The sun was shining for most of the day, making the pond look more like a day in spring than winter. I made a lot of changes in the flower bed along the old fence last fall. I'm anxious to see how it looks in a few months. I even moved smallish Dogwood (which is to the left of where the picture ends) and the buds on it appear healthy so far.
On the other side of the pond by the birdbath you can see how big the White Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is. The shrubs near it are all starting to leaf out. Luckily the apple tree is not starting early, it seems to know that it's still February unlike the rest of the yard.
The glass pond float from the Garden show. The water is green and cloudy from being stirred up while I was scooping leaves out earlier in the day.
The Hostas along the back edge of the pond are all starting to come up through the ground.
Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls' was moved to this spot behind the pond in the fall. It's covered in flower buds already.
Lots of birds have been at the pond and the trees around it. This Spotted Towhee has been around a lot lately.
American Robins have been in both our front and backyard in small flocks. The ground is so wet from all the rain that the worms are all up near the surface.This spring the pond will be needing a major clean out, something I put off from last spring. Once that is done and the water is a bit warmer we'll be looking for a few new fish to add to the pond.
Love the photo of the American Robin. The water garden area is looking good for this time in Feb. Don't ya wish it was a nice day in spring rather than Feb.
ReplyDeleteI always love when you show your pond. The spotted towhee is so pretty! I'd love to see one of those in person!
ReplyDeleteThat pond float is so pretty! I love seeing everything budding out in your garden :D
ReplyDeleteCatherine How lovely to see much spring growth in your yard. Chears me up to see it as again it has been a wet day here.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry I have been missing garden posts recently as I have been busy on my other blog.
My plants are so tired of hearing, "Catherine's plants are showing new growth, what's wrong with ya'll?" I'm excitied to watch the progress of the plants around your pond...your yard is so nice.
ReplyDeleteDear Catherine, You must be so pleased with the way the garden is developing and very clearly the shrubs that you moved in the autumn are doing well [and not a cause for concern].
ReplyDeleteBurgeoning growth is in evidence everywhere, looking at your pictures, and it is so good to see the birds.
Catherine, I'm so happy you had a nice day for the garden. We could not get out of the fog yesterday, but today it plays with us. Forecast: 61 and I'm headed out. I'll see you outside. ;) Oh by the way, I had a little hummingbird visitor today at the window... exciting!
ReplyDeleteI love the look of a seasoned pond, that has seen many happy faces by the edge. After a little bit of cleaning up, that aging element which I call seasoned will be off temporarily from its beauty.... ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteLook at your sunshine! I love how the water reflects it. I can't wait to see this place in full spring.
ReplyDeleteI noticed your garden float from the show has been put to good use. My little chartreuse one (also from the Seattle show) is languishing in an old flower pot until the snow melts...ugh. Send some of those robins up my way!
ReplyDeleteChristine in Alaska
Your pond is defiantly saying spring to me! Poor fish, is there any way you can keep them warm in the winter months so they dont die? I love the floating ball you picked up at the Garden Show! That is a bright show piece your floating oasis. I am happy to see Hosta popping up. They are later to arrive in our neck of the woods and heck, this year they may have all rotted from the soggy conditions. Only, time will tell….
ReplyDeleteI like that picture with the towhee and the tree with the dangly things!
ReplyDeleteThe light in these pictures makes it look warm there, like spring.
Don't you love the warmer days and getting out to discover all that is new in the garden? That Deutzia is going to be so pretty. It will be fun to add new fish later on too. Glad you had a productive day in the garden; it looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI live in Calgary...I will live vicariously through your garden for a few months :( I love your pictures on wintery days. lol
ReplyDeleteThis is such an exciting time of year, isn't it? Of course, the beautiful weather we've been having also helps! Love the close-up photographs of the birds and emerging Hostas. :)
ReplyDeleteCatherine, now I have something in common with your fish.... wishing it was warm enough for bugs. Of course, I don't plan on eating them like your fish do.
ReplyDeletedonna
I love your monthly views of your pond. It is neat to see how the surrounding garden changes from month to month. With so much getting ready to bud, I can only imagine what it will look like in March :^)
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the Hostas showing new growth. It won't be long til your yard is going to look like spring without the season being here.
ReplyDeleteYour bleeding heart is big. It will be beautiful when in bloom.
I love your new pond float. Great colors. Your Deutzia is way ahead of mine but at least I spotted a little growth so I know I didn't kill it. We froze last night did you guys? But should be gorgeous today. And guess what I did the 'winter sow' thing and I have all my jugs in a row. Now cross your fingers for me. And I labeled your Poppy after you too - well you know what they say about great minds.
ReplyDeleteThe birds are so cute and the pond is beautiful. I've noticed around here that many ponds have dried up. So, seeing yours is a treat.
ReplyDeleteThose hosta shoots look so healthy...
ReplyDeleteI thought all robins looked the same. Never realised that there is an american one also.
ReplyDeleteOh reading this post is a good reminder for me to get clearing some of my pond too.
I LOVE those last two bird pics! So beautiful. I'm not seeing much of anything yet sprouting in my yard. I so wish I had that big pond. Mine is so tiny. Robert has been working out there all week. We'll see what he comes up with.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog & it's so good to find another Pac NW person! I love gardening too & have been wanting to get out & do some cleaning up too! I can't believe how much is coming up already!! Hope it doesn't all freeze!
Shellagh
Hi Catherine, From your photos your pond looks really clean. Due to its size, methinks yours will be a much more involved clean-out than my humble little 100gallon-er. The fish look really healthy. No herons or raccoons in your neck of the woods, I take it. Excellent photo of the robin surrounded by wood. Don't you just love that our plants are waking up? :)
ReplyDeleteIt's really starting to look like spring at your place!
ReplyDeleteOh, it's wonderful seeing all your plants coming back to life. I've seen a few hints here, but nothing like your lovely garden. I'm so glad you posted a pic of your new pond float. Does it clean the water, in addition to being gorgeous?
ReplyDeleteCatherine, Your glass pond float is so beautiful! And don't you love the way Dicentra spectabilis appears in the spring garden with that big shrub-like presence? (I'm hoping mine will be looking like that 2-3 months from now.) -Jean
ReplyDeleteSkeeter - The fish actually do fine out there in the winter. Our pond never freezes more than a few inches thick and the waterfall keeps an open place for them to get oxygen.
ReplyDeleteLinda - We did have a light frost last night in the shadiest part of the front yard. It was up to 60 here today!
Shellagh - Welcome! It's always great to meet more PNW gardeners!
Grace - Yes, this will be a big cleanup, that's why I keep putting it off. We actually had a heron eat most of our fish not too long ago and a raccoon was by the pond during the middle of the day today. I scared him off before he could make a big mess.
Laurie - Thanks, that float is pretty isn't it? :) I wish it would clean, but it just is for looks, :)
Very pretty...nice space to relax! I love the fresh, new growth as well as the sweet bids that are visiting your spring garden! Very nice!!
ReplyDeleteI like the tree the Spotted Towhee is sitting on. The birds photos are very pretty too.
ReplyDeleteCatherine ~ It is always nice to see pictures of your pond and what's happening in your lovely gardens, any time of year. What is the tree that the Spotted Towhee is sitting in?
ReplyDeleteThe right day will come to clean out your pond and you'll enjoy working in it in spite of the work.
FlowerLady
Great photos! Looking at your pond feels so refreshing. Those birds seem like they're enjoying their visits too. Just like butterflies, birds are gifts of nature.
ReplyDeleteFlower Lady - I think it's a type of Filbert tree. It's just on the other side of our fence and the birds love to rest in it.
ReplyDeleteThe light quality out there says it is spring. It is so bright. I like all the new sprouts coming up.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's spring all right! :-)
ReplyDeleteYour pond looks so lovely and the glass float is gorgeous. It is amazing to me just how much is growing because of our mild weather. I have already gotten started on all those jobs I would have saved until at least April.
Have you started feeding your fish yet? I know that when they are slowing down for hibernation it is harmful but I wonder about when they get up early like they have now. Mine are completely out and zipping about.
I bet all the stuff you moved is going to do great this year. I look forward to seeing how your pond progresses and I am very much looking forward to seeing your front garden too.
Things are maturing nicely around your pond. That area is so peaceful. I was tickled to see your deutzia. I am not experienced with growing bushes, but have planted a few over the last couple years. I put the same kind of deutzia as yours at my garden across the street last year. I hope it blooms this year.
ReplyDelete