Fish “Fry”

Posted on 05/07/2008 by Grumpa Joe
The pond in June 2008

The pond in June 2008

One of the goals for the garden is to create a pond that is totally natural. An eco-system that is completely self supporting. Well this morning I had another “Fuzzy Moment.”  I was planting some new water lillies that I got from my friend Kay. To plant them, I first placed a piece of root stock into a perforated pot in soil, then I covered the soil with stones.  I layed an extension ladder on the ground across the pond, and layed a board over the rungs. With this set up I could walk across the pond over the ladder. Instead, I chose to lay on the board and lower the new water plants to the bottom. This was the first time I lay over the top of this pond. As I peered into the water, hundreds of very tiny transparent fish swam beneath me. Wow! I have babies. The eco-system is working.

Peg has noticed that the larger fish are very hungry lately. They are becoming less shy, and will break water to grab a food pellet when she tosses them in. Most likely it is because they are now in competition with the babies for the larva that  had satisfied them before.

The simplest things in life amuse, and bring me joy. The sight of baby fish was exciting, and brought me a great feeling of satisfaction. Nature is at its best. Things are working.

The next milestone will be the arrival of the frogs.

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Monet Vision

Posted on 10/05/2008 by Grumpa Joe

Grumpa Joe Looks at FlowerMy vision of the new garden is a Monet painting. Lots of soft muted colors with textures, and rooms galore. The vision began as a single idea. I won’t afford a house on a lake, so I built the lake in my backyard. The lake is a pond. By making a pond, I can look at water views all year long. Right now the pond is still void of plantings. A large baby step occurred this week,  I went shopping for plant materials with my garden club.  Yesterday another baby step, I dug out a few Rose of Sharon shrubs from a friends yard. Together we unearthed a ten foot tall shrub. It was a joy to stuff the root ball into the trunk of my meticulous Avalon, the shrub hanging out over the end of the bumper. Yesterday’s baby step also included planting the shrubs into their new home around the pond. Today, the baby step was to spot the 13 perennials that I bought on Wednesday. I also planted a miniature  spruce that my deceased wife bought over ten years ago. I planted it into the pot for her. The tiny tree had a place on our patio. Today, It became a permanent part of the pond-scape. Slowly, ever so slowly, the vision becomes more of a reality.

As I place things into the ground, new details of the vision emerge from the depths of my sub-conscious and the garden expands. I will continue  to purchase plant materials all summer. Each plant will find a proper place in the vision.  Eventually, with many baby steps, the garden will evolve into a mature picture of beauty, and solitude.

 

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