hello everyone, new here. i would like a garden pond, but without the extreme level of fuss. is it possible to make a pond without a filter, and possibly using only tubs and basins? i know it might sound crazy, but installing a real pond is near impossible for me. and i read a few articles about using urns etc to grow lotus and waterlily in colder climates. ANY advice is appreciated.
Advice Please!
Welcome!
Would you be having fish in your pond? I think you can get away without the filter and all if you don't have any fish. A small basin with a waterlily or some other water plant would be nice and you wouldn't need the filtration - a mosquito dunk occasionally would help to keep the mosquitos at bay as well.
thank you very much! that actually clears up a lot of my ideas. great advice.
i wouldve liked the fish, but i could do without them if it means pumps and conditioners and filters etc. thanks for mentioning the mosquitos as they are quite the nuisance here, and everywhere else.
i was thinking that i would dig a hole to sink the basin to really get the effect. do you think its a good idea to sink the container?
I think it was in either Shanghai or Thailand that had lotus lining a lot of their roads. The lotus were in beautiful urns.
Belle
I love water gardening in smaller containers, and with plants, you could put a goldfish or beta in the container, and it will take care of mosquito larvae. It's very easy and simple. Here's a couple of pics from the patio -- Dax
This is a large urn next to the front door --
And here's just a copper kettle on the ground in the midst of the container herb garden --
don't have to do a thing other than refill the water as it evaporates, and my dogs love to drink out of the copper container!
I've got floaters in the tall urn -- hyacinth works great -
Dax
Sorry, the urn pic was out of focus -- here's a view from the top --
thanks for the answers everyone.
Dax: very interesting container garden. the urn, is that the one that you used goldfish/betas to eat the mosquito?
Exactly -- I had a goldfish in it all summer -- have never tried a beta, I understand they must be alone as they will kill any other fish?? Not sure if that's correct --
Did you know ponding is an addiction? Yeah, it starts innocently enough with an urn or whiskey barrel. Before you know it, you have a 5,000 gallon pond, fish and frogs. Just sayin'.
If you're asking me ---- ah, I know too well -- see the next 3 pics of where it led me -- Dax
And looking south from bridge -
Bottom pond is roughly 18' in diameter, 4 feet deep - stream is 65' - top pond is 8' in diameter -- pics taken in mid-June of 2011.
Whew!
Dax -
Your ponds are always so gorgeous. I could look at your photos for hours. What is the white flower in the lower right part of the last photo? I really like it.
Dax,
You sure graduated from an urn or whiskey barrell. LOL
Your water course is simply beautiful. And yes ponds are additive but we could have much worse habbits.
Bonnie
Coastal,
You are not far from me. Know where Clermont is just up 27. Would be happy to show you my ponds and fishy friends.
Even my lab will sit with me and watch them. She waits to see if I drop some of their food on rocks where she can get them but she has never gone into the pond.
Actually I'm 5 mi. so. of Clermont. Your welcome to visit any time.
Bonnie
thanks Bonnie :) the cranes might actually prevent me from making any actual pond. more than likely ill use the urn idea.
Dax, incredible! i love your pics, your garden must be stunning! i love the streams, especially because its a more natural one. did you do all that yourself??
Hi, Carolyn -- I'm checking for the name of that plant -- I'm putting together a Water Gardening presentation, so I need to make sure I know it --- DUH - I'll let you know when I figure it out.
And yes, my brothers and I put the large feature in -- in 2005. Here's a pic of it at the point we began filling it (my brother in the pic) -- great to have brothers who have the equipment and know how to do it.
Dax
Thanks Dax.
Do you know if it is a perennial.
Yes - it is -- I've had it in the pond for 3 years, so it's hardy to Zone 4-- last year was the 3rd. year and it's blooms were absolutely lovely. It blooms in mid-summer, the pic above was taken on July 6, with sporadic blooms throughout the season after that. I took the attached pic on July 24, so it doesn't have as many blooms, but you can see the shape of the foliage. I'll have the name for you within the next few days -- unless someone else knows?
Dax
