Who's Got May Flowers?

I think that's it for me.:)

Wow! Mary Ann that cactus orchid is really going to put on the blooms. Need to get a pic of it posted when it does. I love the Trinidad Sage, need to look that one up later. Some of my hostas are blooming now too.
BTW, did you ever get your bathtub pond finished?

Kris, we definitely need to meet. I grew up in Garland, and live there now, but, this area is Rowlett for all practical purposes. I live off Rowlett Rd, just across the lake. Which part of Rowlett do you live in?

Carla (Loonie) is not far away at all, either. I've been thinking we need have a mini-RU out this direction. Several of us live out here on the east side.

Crow, I am in the same boat as you. I let my pond get so bad with algae this year because of the tadpoles--didn't want to put in anything that might hurt them. The toads were such a huge help with the skeeters last year. The algae got so bad, though, that it kept clogging the filter, so I finally risked a little peroxide. I'm happy to say that it didn't hurt the tadpoles at all (nor the plants). It does take out quite a bit of the algae, though. I don't know the exact ratio of how much to put in per gallon. With tadpoles I reduce the amount I use, but normally, I treat my little 120-gallon pond with about half a small bottle. A second treatment 4-5 days later will finish it off. For awhile. :)

No, we never did anything with it as a pond. DH wanted to plant horseradish in it...and so he did.:) He really like horseradish and can't find the kind he likes anymore, so he makes his own. I hope some day to do something with that tub. But for now it sits near the garden and gh and in my way. I'm not sure but I think it's deep enough for a lotus pond.

We put peroxide in our pond every year. We were told that it's almost impossible to use too much. I don't think DH measures it at all. He just puts some in and and if algae is still a problem he adds more.

Hey, Mary Lee, I grow my lotus like that. My little pond is too small for such big plants. So I just bought a couple of very large pots with no drainage holes, filled them 2/3 full of compost, laid in the tuber, and covered it all with pea gravel. Then filled it to the top with water.

The lotus seem perfectly happy. One is smallish and obviously needs a bigger pot, but that didn't stop it from blooming last year. I do have to keep mosquito dunks in the pots, since there's no water circulation.

Patti, I'm glad to know that works. That's one of my long range plans (hopes). I'll probably put mosquito fish in it though. What I really want to do is expand the pond. We discussed sinking the tub in the ground and having the water fall into a "creek" and then into the tub. But for now it's just a pipe dream.:)

What fertilizer do you use for the cactus orchid? Mine never blooms till Sept.

Mary Ann, may I ask, what strength peroxide do you use and do you have goldfish in the pond ? I can't stand the algae and green water and bought something at the pet store to help but it doesn't work well enough for me.

jana

Not to get too far off topic of this thread, I have sent a link to you on the peroxide Jana. Anyone else want a link send me a dmail.

I live just north of DalRock/66 intersection..wouldn't a mini RU be great..? Or even to just meet somewhere for coffee..

Silverfluter, you have gmail..

Kris

Thanks, Sheila. I think I will try it , too.

jana

Podster, I started using Buds and Blooms by Rabbithill Farms a couple of years ago and it's made a big difference. But they also need to be cool in the winter. It never bloomed until we built a gh where I keep the minimum temp at 45 in winter. I have another one that apparently didn't get good air circulation because the leaves are kind of moldy. I'm not sure what to clean them with.

Horseradish recipe is in DH's head and he's not here right now, but I'll ask him later.:)

Jana, we just buy the 3% or whatever it is that everybody buys for first aid and use it full strength. The people and Water Garden Gems south of San Antone told us that for our size pond (4 x 8 and 14 " deep) if we accidentally "stumbled" and poured in several gallons it might be too much.:) We just keep a large bottle in the gh and use it whenever it starts to look yucky. Yes, we do have gold fish. We bought them about 4 years ago and they have grown quite large and seem very happy in their hydrogen peroxide home. We also have minnows and frogs and plants.

Kris, you must live near my vet (Animal Hospital of Rowlett)? I live in that old subdivision by the WalMart on 66 and Kenwood Rd. I would love to meet up with you and Patti.

Carla

Carla, sounds like a plan, that Vet clininc is just around the corner from me..I live across from Spinnaker Cove.

Kris

This is called Barbara's Buttons, blooms in the spring.

St. John's Wort has the prettiest flower!

Ok here's my pink cactus orchid opening

Here's a little different angle.

Here it is a little wider.

What a lovely color that is...

Ok Mary Ann....I hope you stayed up to take the final pics or got up early this morning! We want more! lol!
I need to check a plant here to see if it bloomed last night too, but mine isn't red.

Here we go.

Another one

Three is a record for me. There are 2 more buds but they are very small still. And btw they have a very good scent. I completely forgot about that. It was so strong that I couldn't smell the confederate jasmin when I walked out on the patio and that's usually what we smell all over the yard.

Those are beautiful and you have great pictures too. Those are a great color.

Thanks Sheila. I'm just glad they need so little care for such a great show.

OK, barely made it for May, but I've been watching these guys over the last week or so thinking they were going to burst any time. It wasn't there yesterday, but this morning, there it was finally. This was one of those "Lilium Asiatic mix" packages of bulbs that I planted a couple of years ago. I think they're finally going to put on a good show this year. I've got three plants.

Calla lilies...three at a time now. These seem to get much more purple as they go.

Those are daylilies in the background, that haven't bloomed yet. I think they may go next week as I've got lots of buds.

Oleanders

Lilium, "Asiatic mix" is not much of a "mix." These are the three left out of the eight I planted a couple of years ago.

Some echi - not sure which

Okay, you Rowlett folks, I'm sorry but for some reason this thread didn't show up on my watched list, and I'm just now seeing it. Earthling, I live off Rowlett Rd near I-30 and Bobtown, so that's not far from you at all. (Or, LOL, it wouldn't be if Rowlett would ever finish its construction on Rowlett Rd!) Carla is even closer to you. Barb (mamajack) is just down I-30 in Fate, and Dawn (DawninTexas) is somewhere nearby. Lynea (cocoalulu) lives a way off but comes to town often enough that she'd likely make a meet-up too. We definitely need to have a get-together!

I agree, Patti. Kris left this morning for vacation (I learned from browsing the Pets forum), but when she returns let's get something in the works.

Carla