Pond season!

[littlewoodchuck]

Finally the ice has melted in my shaded pond and despite a total freeze over for a couple of weeks, all my guinea pigs survived, and no I didn't throw actual guinea pigs in my pond. I normally bring in all of my fish, I winter them in my cold storage room in a horse trough. This year I left a few in my smaller pond which holds about 1500 gallons an iis only 3 feet deep with just a pump bubbling up, all the goldfish survived. May long weekend is when the koi go out and they can hardly wait as it has been a long winter.

[kien]

Well, after the blast of snow we had yesterday I was sure that Pond season had come to an end (already) But the sun is out again so I guess Pond season is back on!

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

Pond is doing great (knock on wood). Original 16' x 8' x 11' tall greenhouse is filled to overflowing. Third raised garden box (8' x 3' x 3') built and second 16' x 9' x 10' greenhouse is framed and ready for double paned glass sheets. Already had three helpings of brocolini from the greenhouse this spring and going to do a third harvest for our lunch on the deck today.

Man, I love living in Burnaby. Got dozens of apricots already growing and all my fruit trees and berry bushes are in bloom or already have baby fruit on them.

Anthony

So jealous! You must be able to grow some ridiculously large koi with such a long season! I am actually amazed at what can grow in our harsh tundra/prairie environment here in Calgary. Or maybe it is because they have genetically engineered them or maybe it's because my backyard is a micro climate that is warmer than it should be. I successfully grow cherries, plums, and have a mini vineyard with yummy grapes every year (i don't drink wine so I eat the grapes).

Originally Posted by Ross

My "Koi Pond" will have to wait till I re-stain the deck first.

The "pond" if you will is a 3' tall by Ø24" ceramic flower pot that we fill up and place on our front veranda.

Sadly it's still susceptible to the occasional wild animals pulling out the fish.
Usually they hunt in a bit of a pack.
Of coarse I'm talking about neighborhood kids trying to touch the fish.

I've been pretty lucky with the wildlife. Over 7 years I have spotted Blue Heron in my backyard a handful of times but have not notice any loss of fish due to them. I live in a pretty crowded community that's fairly busy with various traffic so that may have something to do with it.

Originally Posted by littlewoodchuck

Finally the ice has melted in my shaded pond and despite a total freeze over for a couple of weeks, all my guinea pigs survived, and no I didn't throw actual guinea pigs in my pond. I normally bring in all of my fish, I winter them in my cold storage room in a horse trough. This year I left a few in my smaller pond which holds about 1500 gallons an iis only 3 feet deep with just a pump bubbling up, all the goldfish survived. May long weekend is when the koi go out and they can hardly wait as it has been a long winter.

I have successfully over wintered my fish for 7 years now! I have lost a couple over 7 years but they were small and didn't eat well over the summer now that I think back. My pond is only 24" deep! If you can get basics down it's not that hard actually. I keep a pond pump running which moves the surface of the water continuously throughout the winter. This reduces the amount of ice formation to about 2" only. On a sunny, chinooky winter day the pond will even melt completely. Keep a hole in the ice with a de-icer so that gas can escape and Bob's your uncle.

I suppose it also helps that my pond is exposed to sun pretty much year round. It's not shaded by my house, even in the winter.

I have also done the hoop-house thing where I'll throw a hoop house over my pond. Both with hoop house and without hoop house works fine but i do prefer using the hoop house because it actually shortens the winter season by about a month on either end. That is, with the hoop house I can typically feed my fish right into November and start feeding them as early as March/April. It is a little bit more maintenances to put up and take down the hoop house but I think it's worth it. But again, I've over wintered without the hoop house too though.

ANYWAY, all of you people with ponds and outdoor fish, where are your PICTURES?!?!

[christyf5]

I wish I had a pond. My husband is "anti-pond". I was thinking about doing a small version in a half barrel or something but I don't think I'd have the time and likely want to go bigger. I figure I'll skip the pond thing and save my breath for a new scratchless 180/220

[kien]

Originally Posted by christyf5

My husband is "anti-pond".

Is it because he knows that he will likely be doing mostly all of the work?

.. I don't blame him. Digging sucks.

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by kien

Is it because he knows that he will likely be doing mostly all of the work?

.. I don't blame him. Digging sucks.

No, I would likely be doing some of the work. And yes digging does suck. However, I would not be doing an overly monstrous pond, just something big enough and deep enough to overwinter fish (not like we have "real" winters here anyways). His argument used to be that we had a dog that liked water and likely he'd be in the pond at any given time that he was outside. Now the dog is gone and his argument will likely be that we have kids and we'd have to watch them (because we don't right now? ) or fence the pond and bla bla bla. It goes on and on. I like to argue for things I can win and I don't see winning that one so I just pick my battles.

[kien]

Originally Posted by christyf5

No, I would likely be doing some of the work. And yes digging does suck. However, I would not be doing an overly monstrous pond, just something big enough and deep enough to overwinter fish (not like we have "real" winters here anyways). His argument used to be that we had a dog that liked water and likely he'd be in the pond at any given time that he was outside. Now the dog is gone and his argument will likely be that we have kids and we'd have to watch them (because we don't right now? ) or fence the pond and bla bla bla. It goes on and on. I like to argue for things I can win and I don't see winning that one so I just pick my battles.

well, those are definitely valid arguments. More or less the same considerations that I had to take before proceeding. Well, minus the dog.

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by kien

well, those are definitely valid arguments. More or less the same considerations that I had to take before proceeding. Well, minus the dog.

well thanks Kien, now I'm never gonna get a pond. Sheesh

[Dez]

Originally Posted by kien

ANYWAY, all of you people with ponds and outdoor fish, where are your PICTURES?!?!

Here you go. This pic was taken last weekend.



And some lily buds that are already coming out!




And this is a baby that I found. He must have hatched from the egg last year and survived not getting eaten and survived the winter.

[intarsiabox]

With the winter we've had it's nice to see lilies growing out of the rocks. Dez, the pond looks great even at this time of the year!

[kien]

Very nice Dez! Lillie's are shooting up now! Mine have currently been re-located to Tupperware containers for the duration of the renos :-(