Jamie's Pond- update

Here is the link to the restoration part of this project:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/518725/

Now I have it up and running. Still need to save up for the urn I am going to make the fountain out of. What you see here is just the filter/pump combo I bought. I am going to hide all that and have the real fountain be a tall skinny urn with water bubbling up and over. In the meantime, I made myself feel better by getting some plants! If you can see that red wire around the edge, that is the invisible fence. Apollo is NOT happy that I have moved it out around the edge of the pond. So he will stare it down, be mad at me, and then get over it. LOL!

Another shot. And here Willis is trying to take it all in, but staying a safe distance from the "fence." :)

Here it is from the front.

Starting with the shrub in the back right corner:

Nandina (came with the house- I HATE Nandina but this one can stay I guess)
Lady in Red Hydrangea
Montanta Aureomarginata Hosta (NOT visible here since it's small b/c I dug and moved it today)
Peacock Ginger (hosta looking plant with the little flower on it)
Japanese Painted Fern (small little fern up against the edge of the pond)
Gold Drop Hosta (love how it's almost flourescent!)
Japanese Sedge Grass

IN the pond in the back right corner is some Pickerel weed Staci (sweezle) gave me.
On the front edge of the pond (inside) is a varigated Wandering Jew.

The container at the back has Persian Shield, Caricature Plant and new guinea impatien (orange blooms). I am going to put some of that wandering jew and trailing coleus (that's what is in the pond on the front edge in this picture) in too. I realize it isn't put together yet- just wanted to tell you what was in the pot! In the ground on either side of the container is Abba Dabba Do hosta with some really crispy leaves! I will cut those off when I get some new leaves coming up.

In the foreground is a spider/airplane plant, an Endless Summer Hydrangea, and a tiny little Gold Drop hosta to the right of that.

Oh- that other container IN the pond that appears to be empty has corkscrew rush in it. I thought I had killed it but it has some tiny green shoots coming up from the rootball so I decided to pot it and see what happens.

Last one- just an overall shot down low.

isnt that white going to be hard to keep clean?

Probably. But I'm not going to try to keep it clean. It's a pond so I figure that water won't be crystal clear forever. Especially when I add fish and more plants.

Jamie, I am so proud of you for sticking to your guns and getting that done! (I still like the cobalt blue tile idea LOL). That is going to look SO awesome when all the plants fill in!

I followed you here from another thread. :) Is it really that unlevel? Do you think one end is supposed to be for bog plants or do you think it settled that way? You know, if you got a wild hair (AGAIN) you could probably pour cement to raise the lower end and get your friend, MR. sealing paint again. : O scream!!

So, what else you plan to plant in and around it? Anything I can send you?

Thanks Chele!

Yes, it really is THAT unlevel! It tilts back and to the right and I think it's from settling. Oh nooooo there will be no more structural work done!!!! Unless you want to come do it... and that Liquid Roof is only good for a few hours so no "left overs." Do you wanna contribute $300 for another bucket?! Ha!!!

The only thing I was going to do involving colbalt blue is the urn I am using to make the fountain. So now are you offering to come tile the inside of the pond for me too?! Wow, what a gal! LOL! Where exactly do you propose I put tile... seriously, I am open to suggestions! :)

As for plants. I want to put a japanese maple (cascading type- not tree form) on the other back corner (left side if you look at the 2nd to last picture I posted). I was thinking elephant ears along the back too. Anything tall that likes shade! I also saw boston ferns on sale yesterday and I think I will hang 3 of them from the roof to create more height at the back... or at least the illusion of height. I am just thinking more small hosta varieties and ferns around the front. Oh, and some toad lilies that I have seed for. Plants for the inside of the pond is still up in the air. It's full shade so water lilies and lotus are kind of pointless to get. Any suggestions?!

Jamie,

There are several great shade loving pond plants out there. I love "snowflake" and "Water Clover". But the best is "Water Fringe"......it will bloom all summer long!!!

Deb

its going to be really nice with all the plants:)

Thanks Deb! I will add those to my wish list! :)

Have you ever heard the joke about the wide mouthed frog?? I suddenly am a tight lipped little frog. LOL

Why are you being tight lipped Little Frog? Because you have all those plants and don't want to rub it in... or b/c you are afraid I will try to put you to work again?! LOL! :)

Ummmm, I'll share my plants and I'll come visit, but PLEEAAASE don't make me work. LOL I have enough weeds to pull, I could keep me busy a very long time!

If you want to come all the way to Dallas to visit, I would looooove to see ya! Maybe you can bring your child labor gang and we can sit in the shade while they work?

Jamie,

Guess what!!?!! I have too much water lettuce.....Want some?? Send my your addy and I will mail them off to ya......for free. Let me know quick cuz hubby is in a throwing em in the heap mood lol.

Deb

Jamie if you need some pond plants let me know. email me

Deb- thanks! I'd love some! I will send you postage for them if you just tell me how much. Tell hubby to step away from the water lettuce! LOL!

mns- you've got mail!

Hey Jamie! How is the pond coming?

Hey Terrie-

It's the same. I have 9 fish doing very well and a bunch of frogs laid eggs. So much for the thing about fish eating them all because there were HUNDREDS of tadpoles and now I have lots and lots of teeny little frogs all over the backyard.

My camera is not working right now so I can't post any pictures. But I have a verbal offer for a new job and once the red tape is all dealt with I will get a formal offer and can give notice at my current job. The bump in salary will be enough that I can hopefully get a new camera. Sooo, fingers crossed!

How is your shoulder?

Holy dear mother of god, woman ... BORROW ONE! :o)

I don't think I'm the only one anxious to see this project after having the summer to fill in and settle in!

Yeah, I want to see it too! Glad to hear that it is going well for you.

NINE fish!! Wow, I'm behind. Great news about job -- hope it is same area so we can go to lunch when I get back to work. Shoulder is good as can be expected. I'm doing physical therapy 3 x week and going to "active" versus "passive" this week so it is pretty sore. Will start strength training it around the first of October. Plan to be back at work Oct. 24th. This much typing is bringing on the pain so I'm back to lurking after this for awhile. :-) Can't wait to see pictures of the pond (or maybe I'll just have to come over and see it)!

Well, it has "filled in" and "settled" if you mean dirt! Ha! I actually kind of like it b/c it doesn't look like a big concrete hole in the ground. The pickerel weed I got from Staci has gone nuts and the water lettuce is doing well, though it hasn't multiplied much. Abe just sits out there in his chair and watches the fish and frogs all the time. Now he doesn't want me landscaping the 2 foot area from the back of the pond to the house b/c he wants to make it part of the patio so he can put his chair there permanently. Ha! That was my suggestion in the first place but he didn't want to do it until he saw the fish and stuff. It is easy to sit there and just watch them for hours!

Seriously, there isn't much to look at right now guys. I don't have my fountain in yet and the plantings aren't exactly lush and full yet. But I do appreciate the interest and will get some updated pics before Old Man Winter comes along and zaps it all!

I didn't know old man winter came to zone 8!

Oh Sylvia, you know if it drops below 70 we say it's cold! :)

We do get our first frost normally around Thanksgiving, but it gets cold (i.e., 65 degrees) in the fall. Ha!