except one night this week. I'll take that, especially since just 80 miles north of me it's 10 degrees colder! My sisters in southern WI say they still have 2' of snow on the ground, and mine is gone. Yep, I'll take my snow gone weather, too. Sunny day today, which usually means colder weather coming this time of year. Come on, Mother Nature, give it your best shot, then leave us alone come March, okey dokey?! Looks like 28/15 and partly cloudy on Sat., first day of March. Not sure if that would be considered coming in like a lion or lamb, but I'm going to say lion, since it will be below freezing. That way it can go out like a lamb. Woohoo!!