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morning all!

speaking of ponds, anyone got an idea of what i can use to make a very small pond for my Goth garden? I don't want it to be very big.. maybe about the diameter of a car tire?
thought about using an old nursery pot my neighbors tree came in, but how would i plug up the holes and make sure its leak proof? anyway, would be interested in hearing everyones thoughts!

Sink a party tub in the ground, hide edge with stones. They're durable and inexpensive.

hrmmm, that is actually a great idea... but still considering the nursery pots, since they are free.. and I am on a bread and water budget...lol. but will add that to my list of possibilities.

found this pic on a google search.. this is the look I am trying to achieve.

well, would help if I managed to actually POST said pic!

Cue can you use that silcone stuff to seal the holes in the pot? Maybe if you put it on both inside and outside it won't leak? Only thing I can think of.
Blond and Mekos I don't have to worry about the falling on head stuff this project is going to be DH's since he wants it and he'll be digging with a backhoe his boss owns. That's why I wanted to know if just digging a deep hole would work or if it needs more stuff like lined with stones or whatever. He says he's already got it in his head how to make the waterfall part. Only thing he's worried about is our outside dog getting in it but she hates baths so would only drink out of it if she gets the lazy out enough to walk that short distance from the house LOL. She'll follow me anywhere but won't walk anywhere to get a drink of water if she can help it.

not sure Min, will have to check into it to see how it would stand up to being submerged.

Let me know what you find out on it I'm thinking of stopping a hole in a cement planter on a stand that's useless to me and making it into a bird bath

I think the silcone would work as that is what they use to seal bath tubs and showers in a house.

ok, now thinking the first thing I need to do it get the pond/reflection pool installed first, and then plant and build around it, instead of trying to work and squeeze a pond in between plants.... but then again, I never do things the easy way... lol

just posted 'How The Goth Garden Grows' in my blog... if anyone is interested...LOL. since I can't write an ongoing article, I'll do it my way and post it on my blog for those of you interested in reading :)

I think that this is the link to it...LOL

http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/cue_chik/12590/

This message was edited Jul 16, 2009 11:03 AM

Morning Everyone,

The silicone would work fine. Make sure it's a good grade and waterproof. You'll probably need a caulk gun. We use it to plug the wire hole in our fountain. Takes forever to dry when it's used to fill a big hole.

Another thing that works is to line your pot with black contractor bag plastic. It's tough enough to last for a season or two. It hides the pots and will fit whatever. You could even dig a hole and line it with a couple of layers of black contractor plastic and it will hold water. (One bag opened up and fitted into the hole. Then another opened up on top of it.) I line a garbage can with a large bag for liquid fertilizer and it lasts a couple of seasons and does not leak. Easy to replace.

They have garden tubs at HD. I'm not sure about the cost. A small round one should be reasonable.

Sherri

actually, this is the correct link!

http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/cue_chik/12590/

Cue, go to a local flower nursery and tell them what you are doing and ask if they have any used containers they would sell you CHEAP. I went to purchase the potting clay and lotus baskets and when I got there I was looking at their pond and some plants I liked and we started talking and next thing I knew he had given me 2 black premoulded small and medium ponds to put lotus in that they weren't useing now and was just in their way. Then another pre-moulded pond with 3 side shelves was given to me so now with the 2 ponds I dug and 2 premoulded, I got lots of places for water plants. Used the smaller one for the lotus and bought a couple kidney shaped pots for them also.The premoulded pond with side shelves would have been over 200.00 if I had to buy it, but I got it free. The medium pond was 99.00, again free, and the small one was 49.00- you guessed it- free.They were pre-used but in excelent shape.
Margaret, you can dig out a big hole but the water is going to soak back into the ground if you don't have a liner. Cement puts off toxic fumes that will kill the fish or plants in there unless you seal it with something. Go over to the pond water garden forum and read on those. I hate the black liner showing on mine but one day I hope to get them covered with mulch and plants and rocks. At least he has equipment to help. I wanted a pond so bad for several years and couldn't afford to pay someone to come put one in so I started digging by myself while my husband was at work. (my ground-red hard clay) I'd dig 3-4 shovel fulls and go in and breathe-it was 90+ degrees out there and so dry. Kept doing that for 3 weeks every day and one day it was finished. I tore ligaments in both my knees and couldn't walk for 6 months and hobbled around for a couple more but it was worth every bit of it. I put in koi fish and water plants and had 6 months recouperating to sit and listen to the water and read my bible and just be close to the tranquility you don't find anywhere else.I put a pump in to circulate the water but also for the sound of a water fall and filter it also.Then something got in the pond and killed more than 30 koi and now I have one big male left. I've bought some little small fish to go with him for company and colors in there, but I enjoy my ponds. Still have a little work to do but it is all worth it.

Great Blog! Before and after pics?

Im going to be taking a pic or two today while I am working.. to show you what I am stating off with, I have a pic of what it was at the beginning of spring, but its since changed.. but... once you see the 'empty' spot, and then whats been planted... I think you'll like it :)

Look at this one Cue and tell me if this will work in your garden. Not sure it's black enough although mine is pretty dark.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/140853/

When it gets finished with the mulch and replace the rocks and finish setting the rest of the plants I'm starting to put around around it, I'll show before and after. But for now, I's a progress being worked on. I'm having to replace the soil with new potting soil because the red clay won't grow anything except weeds. I buy a bag every week and dig out a big hole and puur in the soil and mix the clay all together . the soil helps keep the clay from packing down again and the clay helps keep the potting soil from washing away. My flowers are perking up and blooming and putting out new leaves and multiplying all over the place. When I made the canopy to cover the pond and keep some sun out , I used 4 cedar tree posts cut froma cedar tree that went down in the last snow storm we had. We cut it into posts and I bought 4 party tubs to put each post into and put rocks in the bottom and filled the rest of the way full with potting soil and planted vines to climb up the posts and put 3 sheets of lattice across the top for a structure to hold climbing plants as well. This is working to give shade and the green water is going away and clearing up already. As soon as the water gets clear so I can see what I'm doing and won't break the lotus tubers and water plants, I'm going to put a layer of sand on the pond floor and pebbles on the bottom of the pond over the sand. Then arrange the pots of plants around so the fish will have hiding places and look better.

Hey seray, that is beautiful!

Great blog, cue!! Love your writing style!

Cue, That is so sweet. I can't wait to see your garden in bloom. It sounds amazing. You sound amazing! As I read your blog, I could imagine it coming alive and the cute little chuckle in there as well. You rock, girl.

thanks everyone! yes seray, that is a beautiful plant.. would probably look great int he goth garen, if it wouldnt get huge.. goth garden has limited space...lol

Thanks Mekos

That's not my picture but mine does look like that and I have it as a standard also. It will sucker so you'll have to keep it in a container Cue. It can get large if planted in the ground. I'll put it in the "black" pile to send you. I have a small one potted up. You can prune it beyond and it will maintain the size you want. The Black pea is perking up and once I see some new leaves I'll ship the whole bunch to ya. :)

woot... now I need to add 'Gothis Urn" to my ever growing list of goth garden items....LOL

Just a thought. Could you take a plastic kiddie pool at Walmart, sink it in the ground and paint it black using black plastic paint?

If you put the whole thing (plant and pot) in the ground it'll hold it's size and you won't have to have an urn. Unless you can find a caldron :) EeeYaHaaaaaa

I think I'm growing fangs myself. I've gotta go to work. Bye for now. LOL

seray - a cauldron - snort...

That is too dang funny!!!

That's what you need, cue, a cauldron!!!!!!

believe it or not, I had thought about the whole cauldron thing before...LOL, but have you seen the price of cauldrons//? outrageous! I'll have to wait until halloween and grab a few of the plastic ones we get in at work that are like $3...lol, those will work!

You and your peeps use the cheepie plastic version? Never woulda guessed it!

mah peeps? I got ...peeps? ROTFL, and here I thought I was the creepy loner!

Well, Id love genuine cast iron cauldron for which to plant my dark lovelies, however, I am on the bread and water budget ( for us Vampires, that means blood substitute) and really, plastic cauldrons will work just as well... and will be less hassle to move around should the need arise...lol

Doesn't that make you tired, all that water? Not quite the protein you're accustomed to - LOL!!!!!!

Even vampires gotta have peeps my friend!!

Oh I have got a plastic cauldron. I got my tuberous begonias in it setting on a stump in the yard. LOL It isn't very big though .

How about one of those half barrells you find at walmart sometimes? Beer keg cut in half. You know what I mean? They are made good and not real expensive. AND they are DARK.

the plastic cauldrons we get in at work around halloween time are used mostly for punch bowls at kiddie parties, but will serve my purpose well enough!

Now, if i can mange to invent a black brug... I will be in Gothic heaven :)

Well, I don't have any black brugs, but got a red/yellow one I'm fixing to send ya. Maybe that will work. Hey did I mention I had scarlet red wisteria, too? OR how about this tiger snake vine? I bet it wouldn't look good in a gotic garden though.

ohhh, I like that tiger snake vine thingy! sadly, as pretty as scarlet wisteria is, its on the extremely invasive plant list here. trust me on this, my neighbor planted one in his yard and now regrets it as there are seedlings sprouting up everywhere.

OOwww, I can only dream. I've looked for it for a while now and just found it. I train mine to grow as a tree and I clip off the runners. I have the purple ones, and traded for the white but it was scalded by the heat when it came and smelled like dirty baby diapers even before I opened the box.Those got composted. But I found the red seed and gonna plant some next week for my yard between me and my neighbor. I want it to go up some trees. We both like it. I have 4 acres of trees to let it run on.
Hey dig me some seedlings and I'll send him some seeds he will like to grow.

This message was edited Jul 16, 2009 2:48 PM

Hey you guys, I finally heard from my little friend down there in florida who had surgery a couple weeks back, she is doing better. Please keep her in your prayers. Her name is brandy. We trade plants and seeds with each other. I have been worried about her lately but she is getting around better now.

Hi Cue and Mekos

The tiger snake vine is none other than the Coral Black Pea that I'm babying for you here in the GA sunshine. It will look good on that trellis. Never hurts to have more than one though. :) Mekos has everything!!!

Black coral pea vine. Is it too big for her trellis Mekos?

Glad your friend is better Mekos. Tell her the Newbie's wish her well.

Hi Everyone
Cue loved your blog and you are an excellent writer so I enjoyed the reading as well as the content. You should be getting that black calla any day now if it's not arrived yet.

Mekos I don't think a liner will be necessary for the little pond because my ground is clay and there's two big ponds near the house that hold water fine as long as it rains enough. So since it's right close to the water tank which DH fills weekly he'll probably just add water if it needs it when he fills the tank up. (no city water out here yet was close but they ran out of money and said another 4 or 5 years) I don't know yet how big he's wanting that pond to be but I'll discuss lining it with him next time we talk about it. It helps that he does know about digging ponds having dug a number of them for his boss in the last few years.

Well I have dahilas to plant so I'm off to dig in the dirt before it decides to rain again.