What is your weather like ... today

[gardengirl]

We had 22" of snow on Mt. LeConte in Tennessee. I just saw a few flakes at my house. Im guessing it is about 30 miles from my house. Cold enough to freeze my hibiscus and dahlias.

 

[mtpond]

I woke up this morning to snow. Currently 36 with a low tonight of 33. Bottom of pond 41, so I think I will shut off the waterfall tonight and turn on the aerator. Tomorrow a high of 44.

 

[gardengirl]

View attachment 76756 I woke up this morning to snow. Currently 36 with a low tonight of 33. Bottom of pond 41, so I think I will shut off the waterfall tonight and turn on the aerator. Tomorrow a high of 44.

I just missed the snow at your house!!

 

[mtpond]

Yes you did. Do you get much snow where you live?

 

[callingcolleen1]

It's snowing here right now but melting so far. Would you believe I am outside sitting in Gazebo right now? Got the walls inclosed with plastic and curtains and heater on, listening to music on radio right now?

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Got up to 52°F today however last night was very cold, into the upper 20s. There was actually a little ice on the pond this morning. My garden hose was a little froze too, and my ferns died off. They're a tell-tale sign of below-freezing temps. They always immediately die. Sure can't wait to see them again if you know what I mean.

I did some winter prep by cutting down the cattails, rushes, and some lily pads. I left my bog plants alone since they were still green, and I never touch my in-ground plants since its better to keep the dead growth on them through winter. All my fish have been in the basement for a few days now, and I'll be shutting off the pond pump soon. I still don't have an aerator for my frogs but I'm hoping to figure that out soon.



I also did some native wildflower seed planting today. If all goes well, next year I'll have an 8' x 8' section of yard filled with Black Eyed Susans, Yellow Coneflowers, Purple Coneflowers, Wild Bergamot, Dwarf Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed, Common Milkweed, and Butterfly Flower. I've done a lot of reading about prairies and restorations and its convinced me to plant only native plants. I may get non-natives here and there but native plants hold significant value to local wildlife. I see the importance of making my yard a habitat rather than a garden. If all goes well, it'll attract so many native insects and provide a good spot for frogs, toads, snakes to hide and eat.

 

[addy1]

Everything in our yard is planted for the critters, pollinators, good bugs, bees, birds, butterflies. We have 100's of praying mantis. I usually find 50 plus egg casings in the fall.

Great job JB

 

[HARO]

The entire pond was covered with 1/8" of ice yesterday. Had to break it up to get all the spruce needles frozen into it out of the water. The pumps are out, the filters are de-commissioned. and the fish are on a diet for the next five months!
John

 

[callingcolleen1]

Good Job JB!! Most of my pond plants are hardy sedges, common to my zone. Sedges: (cattails, irises{hardy Yellow flag, the only true water iris}, rushes, and grasses) are the very best for Photosynthesis Filtration, they clean the water better than any other pond plant, and they are very hardy so they get growing and cleaning very early in the spring, unlike tropical s. Sedges also provide a wonderful home for the top Apex Bug Predator, the beautiful DragonFly!! (my favorite bug despite the fact that they eat lots of small fish)

Water Lilly's are very poor cleaners and are only really for good for their beauty. Water Lilly's also are well known to harbor parasites, and I have seen ponds that were filled with the most beautiful water Lilly's but the pond fish were plagued with parasites. I am careful to have a limited selection of water Lilly's for that reason, and I have given away many over the last 24 years of "ponding it". I have read much about pond plants when I worked at a local green house in 2000, growing a vast amount of pond plants back then, and I have learned a great deal about ponds and plants over the last 24 years, and I can tell you that Hardy pond plants suited to your zone, is best for your pond for sure!

Rained most of the night, very cool and damp this early morning. Temperature just above freezing right now and thankfully no ice on my ponds yet!

 

[j.w]

No freeze here yet fortunately but I feel the cold in the air now. No food for the poor piggy fish till next Spring. They look so sad as I walk by them. Their little mouths going open/shut, open/shut constantly while they all swarm fighting to be first in line. Sorry little pigs. Still need to get out there and clean that prefilter one more time. Pouring now so can't do it. Next dry day tho I'm on it!

 

[tbendl]

Here too j.w. We had freeze warnings Friday night and it was just chilly this weekend in the mornings. I had to turn on the heat this morning so I guess that means it's officially fall for me.

 

[j.w]

Remember that old move Sybil? Whenever I here Fall I think of that poor kid and her awful mother.........................Have a nice trip see ya in the fall! And then she'd trip the kid and laugh...............horrid movie! Guess they call it Fall cuz of all the leaves falling. I'd rather call it Autumn............it sounds much prettier

 

[tbendl]

I'd rather call it spring... (you know and have it BE spring and all) but yeah, I like Autumn better than Fall as well. Good Point.

 

[j.w]

Well if we are gonna play that way then lets just call it all Summer and get some good mind altering drugs and heating pads going and we won't know the difference

 

[tbendl]

Now you're talking!! I wish Mother Nature would put it up to a vote.