ultimate garden fantasy

Songs, I've seen many a stream in magazines, etc., but I've never seen one that looks as natural as yours! Congratulations on all your hard work!

Thanks everyone. I went to the NE Flower Show yesterday and was inspired by the woodland pond and stream display. I now have some ideas for changes I'd like to make to mine that hopefully will make it look even more natural.

I'd love to read of others' ultimate garden fantasies...(I didn't mean to hijack this thread with my pictures. I'll have to start my own progress thread once the snow melts and I can start working on the changes I want to make.)

Hijack away, Songs!

We don't mind you hijacking.

This is the first time i've ENJOYED being hijacked!!

Lovely, Songs!

Victor, now see how nice that Japanese iris looks by the water?

Yes, I did notice that. J. maples and J. iris look nice near water. Not J. beetles though!

Unless it's a bucket of soapy water.

Somehow I get the feeling I missed something...LOL. It's all Japanese to me.

I was hand picking the J. beetles off my raspberry plants and throwing them in the bucket of water, got most of them off, then ended up kicking the bucket over so I think they all lived anyway.

You kicked the bucket - so they didn't.

Veeery funny VG.

This has just reminded me of another ultimate garden fantasy--no Japanese Beetles or Asiatic Lily Beetles or Hornworms or Squash Borers. . . or. . .

Hang in there Songs, you'll get it someday. it takes awhile with this crew.

I agree--NO PESTS! However no pests sometimes means no birds in the garden.

Polly - I know. I've been lurking for a while, but I can't keep up with this crew so I don't post very often! I do enjoy lurking though ;o)

Mine is easy, I WANT A GREENHOUSE!

Someday.....

See the thing is, Songs, one can't keep up. Especially with that Victor, and Big Al, too. So it's best if you just jump right in. If what you say makes no sense, don't worry, you will fit right in. Sometimes I reply to a post 30 feet up, and wonder if people are thinking, boy, I'd like some of what she's smoking. The threads on this forum move at the speed of light.

Hee hee! Everyone should always feel absolutely comfortable posting here.

Tommy - me too!

Can you imagine how boring our threads would be if we didn't feel comfortable posting here?

There probably wouldn't be many threads at all! I'm so comfortable I often post while nude...

Now you've probably scared Songs to death. Run fast and hard Songs. Nah, she sounds tough. She can take it.

nah...I'm still here

Songs - any fish in your pond??

yes - or at least I hope so....I haven't been able to see them since last fall. They made it through last winter, so hopefully they are alive and well, but I worry about them still! No koi - just shubunkins and comets as I live on a lake and herons are regular visitors. Seemed wisest to stick with a few inexpensive fish since I don't want to cover my pond with nets or fishing line, etc. Oddly, I haven't lost any fish to the herons yet...I'm sure if I got koi my luck would change though! You?

Had 13 large koi that did not survive last winter, despite a heater. Still not sure what happened but no replacements as of yet. One fewer chore to have to deal with.

bummer! I wasn't expecting to enjoy my fish as much as I do. I really just wanted the watergarden and added 12 fish almost as an after-thought for a little interest and color. I'd be pretty bummed if I lost them all. Hopefully the pond will melt soon so I can check on them. I have two deicers, but I haven't been in the mood to trudge through the snow to try to peer in.

Yes, and at that size they were worth quite a lot of money to boot.

Yes - I can imagine they were!

Songs, I don;t live on a lake and a great blue heron got my fish. Like you, I stay with the cheaper ones.

Victor, I once saw a post in the water gardens forum that thought heaters could kill fish by faking them into thinking it was time to come out of hibernation. I have also heard people who rely on them...Who knows? But I'm always amazed to see my little guys survive winter, even with short periods of being entirely iced over when my pump stopped working (usually, I just keep a hole open in the ice by rearranging my pump to push water up from just below the surface)

Dave - how bout a picture of your pond? I love pond pictures!!

Hard to believe that, Dave. This was a small heater that only kept a 12 inch hole open. It was used the previous winter with no problem. Two possibilities. One was the very warm first half of winter followed by a dramatic, sustained cold period. Second, there was a snow cover that stayed over the heater for some time. I assume there was still an unfrozen part underneath, but who knows for sure. Somehow there was a lack of oxygen.

What are you supposed to need? 2 or 2&1/2 feet of depth to ensure having water beneath the ice? The fish need oxygen, but only very little if they are hibernating. They don't need food. I have had it frozen over for 5-6 days in a row and the fish lived.

Hmmm...can't find a picture. My pond is small (700-800 gallons) and rustic (i guess)

Yes - mine was deeper at 3 ft. All that is true, which adds to the mystery. In a way, I'm not too upset because koi are really a pain. They cause a lot of destruction.

If you try again, try comets or shebunkuns. They are less hassle and, at least it wouldn't be as much of a financial risk

Yes, that is what I've been thinking, if I try them again at all.

Oh...give em a try, Victor. Goldfish are not nearly so destructive. They leave the plants alone. The only problem is they breed like...well, like fish. I got a few golden orfe's last year. They are supposed to help keep the population in check by eating all the eggs and fry. I still had a few fry survive, but nearly as many as the first year.

Victor, how about some plastic ones, you won't need to feed them or a heater.

I have a couple of those plastic ones for the pool! Too bad the batteries don't last long.

Is this still the garden fantasy thread? Mine would have nothing plastic, or at least nothing that you could tell was plastic! x, Carrie