STARTING THE FALL CLEAN-UP

As most of you know, it wasn't a really good gardening season for me.  If you don't remember I will refresh your memory......

 

Ah yes...the boot.  I hobbled around with this on from June 5th until the beginning of September.  It is finally off but summer is pretty much done and I'm just in time to do the fall clean-up.

 

The filtration in the pond is pulled and only the aerators are running to get the fish threw the winter.  The pond is covered with the net to keep the falling leaves out.  Because of the hot summer...which barely happens here....algae was a big problem and the pond was never clear.  Oh well, theirs always next year.

 

 

I also want to thank my helpers.  I'm almost sure I couldn't of done it without them (not).

 

 

 

 

 

All in all I'm just glad my leg has finally healed and there is always fall to look forward to....which is my most favorite time of the year!



 

 

 



WE NEED RAIN!

I'm finally out of that boot and getting around on my own now...just going a little slower as to not irritate the healing bone. 
Things are not looking good in my garden...period!  I have tried so hard as I hobbled around, to keep every thing watered, but with no rain and the ground so dry it was hard for the water to even soak in.  To give you an idea of how dry it is here, I have not had to mow my lawn for a month, its all brown and crispy.

My pond is yuck!  We have not been able to keep up with the algae bloom and since we don't use chemicals its been a losing battle.

Mr pot man is fading fast and on his last leg,er,pot

And so much for my squash and tomatoes

So if everyone could think rain for us here, it would be greatly appreciated!

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POND UPDATE

The bullfrog tadpoles and our pond snails arrived this week, to say we were excited is an understatement!

13 tadpoles made it here alive.

Here my husband is releasing them

Some had legs, some didnt

Trapdoor snails

We also added 6 new Koi to the pond and some new plants...everything is looking good and the algae bloom is almost gone.  It has been cool here this week and feels like fall but is suppose to warm back up this weekend.   I dont mind alittle cool as long as things still grow,,,nothing will keep me from my gardens! 



THE POND IS COMING ALIVE.

Alot of new things have been happening around the pond.  One new thing is we ordered some bullfrog tadpoles and trapdoor snails that will be here today.  We dont like using chemicals in the pond and this will be a great natural way to keep the pond clean.  The bullfrogs will just be a great thing to watch for our grandchildren, and us of course!

Our potmen have finally made it to the pond and are happy as can be with there new hair!  They make a great addition and focal point for any visiter to our pond area.

My little pond guy relaxing at the edge

This is my new bigger guy with his spiked hair

We also put up a new solid fence in the back to make it more secluded.  I love to be up by my pond and relax by myself away from the nosey neighbors and kids who try to throw things into the pond!

The monarch butterflys are early in our area this year, probally from the unpredictable weather we had all winter.  We didnt see any until July last year.   The milkweed is just big enough to lay thre eggs on.

Monarch butterfly eggs on milkweed

Butterfly/hummingbird garden

I will update as soon as my snails and bullfrog tadpoles are in the pond and moving around...Its very exciting here, around the pond!

MAY GARDEN HAPPENINGS

Mays weather has been unpredictable to say the least.  Its still a bit chilly most days to keep plants out even though I have managed to keep my cool weather veggies growing and my over wintered geranium happy to be outside again.

The pond has the overwintered spikes planted around it now and the cattails in the back are getting big.  The honeysuckle vine next to the green house is ready to bloom.  The dog under the vine is checking out the little birds nest built there.

A few pond lily pads have finally reached the top of the pond

My container cabbage and broccoli are growing great

 

And my radishes are finally ready to eat

I also put in a small potato patch and they are growing great in the cool weather too.

We cant forget the geranium....

I find myself really busy now with the extra gardening and yard work so I don't blog as often but to me that's a good thing.  Hope every ones gardening is going great too!

Enjoy the spring!

ALOT HAPPENING IN THE GARDEN

It has been cold in Wisconsin again, but things are still growing...outside and in the house.

I took my tuberous begonia out of the basement a week ago and it is budding nicely

My clematis is doing great

daffodils

Miniature rose bush

Some of my sugar snap pea plants.  We have had frost at night so I keep them covered with milk jugs to protect them and keep them warm

A planter full of radishes in the green house

Cattails starting to come up in the back of the pond

I have a garden window full of vegetable plants that grew faster then anticipated but it is not nearly warm enough to plant anything except the cool weather plants outside at this time...I'm keeping my fingers cross that it warms up soon!  Happy Gardening!





SIGNS OF SPRING

It has been a beautiful end to winter here.  Spring has not even officially begun yet and we have had 60 and 70 degree temps by the shores of Lake Michigan.  Here are a few pictures of spring in my garden.

All the ice is gone from the pond

Fish!

More fish

My new pot man, waiting in the greenhouse for some "hair"

Basil sprouts

Hope everyone is enjoying the new season and are enjoying there gardens as much as I am enjoying mine!



SPIKES

Spikes are an awesome accent plant that can be saved from year to year.  I dig them out before frost, put them in a bucket of water and keep them in a cool dark corner in the basement.   After that they only need a little more water as the levels drop...simple and worth the money you save replacing them in the spring.

Spikes grow in full sun or shade which makes it a versatile plant for the ground or in container planting.  They enjoy having there feet wet, so a good drink of water daily is in order.  Fertilize weekly with a good 20-20-20 blend will also make a spike very happy.

Spikes can be set outside when the temps are 60 degrees during the day.  I set mine in my unheated green house and keep them there over night without any problems.  I can usually replant them by the end of May here in Wisconsin.

The spikes stay green in the basement and may have a few brown leaves on the bottom of the plant that can be pulled off before planting in the spring.

I use spikes as a showy accent around my pond

MY OWN LITTLE PARADISE

     My pond is the focal point of my backyard, surrounded by all my flower gardens.  It has the ability to attract birds and butterflies and soothe the savage beast in all of us.  Its melodious tunes of the waterfall has a mesmerizing aura.  I call it my summer paradise.

     Don't get me wrong, among the beauty there is alot of hard work that takes place.  I have been working on my pond for years to come up with the perfect Eco balance.  The fish and plants keep the pond clean in the summer and fall and overwinter in there aqua oasis in the winter and spring.  Oxygenaters are added to the water in late fall and a large hole is pounded in the pond daily in the winter to keep the toxic gases from building up.

Late summer

summer pond



winter pond