Monday, June 18, 2012

The final spring project (cleaning out and planting up the stock tank pond), DONE!

Technically it is still spring, so even though I feel like I’m way behind I still have successfully completed all my chores before the lazy days of summer. Barely.

Last week I finally went out and pulled the soggy disgusting leaves and needles from the “pond”...

I also dealt with all the containers I left in place last winter, hoping they might winter over. And I pulled out and cleaned off the cement blocks that support the plants…

And emptied some of the water out and scrubbed clean the sides…

Finally left with a clean(ish), empty tank...

...it was time to go shopping!

Naturally I had to torture myself by visiting all the sun loving waterlilly’s first. Our stock tank pond sits behind the garage and only gets filtered afternoon light, none of these for me...

Then I looked around at the other plants, the non-water plants. Like this gorgeous Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’…

Glowing Sempervivum

Castor Beans

And several plants brought in from Rare Plant Research.

Then I took a look at a few of the water bowls they have planted up for inspiration (of course they are for sale too)…

Finally it was time to make some decisions. Fairy Moss…

Or Duckweed? (I went with the Fairy Moss)

Should I get an oxygenator like this Hornwort? (yes)

What about Water Hyacynths vs Water Lettuce? (neither, they need more sun than I’ve got to offer)

Maybe this year miniature cattails?

Or Canna’s, Papyrus, and Colocasia…

So after all those options what did I end up with?

I needed some big leaves and with those dark stems the Colocasia esculenta 'Fontanesii' (Violet Stem Taro) was a winner.

I fell in love with Rumex sanguineus ssp. Sanguineus (Bloody Dock) in a few of the display bowls (the power of suggestion) and loved how the dark stems of the Taro looked with the dark veins of these leaves. This is one of those plants I will probably fall out of love with fast, but for now…J’adore…

They had nice sized Umbrella Palm (Cyperus alternifolius) for a good price, and this I know I can over winter…

And I fall for the Hardy Water Canna (Thalia dealbata) every year. I’ve overwintered a few. Last year I had a gorgeous plant but I was neglectful.

Here they are all submerged…

I included a rock because I worry watching the birds pirch on the side of the tank to drink. Maybe this way they’ll look a little less likely to slip in, or maybe that’s just my silly human issues.

I also let myself get these…tadpoles!

Hughes has a big tank full; they’re free (limit 6 per customer). I hope our tank isn’t too shaded and cold. I want froggies! I know need to get the nearby overhanging foliage into the pond so there is a way for them to get out. That should work, right?

This year the Rubus lineatus next to the stock tank pond is finally achieving some height…

And big leaves!

With the completion of this “chore” I’m at that sweet spot where all I need to do in the garden is maintain. Weed, deadhead (admittedly not much of that), cut back dead or over exuberant foliage and enjoy! Ah the sunny warm days of summer are ahead…

35 comments:

  1. I picked up a couple of Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow' seedlings recently. Lovely plant.

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    1. It really is...but also a bit of a thug.

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  2. And of course, buy more plants and figure out where to put them. :)

    Your "Pond" looks great. I have overwintered the Cyperus (or hardy Papyrus) for several years without fail. However, I've killed what I've called 'Red-Veined Sorrel' many times by, apparently letting it get too dried out. I love the idea of using it as a water plant and it looks fabulous with the taro stems.

    Your little tadpoles will be so happy in their new home. Plus they'll eat any mosquitoes that try to lay eggs there. It's a win all the way around.

    And I see your Acanthus is going to bloom. Hooray!

    I've never been to Hughes. It looks like they keep it pristine. Talk about inspiring.

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    1. Oh ya! There is that...I do kinda keep buying...

      I also bought mosquito fish today. They haven't been an issue yet but once they appear my husband is like prime rib for them.

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  3. What a yucky, disgusting job cleaning that pond is! I had an in-ground pond at my previous garden, and cleaning it was hard, smelly work. I love your new plants for the pond. I tried the hardy canna in the past, but couldn't get it to overwinter. I planted Rumex in my stream this year, and so far it's doing well. Love the cute little tadpoles!

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    1. Yes it is! I was wishing for a nose plug!

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  4. That's really awesome! I had a little pond full of the happiest little bubbly golf fish and then the raccoons attacked! So this year it went out. But now I'm super envious of your beautiful water plants! The colocasia is epic and oh so wonderful. And the tadpoles ... super fun!!!!

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    1. Damn raccoons! So far they haven't been an issue (knocking on wood) I think because the sides are tall and slippery.

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    2. I know!!! They are evil! I think the stock tank is a good way of keeping them out. Maybe one day I'll do something raised like that.... Oh another fun project!

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  5. Way to go! I have bloody dock in the ground, comes back every year, it's small though....probably would like some water....sigh

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    1. Maybe you should great a little water bowl and include a bit of your in-ground "dock"? You're such a creative lady I can see you really having fun with a water bowl.

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  6. Cool post! Now, I'll have to make a trip to Hughes.

    Be careful of the Rumex sanguineus though. I bought one several years, put it in the ground, and made the mistake of not immediately cutting off the flowering spike when it sent it up. I now have many many little rumex - especially where there was bare ground. :-)

    PS - I live in Portland also.

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    1. Hi ya...always love to hear from a fellow Portlander! You really should trek to Hughes, it's a pretty wonderful place with a wide assortment of healthy plants.

      Thank you for the Rumex sanguineus warning, good to know! Although usually I cut off the flower spike too soon and deny myself free plants. It's a visual clutter thing.

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  7. Always the excuse for more plants as Grace says, but then again, cleaning *that* out may have earned you that.

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    1. One certainly does feel justified in spending a little money when they've just spent the better part of an hour scooping slimy things. Well, at least I did.

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  8. What a fantastic water plant nursery! Nothing like that around here. :-(

    Your 'Fontanesii' doesn't look like mine. Does it have shiny leaves, or matte? If matte, then it may be something else. If it flowers this year that may help ID it too.

    What size is that stock tank? I'm thinking about adding another smaller water feature somewhere...

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    1. The leaves are definitely matte. Flower!? That's crazy talk. I've had many Colo and Alocasia and never had any of them bloom. Is this a regular occurrence for you?

      The tank is 2.5ft round (I think, it's raining right now and I don't feel like going outside to measure). I wanted something bigger, the husband argued for this size. You can see who won.

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  9. I was out at Hughes about three weeks ago and picked up my water lily, a couple of water lettuces, and my 6 tadpoles. I had Will grab up 6 extra tadpoles for the other water bowl. I started about 7 years ago with the tadpole thing and now we have resident frogs here at Beech Street. Two years ago they laid eggs in one of the bowls......it was very cool!!!!

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  10. Just the nudge I needed to get me hence to Hughes...can't believe I've never been there.
    R goes down to the river and dips up duckweed for our pond. The fishies gobble it right up.

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    1. It's surprising to me the number of people who have never been to Hughes. Go!

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  11. I dislike the name but love the colorful leaves of bloody dock. It must be fun to replant your pond every spring. It looks great!

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    1. Thanks Pam...I think I'd also enjoy the experience of not replanting, having the plants mature.

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  12. I like your smaller pond. That would be a project I'd like to try one day...Maybe if it's in the shade, the water won't evaporate too much.

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    1. Good point about evaporation. Certainly not much of an issue for me.

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  13. There's another spot I've never visited in our embarrassment of Portland gardening riches. It looks fascinating! I like the canna and the alocasia in your pond. Thank you for including the rock: even if the birds don't use it, maybe the tadpoles will.

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    1. Birds, tadpoles...just as long as no raccoons use it as a launching pad.

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  14. You've given me another idea there Loree, to have a little container pond with aquatic plants in it :) Great choices there and should do well in the aspect where the container is. And how I wish we had more space for a natural pond with waterlilies in it (even Lotus)!

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    1. Lotus! Yes...that would be wonderful indeed. So will you guys not have plants in your (massive) pond? Just fishes?

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  15. Yikes, when I saw the first photos I thought, Is this what I am in for. Another load of garden work. I sure hope not. I am waiting for fall to plant up my pond when I can really take care of it. I hope the water garden I plan to visit to buy plants is as good as yours. I will have full sun so my selections will include water lily. Nice refurbish.

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    1. Funny you know all the leaves that I pulled out of the pond were from the neighbors trees. They like creating more work for me, hope yours is less slimy!

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  16. I love your water garden...way too cute! I have to admit, I want something similar, but really...just for cattails! Oh, and frogs...I REALLY want frogs.

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    1. Scott I think that would look so amazing in your garden! With all the grasses and your overall gardening style cattails would look amazing. And frogs would love all that tall foliage to hide in, wouldn't they?

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  17. Nice looking nursery, very neat (as in orderly and clean) looking. We give our tadpoles away as well, because for some reason it is illegal to sell them??

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