Something keeps eating my water hyacinths. I mean chewing off big chunks- not like a bug. It only happens when the plants drift close to the edge of the pond. I try to keep them towards the middle, but in a tiny 4' x 6' pond crammed with plants, it isn't easy.
I've seen Steller's Jays pulling frogbit and azola out of the water, but I can't imagine them eating entire water hyacinths. Do squirrels eat them? Anybody know?
I have a small electric fence around the pond, but squirrels could easily get past it- it's designed to keep bigger critters like raccoons out. The pond is next to a Laurel hedge that the squirrels could jump to and from.
I'm thinking of trying "flash tape" over the pond to discourage the birds. Anyone have any luck with it? I really don't want to mess with netting.
Birds? Squirrels?
Pony..I did not know if squirrels ate them so I "googled" the question. And the answer is yes they will eat the WH. Crazy. Learned something new today. If you need more..I have tons.. With the cool weather coming soon they all will be dying anyway in the PNW. :(
Darned squirrels. Another reason to hate the little buggers.
The ones that you sent me have grown like crazy, so I still have plenty. I was thinking of trying to find a way to overwinter them in the garage, but we just don't have room in there. I'll probably lose my water lilies too, because the pond is so shallow I'm sure it will freeze solid. I have no idea what to do about my poor little goldfishies, either. Yikes.
Squirrels have taken the stuffing out of my patio furniture chairs for their nests. They are not my friends.
The gold fish would be Ok in an Aquarium or even a 5 gal bucket in the house. Water change every week or so and your good to go. I want to try to keep a piece of Hyacinth & water lettuce going this winter.The water lily could be trickey if your pond freezes. Anyone you know leave their pond running year round? Maybe you could bring you lily to their house to overwinter.
I don't know anybody nearby with a pond... oh wait, Pixydish has one, I wonder if she has room for a few lilies. (oh by the way, that wee noid waterlily you sent me has been growing nicely!)
I wonder... I have that old clawfoot bathtub that I didn't get around to sanding and painting the outside of. It's not huge, but it's deep enough that it might not freeze solid. I could stick a plain little pump in it to keep the water moving. I wish I could afford a heater for the pond, that would make things nice and simple.
Gonna have to hit freecycle for an aquarium, I guess. I would feel too mean putting the fishies in a bucket. They've gotten pretty big, and there are 10 or 11 of them.
You can get the big lawn tubbies at Walmart, Lowes, or Home Depot. They're only about $5 (The large round ones with rope handles)
Glad to hear the waterlily is growing. My Koi would not leave that one alone. They don't bother the big ones I have.It was wierd. Just had a thought!! You could get a deicer and run it in your pond. They have ones that shut off when the water reaches a certain temp. I got one for my pond at an farm supply store here in town. (used for cattle troughs) I run my pond 24/7 but It still gets clunks of ice once in a while so I use the deicer to break up the clumps. It works very well.
Here is a link for some and they are on sale. With your small pond you would only need a small one
250 W would be enough.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=19593
This is the kind of tub I was referring to, I think they hold 20 gallons. They are about 2 feet tall and 2 feet across. VERY cheap too!
Bea, thanks for that link. The chart says I'd need a 500 watt one for my pond's size and zone, but it's still a lot less expensive than the ones I had been looking at.
Mary, that's a good idea. I have a "wanted" posted on Freecycle for an aquarium, but if I don't get any replies, I'll look at picking up one of those tubs. Even if I get a de-icer I think I'd rather bring the fish inside, I'd feel too bad for them being out in the cold. Thanks for the input!
oh no Pony.. Everything wants to eat your pond.. I swear you must have those fish in sugar water.. lol.. I thought of you last night.. As I on my way out my back door and I looked thru the window at what I thought was my young cat climbing across my patio couch.. As my eyes focused to the dark outside I could see that little bandit just a climbing around, he was after one of my plants.. I stood inside and watched as the brothers or sisters (the other 2) came to join the party on my screen porch.. OMG I was torn!!! They were so young and so darn cute... But I knew I had to scare them away.. Because one day they will be HUGE and even bolder with their actions.. OH and for some reason the blinky lights I put out there, the blinker bulb stopped working and I didn't replace them.Since I hadnt seen any little bandits.. I thought they had moved on.. Well last night I replaced those bulbs.. lol..
Arrrgh stupid raccoons! There's no gettin' rid of them! I'm out there almost every night pingin' away at them with my trusty slingshot, and hitting them, too, but does that keep them from coming back? NoooOOooo. Grrrrrrrrr.
*whew* You got me on a rant there... LOL