Watched two squirrels racing early this morning and doubt it was just a race. They are fun to watch. How I wish I had that kind of energy one day a week. It would make gardening a snap.
Pond Questions.
I wish I had that kind of energy as well. Perhaps I wouldn't fall asleep every night on the couch before 8 pm ^_^
We must have a prevailing wind that directs the falling petals away from the pond, kind of north east over the fence. Hadn't thought about that before now. Guess I dodged a bullet.
You did. It's proof that once in a while we gardeners win one. Not so with weeds.
Love this quote on weeds:
But make no mistake: the weeds will win; nature bats last. ~Robert M. Pyle
I like that quote too...
Ah, let's hear it for entropy! We battle a far stronger opponent who will always outlast us. But for the short term, we can give nature a run for her money. Is that pathetic or what? Fighting what we know is a losing battle. Shoot. I am going to commune with my fish to remind me why it is all worth it. lol
A very long time ago I read a quote in Reader's Digest that is so true about weeding:
It's one evil thing in this world that we can do something about.
Very true, unless it happens to be snakeweed which found my garden last summer and is here to stay. Nasty nasty weed!!
Same can be said of the very beautiful and colorful leaves of Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon'. I regret the day I bought it.
Now have removed about 100 daylilies and have 50 more to go. I'll pot them up until we can find something that works better than Round Up. Some of the Houttuynia grows right through the daylilies in that field - what a massive headache.
A'rlene, is the weed you are trying to irradicate the sort of pink leafed things? You are removing all you lilies and daylilies to do a 'scorched earth' treatment to be rid of it? HoooWaaa. That is radical. I would have to dig up lilacs, trees, mughos in addition to my regular flowers. No way. I am going to a systemic killer. Used it to get rid of raspberry bushes. You cut them down as as soon as one pops its little head up, you cut it down to one inch then soak it withe the systemic killer. The sucker takes the poison back along the roots to the source. Do it enough and you will kill the main plants. And it doesn't affect anything around it unless you are sloppy and dump it into the soil. Then Katy bar the door -- it will kill all it can touch.
They are the leaves at the bottom left corner in the photo I posted. It's just daylilies to be removed and potted but inspected first and all soil shaken off to be sure there are no roots (clearly obvious as they're thick and white) remaining.
I guess it is a type of scorched earth treatment!
We have had invading raspberries for years and they are from our own berry side of the vegetable garden. By now I'm used to digging them up and offering them to anyone who wants them. We have a yield sign at our corner and I'm tempted to throw bags of raspberry bushes into cars as they slow down.
Which killer did you use? My helper, Neri, and I hand painted every Houttuynia leaf with Round Up day after day and it didn't kill the roots - just the tops and they all grew back. I contacted Bayer Advanced and asked if their Brush B Gone would kill it and they replied that they wouldn't guarantee it. Then I was told to use a syringe to inject the roots. Well, imagine an area 25 x 10 and think of all the injecting!!!! I've dug down 2' and the roots go well beyond that.
If anyone has any thoughts to kill this weed, please Dmail me! Thank you.
Arlene, I don't have a solution to your problem. As far as Chameleons? And I'm talking about the species, plain green ones. If one can't beat it, eat it! LOL, I eat mine. That's one of the edible veggies originate from Asia. I gave up on the idea of rid off them for their stallons run just beneath the surface of the soil level, and they're everywhere. I and meant EVERYWHERE. (sorry folks, I didn't mean to yell, just made a point).
They go down two feet and asparagus is in season. Given the choice, which one would you prefer to eat? :-)
I have not heard anything good about the Houttuynia plants. A lady I know down the street put it in and it took her 2 years to finally eradicate it her garden. Apparently if even a small bit of root is left, the plant will come back. I have also seen where people have said if you plant it in a pot, then you should be fine - I am not willing to try that either.....
What I read on it was 'Laughs at Round-Up'
It's so true.
We have had cool weather and rain for what seems like forever.The rain let up last evening just long enough for an inspection of my little pond and guess what I found? I was beginning to give up hope but there was a Lotus leaf.I ran 2 pond heaters all winter and had begun to think I had kept them warm in vain.Now if they ever get that tree down so I have full sun on the pond I just might get a blossom.JOY
That's great news, Joy.
We've had torrential rains here as well with more predicted for today and throughout the week. We need an ark.
Congratulations Joy! How exciting!
I put a hardy lotus in my pond about two weeks ago and it must not be hardy for us. I planted it in kitty litter and even elevated it on a block so it was in about 10" of water (per TWL's suggestion) but it doesn't look well. It is called Director George T Moore (sort of an odd name for a lily). Our temp continues to be in the 50's although today was in the upper 40's and really cool.
I know this is off topic but I wanted to tell you this.I have been remarking to anyone who would listen that the Grape Hyacinths are a much more intense blue than other years.I seemed to be the only one who noticed.Well it suddenly occurred to me that it was because I`d had my cataract removed!!Here are a few of my bright colors I saw as I tottered around my garden.JOY
Yes, Joy! It's true. Cataracts give a yellow haze to everything and the removal of them allows us to view the true colors. Had my second cataract removed last week and the whole world is bright...and my curtains weren't dirty at all!
I do love blue flowers.
The pond is surrounded with perennial geraniums invasive but easy to control.Keeps the weed down.
The lily of the valley was planted by the birds.They look like little soldiers steadily invading the garden.
This the front flower bed.A little more controlled than most of my garden.JOY
Joy
such gorgeous pictures!
Where is everyone? Just when the weather warms up and things get interesting you have stopped posting.I want to see your ponds and gardens.JOY
This was taken three days later.What a difference a day of sun makes.
It's magical! Very nice, Joy.
A day of sun makes such a huge difference, doesn't it?
Today was the first day I could get out in the yard. It is so much easier to clean up the gardens before everything sprouts - the weather has just not allowed that this year.It really felt good to get out there...
Lily pads are just starting to come up to the surface.
realsis
Jun 14, 2011
Benificial bacteria is essential for your pond. It is the "good " bacteria and it helps keep your pond clear and your fiah healthy. We call these bios short for biologicals. My filter has special bio balls in which to house the benifical bacteria. This helps keep a good balance of the "good" bacteria in the pond. As for a pond vac. I personally have a botton drain and a skimmer and have no need to vaccume my pond. I raise koi and goldfish and have found a bottom drain to be a God send. It collects all the fish waist and sludge and removes it from the pond! I hope I've helped answer your question. With the bios you can buy them and "seed" your pond. You can get good bios in a microbical lift. Good luck and Happy ponding!
Here it is almost the end of June and the tree was finally taken down this pat week.I still have only one sickly Lotus leaf! I can now see the the sky. My pond is looking mucky now so I'll invest in the bacteria.There were some casualties in the felling of the tree so I've bought some annuals to fill the spaces.I've been following your posts with interest.You are all so ambitious.My heath has improved some but still feeling my age.I just find it very hard to act my age! JOY
