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

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

June Pond.

I've been trying to take monthly pictures of the pond and what is happening in and around it.  Yesterday I had a chance to clean the filter out and take a closer look.  With the weather we've had the string algae seems to really be thriving.  I've been cleaning it off the waterfall and scooping out what I can with a net.  Some people will buy a toilet brush and attach it to a pole pond to remove the algae.  Usually once the temperatures rise and the sun is shining on a regular basis I notice a big decrease in the amount.  The fish have been active and looking for handouts from whoever walks by the pond.  I haven't seen many birds in the pond, although the Spotted Towhee that likes our yard has been in the birdbath right by it.

Lots of flowers are blooming around the pond:  Canterbury Bells, Foxgloves, Poppies, Bachelor Buttons, Clematis and Heucheras.  Soon the Larkspur, Coneflowers, Cape Fuchsia, Hardy Fuchsia, Hydrangeas and another Clematis will begin blooming.

Geranium 'Wargrave Pink' grows along the front of the pond, it planted itself there and couldn't have chosen a better spot.

Not much is happening in the pond.  Still no signs of Waterlily buds yet, very late for them.  I lost several plants over the winter and haven't yet felt inspired to replace them.  You can see the fuzzy looking string algae is growing on everything, including the floating roots of the Water Hyacinth.

The shady side of the pond has Ferns, Ligularia (which the slugs have been demolishing), Hostas and Chelone.  They all grow in the shade of the fence and apple tree.

The Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' is tangled up on itself as it tries to grow up  the birdhouse post.

On the left side of the pond there is an area where the liner shows that I've been trying to figure out a way to fix.  I think I will have to remove the path edging and remove some soil from behind the liner, just a little concerned that I may damage the liner that way.  Maybe by next month I will have figured out a way to take care of that.
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36 comments:

  1. Dear Catherine, Over the months whilst I have been following, your pond has gradually disappeared under your lush and exuberant plantings!! It does look absolutley wonderful at present and, although you seem intent on pointing out every shortcoming, from this side of the Atlantic [ and computer screen] everything looks perfect. Enjoy!!

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  2. I always love your posts about your pond. The plants are sure happy there. Sorry about the algae issue. Hope the sunnier days help.

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  3. Dear Catherine-

    I sure would like a pond, but I don't know where to start.

    Maybe I just need to calm down!

    Laura

    Yours is lovely!

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  4. The pond looks amazing. Really like the lilypads.

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  5. A pond is a lot of work if you take care of it properly as I have learned from you. Put some beer out for the slugs in the evening. Mother Nature knew exactly where to plant that Geranium.

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  6. What a beautiful clematis on the pretty birdhouse. Love the color. I love the shady side of the pond. The foliage colors look good together. Have a good day. Becca

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  7. I really miss having a pond, so I love visiting yours. Sorry you're having to deal with the string algae. That is the one thing about ponds, they sort of have a life of their own. It's difficult to tell from the photo, but where your liner is exposed, could you put one of those low growing, arching, Japanese maples in a pot along the edge, so the leaves grow down toward the water? Just a thought.

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  8. I just love your garden and pond so much. That birdhouse is precious.

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  9. That clematis is outstanding! So elegant. Don't worry about replacing your plants, you'll get inspired no doubt in the right time.

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  10. Oooh, what a pretty shot of clematis clamoring up the birdhouse. Love that sun shining through! (Wish I could grow clematis.) Your pond looks amazing, as usual, and once again, very different from the month before. You are so lucky to have such a place to escape to. (Maybe I'll get the courage to build a pond someday. I don't know...I'm so lazy.)

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  11. Catherine, your VIlle de Lyon looks wonderful, mine is very sparse. It seems like it gets enough sun, but maybe there is too much competition where I have it.

    Eileen

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  12. Hi Catherine. Your Clematis Ville de Lyon is just so pretty climbing up the birdhouse pole. I think the geraniums and ferns around your pond is so lovley. You have something blooming and growing around it all season.
    This has been the strangest spring and into summer. The heat is really on here now.

    The dahlias have not come up yet so I dug down and checked them and they are rooting so I do not know what the problem is. I am so bummed out because your had given them to me and they are just setting there. Maybe they will be just late shows.I hope so because I sure do not want to be the death of them LOL!

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  13. What a amazing pound.........love...Ria.....

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  14. Catherine, Have you ever tried Hydrogen peroxide on the string algae? I used that in my previous pond (I also had fish, it didn't harm them) and it helped. Didn't clear it up completely, but weakened it to the point that it was easier to cleans out. I used to have it clinging to everything underwater too, and I also used the toilet brush attached to a broomstick.

    I also had a similar problem with one side being lower than the other. Not sure what is on the opposite side to that edge, but would it be possible instead of taking soil away from that side, to add it to the other?

    Love that picture of the Clematis and the birdhouse. And the hardy Geranium, one of my favorite perennials!

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  15. So lovely, Ville de Lyon is having quite a contest with itself! Your lily pads are delightful, I wish I could have a nap on one. The pond is looking great. :)

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  16. Yes, everything looks perfect. You must not have trouble with deer, as I see lots of things my critters would have snacked on.

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  17. Everything looks super in spite of the slugs. YaY it quit raining. Summer is coming! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ijjDlbcI9w&feature=related Had to go find this song and listen to it after 2 days of nice weather!!!
    I've been to 2 more places today looking for Clematis 'Ville de Lyon' and can't find it anywhere around here. Dang!

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  18. You know how much I love your pond posts Catherine but that last photo is so fabulous, I forgot about the pond! It really should be between the pages of a magazine. How beautiful and how lucky are you to see that sight every day?!
    Ugh on the string algae ~ I haven't seen that in mine yet. The water finally cleared so I can see my fish ~ took a long time.
    btw, that little bit of liner showing doesn't bother anyone but you ~ everything else is so wonderful we don't see it!

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  19. Your pond has become breath-takingly beautiful!
    Beware of the water hyacynth- it will occupy the whole pond if it not watched!

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  20. The pond garden looks like a lovely haven and that clematis IS stunning!

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  21. Your pond is always so lovely, Catherine. And wow, that clematis!! That's one of the prettiest I've ever seen.

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  22. Wow, what a beautiful spot to put your feet up and watch nature unfold. It's so nice when we finally get good weather!

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  23. Love the clemitas and geranium. Your pond looks amazing!
    Aren't you loving the weather right now?

    Blessings,
    Kay

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  25. your lily pads invite rest and peace..very lovely. I have wanted a clematis but have no where for one to climb....will be my goal for next year...

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  26. I'd love to be able to just sit close by your pond and watch. It looks so nice and peaceful.

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  27. Wowzers, I have pond envy:)
    I love your pond and want one just like yours. I love how you have adorned it with so many lovely flowers and ferns and everything is great!!
    Would it be possible for you to get bigger flagstones to put there that would hide the liner and hang over the edge, or put some small pots of trailing herbs plants that would hide your liner. Just a thought. But to me I adore it. Mine is a 100 gallon pre-form and alot of work,battling green water right now-ugh. One year I'll have that big pond. I love following your garden blog.

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  28. Hi Catherine, I'm Becca, and so glad I found your blog! You have a lovely garden, and best of all you are in Washington (a place we're hoping to move soon) I blog about loving the Pacific Northwest often, in fact we are leaving for a trip to Washington next week! I look forward to seeing more of your blog. :-)

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  29. I am in awe of how many beautiful gardens there are here in bloggy land.

    Yours is one of them.

    And that shot of the birdhouse, with the clematis...

    Jen

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  30. I would love a pond filled with fish and water lilies, but the raccoons would have the fish eaten in no time flat. Your pod and surrounding garden is lovely.

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  31. I've been gathering rock from this land, anticipating my little pond. Hoping once the big irrigation pond project is finished, we'll have time to finish our little one next to the house. I absolutely love the birdhouse & clematis pic! What a lovely space you've created.

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  32. All very pretty. I have an unknown geranium from a friend that looks just like your Wargrave Pink.
    And isn't the weather this year strange? We had another thunderstorm and lots of rain last night. It's been such a wet year - which I'm not complaining about, since we haven't flooded and I don't prefer drought! But you normally get plenty of rain over there, so all the excess moisture is probably driving you crazy!

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  33. This is the first blog I've visited in at least two weeks and I'm glad to be here. Maybe this is the jump start I need to get blogging again.

    The 'Wargrave Pink' geraniums look so pretty growing by the pond. What a name though.

    I planted some Bachelor Buttons a few weeks ago, passed on to me by one of my neighbors.

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  34. I have enjoyed the monthly photos showing the cycle of change around the pond. There's lots of lush growth, and the geranium fits right in.

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  35. Hi Catherine~~ Sheesh, Blogger is running awfully slow tonight. Anyway, beautiful pond as always. Have you looked into barley? You can buy it in a small bale or as a powder. It is supposed to neutralize the string algae. More of a preventive than a cure, I've had good success with it. Oddly no algae to speak of this year. [Knock on wood.]

    Your 'Ville de Lyon' is gorgeous!!

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  36. Hi Catherine. Algae, you say? Yes, I have plenty in my pond!

    Some day I hope to fix up my pond so that it looks exactly as yours does (terrific, that is)!
    (another thing for my to-do list).

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