Water garden/Wakin pond

[Terri]

Have a few minutes so thought I would post a few pictures of some changes...
2005 July, pretty but messy - no filter and I wasn't happy with the water/fish didn't really grow at all.
http://www.backyardpuddle.com/images/wg/2005back/images/2005-07_01_JPG.jpg
June 2007, got a little make over. Made the deep area a little larger, revamped the east edge, and finally a filter... what can I say??? I am very pleased, wakin really put on some size in in just a few weeks.
http://www.backyardpuddle.com/images/wg/2007June3/images/Garden-Ponds_June3-2007_29_JPG.jpg
Still a little work to do, thinking Thyme between the patio slabs.
http://www.backyardpuddle.com/images/wg/2007June3/images/Garden-Ponds_June3-2007_02_JPG.jpg
No joke, 3 days after the filter was installed ... ewww
http://www.backyardpuddle.com/images/wg/2007June3/images/Garden-Ponds_June3-2007_06_JPG.jpg
Four of the five Wakin, quite happy... until :(
http://www.backyardpuddle.com/images/wg/2007June3/images/Garden-Ponds_June3-2007_24_JPG.jpg
.. the damn heron came for a visit and now I only have two (I think). I'm so angry I could spit nails - they were doing so well, they spawned (I have babies this year yippee) and like I mentioned above, really put on some growth!

Will have to take a few more photo's as the lily (Aurora) is now blooming and so are the Iris.

[Jackie Ramo]

Herons are punishment for clear water :phfft:

Looks good. Glad to see you've been doing something other than ignoring us.

[clm]

Looks great Terri. Too bad about the heron. Always gotta be something to put a damper on things.

Cindy

[Koidaddy]

Did Bell survive?
:crybaby:

[marla]

So sorry about the fish, we lost 4 this year to a heron. The pond looks great, wooly thyme would do nice between the stones and can withstand quite a bit of foot traffic.

[Terri]

Did Bell survive?
:crybaby:Unfortunately ....no :(

Thanks Marla, I think so too.

:phfft: Jackie :grin:

[Terri]

So,.. I just couldn't have this pond fishless!! I went through our Wakin stock and picked out 12 to put in the water garden. I also bought some green bamboo stakes and nipped some of Ian's fishing line - the pond is now heron and kingfisher proofed! This is also keeping that damn yellow lab from up the street out of the pond too :grin: now if I could just figure out a way to keep him out of our garbage cans :mad:

I've counted about 6 baby Wakin in the pond, I sure hope there are more but the water hyacinth has taken over and there's very little surface area left - OMG they are cute, little black fry with that cute tail, they are about 1/2cm in size atm.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/TJcanada/watergarden2007July1.jpg
From July 1st

[BonnieIN]

Terri,
Is the fishing line still doing it's job?

I am afraid to say this but luckily the Heron has not been here this year.. Racoons yes but not the Heron.

[Terri]

Hey Bonnie :)
Yes it's still doing it's job - and the 'new' wakin are doing well. I haven't seen any of those baby wakin in a few weeks :( and last week I found a rather large water beetle (king beetle I think) ... maybe they are just hanging out under the water hyacinth (I can only hope!)

The Taro has gone MAD - sending leaders out every which way!! 4 of my lilies were hit hard by aphids but I think I've finally nuked the buggers :mad: Had to pull 1/2 the hyacinth out as I could hardly see any water LOL

[Terri]

Update: the damn heron was back - and managed to snag a few more wakin :mad: I'm done trying - no more fish in that pond (except maybe guppies)

pics.... last week.
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/TJcanada/waterhyacinth_7-2007.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/TJcanada/wakin_7-2007.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/TJcanada/attraction-waterlily.jpg

the most amazing snails... they eat algae by the bucket full LOL - the crappy kind like string algae and slime algae even!!
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/TJcanada/snail.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

Raccoon got my snail like that one you gave me. Or I haven't seen it in the pond. Pond only has guppies now, all the tads have flown or is it hopped???

Sorry about the Heron. Darn dogs you have are good for nothing. Buddy is keeping the raccoon at bay.