"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The pond in April.

All the sun we had earlier in the week seems to have put everything around the pond into growing overdrive. I'm not sure if it's just the sight of leaves on so many plants that make them seem bigger or if they really have grown that much already since last year. The weather has been gray and rainy the last couple of days, but at least now when it's raining it's not as cold as it was, and in fact I think the plants have appreciated the water.

The April pond on a gray day makes everything a bit gray looking. The plants on the opposite side of the pond were almost all new or transplanted during the fall, and everything is looking great. The conifer to the right is a Juniper (Juniperus communis) 'Gold Cone'. The new growth is a yellowy/gold which looks great with the Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls' in front and Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) Coppertina to it's left. I'm trying to stick with a color theme here. Already I'm finding myself diverting from it, but trying really hard not to.

There are several Heucheras planted to the front of the plantings I mentioned above. Right now this is my very favorite, Heuchera 'Marmalade'. It has taken off growing so fast and has such nice coloring. Next to it is Japanese Blood Grass which is just starting to come up. Behind it is a Fuchsia magellanica, but it will be awhile before it really starts to do anything.

This is looking across from the opposite side of the pond from the first picture. I think the fish have been spawning, I've seen them chasing each other around like crazy. Even at 11 p.m. when I was letting the dog out I could see them chasing each other. The first time I saw it happen I thought the fish were trying to hurt one of the other fish. It wasn't until after doing some reading that I found I must have had only 1 female and 3 males. That poor fish wasn't left alone for days. Rarely have we seen the tiny babies. Many of them are eaten by the larger fish, but occasionally we see them hiding under a waterlily leaf. Each year a couple survive, last year 2 made it and now are the cutest little fish. They are white with orange and black spots which are Shubunkin markings.

This side of the pond has a leak between the liner and the edging stone. These plants are constantly getting moisture from the leak, and even better the water has natural fish fertilizer in it. The large round leafed plant is Ligularia 'Othello', the smaller leafed plant between the Hostas is Chleone or Turtlehead.

I'm still loving how the pond looks framed by the arbor I put in last year. On the left side of the arbor Clematis 'Nelly Moser' is getting very close to blooming. In the past the most I've gotten from is one bloom, then it would die to the ground. Already it seems to like this new spot. On the right Clematis 'Comtesse de Bouchard' is growing quickly too.


I plan to add Water Hyacinth and Fairy Moss (Azolla) which are both floating plants as soon as I can find them. Maybe by next month's pictures there will be waterlily buds or even flowers to share.
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42 comments:

  1. .... and I'm loving how it looks too:-) So lush and vivid with the planting around it, very inspiring!

    Spring is getting along here, slowly, but slowly. Today we got some more snow....:-/

    Greetings from STOCKHOLM!

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  2. I just love your pond photos. I don't have a place to have a big pond like that. The Heucheras are beautiful I tried growing some one year but we get too hot and I didn't have enought shade for them. Maybe when my trees get a bit bigger.

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  3. Your pond looks beautiful Catherine. I can't wait to see a waterlily. I had one in my last pond (can't remember the variety) but it was devoured by our resident duck! Had mixed success with water hyacinth, as it didn't like getting wet from the fountain, but I'm sure it would love the end of your pond where the water is still.

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  4. Your pond is looking great. I love that ligularia.

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  5. Your plants are so far along! That view through the arbor is gorgeous :)

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  6. Oh, your nice newly cleaned pond looks great. I hope your little fishies survive. Mine are busy doing the same thing and I'm going to have to start thinking about culling the herd soon. I am amazed at how much further along your plantings are than mine. My hostas are only nubs in the ground still. And I can't even imagine blooms on my clematis yet. It's really quite a treat to watch your lower elevation garden in the same region, blossom before mine. Everything looks so healthy Catherine!

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  7. Just planted a Ligularia Brit Marie Crawford over the weekend, I bet yours is loving that leak! I have plans for an area in the front where I want to combine dark leaves and bright yellow ones.

    Do you buy the fairy moss every year? I've been thinking lately I need some too, for the top of my waterfall.

    The pond looks wonderful!

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  8. Oh Catherine, your pond is so beautiful. I wish I had room for one, just room for a fountain pond. It is still too cold here to put sensitive plants out 37 degrees tonight.

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  9. Your pond is lovely. Even the gray skys can't put a damper on it. Actually, whenever I picture a pond I picture gray skys for some reason.

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  10. Beautiful pond, I have Heuchera 'Marmalade' it is a very fast grower. You will have babies to share or transplant around the garden.

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  11. Everything looks so lush Catherine. Love the hostas and isn't that a large Australian tree fern? Those are so pretty.

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  12. Catherine, it looks so beautiful! I love all your hostas. You have quite a variety of colors, which really stand out nicely.
    I am sure your female fish thanks you for increasing the female population. :)

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  13. Beautiful variety of foliar colors and textures around your pond!

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  14. Your plants are filling in so beautifully. That is what is so rewarding to see that they have grown in fuller and they are blending so well together. You have a beautiful back yard.

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  15. The pond is looking prettier and prettier...I am loving that ligularia plant...will have to get some.
    Come check out my spring giveaway...

    Sylvia

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  16. Catherine, Your pond area is so beautiful it makes my eyes hurt! ;-) (Are those green-with-envy eyes?) ha.

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  17. Your pong looks great right now! I have always wanted a Ligularia but cannot seem to find them around here. Yours looks large and healthy though.

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  18. Your ligularia is MOST happy. I'd keep that leak:) The pond is beautiful.

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  19. Wow your ligularia is huge and wonderful. They do need lots of water. I always have to keep an eye on mine all summer to make sure it gets enough water. You are so lucky to have such a great pond. And the leak is working for you too.

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  20. I do hope you have some baby fish that survive this season. I can only imagine how tired your single female fish is ;-) I love your hosta - they are just beautiful.

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  21. The pond area is really coming to life. Love the Heuchera and Hostas. I'm getting quite a collection of both too.

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  22. Loving your ligularia/hosta combination. This is the best time for hostas, I think!

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  23. Just gorgeous, Catherine. How you must enjoy your time out here. Your hostas are really billowing, already! Way ahead of mine. My 'Othello' is about on target though I've had to use a bit of slug bait, darn it. Don't you love the big fat buds on the Clematis?

    Reports are calling for nice weather!!

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  24. Its all looking very lush andmuch further ahead than mine. I need to do more work on the edges ofmy pond as you can see the liner thanks to the birds removing the soil to make their nests

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  25. wow, your gardens have really sprouted! It looks lovely and I really like the arbor addition, it does frame your pond nicely. Looking forward to pics of your clematis...mine just opened yesterday :)

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  26. Your hosta look wonderful and happy being so large! Wow, fish food, hum.... I think it would be fun to watch the fish grow from babies to adults. How nice everything is looking....

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  27. I really like how the weathered fence backdrops everything. Your ligularia is awesome. I had no luck with Othello, but my Desdemona can't be stopped. It gets huge like your Othello even though I rarely water it. I think it dug its own well.

    The heuchera is so beautiful. I have started collecting these. They are great for total season interest. Mine even stay "green" all winter! If the rabbits would leave them alone they would be totally ready to go in the spring.

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  28. Do you tend to have lots of snails by the pond??

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  29. Hi Catherine, I'm taking a little time off but but I love checking in with you to see how your garden is growing. Everything just blends so well together. Thanks for sharing these pretty pictures. Hope you all have a nice weekend.

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  30. What fantastic work you've done ... your pond area is just fantastic. All the planting looks fabulous and it all seems so happy and healthy. Great photos.

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  31. Catherine, I love your pond! I will have to look and see if my fish are chasing around. Every year I get alot of babies, but I am not sure who is who out there. Your colors look so peaceful.

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  32. Woow, what a beautiful garden...I enjoy the pictures. :)

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  33. Hi Catherine

    Your Heuchera 'Marmalade' is looking really healthy. I think I may have that one. I bought some Heuchera 'Caramel' last year and I'm sure one of them is actually same as yours. They don't look as good mind, I moved them a couple of weeks ago to slightly damper more shaded spot so fingers crossed. Sometimes it's handy to have a leak right? Those hostas aren't complaining. Bet the Ligularia looks stunning when it does its thing, big plant.

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  34. That little leak is paying off for the plants Catherine. They are huge! I can't believe how big 'Othello' is already ~ it takes mine until mid summer to get that large! I hope you have more baby fish (and I'm hoping for some too!!) I wish I knew how to tell the sex of fish ~ then I would pick some of each to stack the odds!
    Sounds like your clematis are doing well too. I have a couple buds on 'Josephine' ~ I was really surprised to find them because it's not been that warm here yet.

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  35. Even on a 'gray day' your pond and the surroundings are beautiful. You're great with colours and textures. I still find myself a bit lost sometimes...lol

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  36. Ah a pond, an oasis in your yard. Just lovely.

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  37. I just love your pond. It is so tranquil and serene. I could sit there for hours and just meditate.

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  38. AHHHHH! This is what we've been waiting for...your April pond is really coming alive! Soooooo peaceful and pretty!

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  39. Enjoyed the story about the fish antics going on in your pond. Must be very entertaining to watch them.

    We need rain badly. Where are those April showers we always hear about?

    donna

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  40. You pond looks so natural and carefree and.... I think 'wild' is the word!
    Water Hyacinth is definitely a wonderful plant - I like its foliage and its flowers - especially it's light violet and the yellow spots in the petals, but its very invasive and provides space for mosquitoes to breed! And snails are a problem too. I wasn't so concerned about snails when I read about them as I was growing it in pot. But I saw snails in my pot! I had to toss the beauty out due to this and I felt really bad as I so loved this beauty.
    I hope you did do some study about this plant before choosing it for your pond, because it multiplies really fast and might choke other plants.
    The advantage is that the plant clears out dirt and was used for the same in certain parts of India.

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  41. The pond looks great. I'm amazed at how far along your hostas are. We have some that are just emerging from the ground and most are just starting to unfurl. Our yard's microclimate is a about a week behind Seattle's.

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