Gees, November sure came up fast, didn't it? Sigh. We shut down the pond this past weekend. Shutting it down means turning off the waterfall, re-potting the lily, bringing the water plants indoors, sinking some hideouts for the fish and frogs, and closing off the skimmer. It sounds like a lot of work, but it isn't really. But don't ask Joe though--he'll say it is.
Maintaining the pond isn't really hard, but you learn after awhile what needs to be done for winter. The pump for the waterfall gets turned off, cleaned, and put in a clean bucket of water in the garage for the winter. It has to stay in water or the seals dry out.
The lily gets cut back and re-submerged to the bottom of the pond for the winter. It will come back come spring. The water plants are put into tubs of water and they can spend the winter resting in the family room. With low winter light, they sort of just hibernate while the cats drink out of their tubs. There is just something about those tubs of water that the cats cannot resist. It drives Joe nuts that he has to keep refilling them so the cats can continue to empty them.
The minnows and the frogs stay out there all winter and hibernate. I've sunk a couple of empty water plant containers so that they have protection, but the frogs seem to like the folds in the liner to hide in. As long as we have the heater in the pond to keep an air hole open, they will survive. We have to have the heater otherwise the gases that the decomposing leaves and such create will get trapped and poison the water. It does not prevent the water from freezing--it just leaves a small air hole for air exchange.
I do about 40 skimmer checks now until it snows, as there is always some wise-acre frog who thinks it's cool to hibernate in there for the winter. There is no stench in this world like that of a frog who died in the skimmer--something I really, really hope not to repeat this year. We had the Great Frog Disaster '08 a few years ago and I don't want to repeat the carnage of 5 dead frogs in the skimmer again. It was very icky. And sad.
So, the pond is silent now. I miss hearing the water falling and the frogs plopping in when I go outside. I miss the lily pads and the water hyacinths. I worry about my frogs and hope they all make it through the winter. (How many did I have, Vanilla?) I have tucked it all in for a long winter's nap, and hope that everyone makes it through the many months of hibernation and ice-covered slumber.
Me and Hobbes will light the fireplace and stake out our spots on the couch until spring arrives many months from now. On some level I'm ready to rest from all the yard work, but on another, I will also spend this time worrying about my pond friends.
Goodnight fish and goodnight frogs. Goodnight lily and goodnight snails.
Goodnight pond.
28 comments:
It's not just how did November get here so fast...it's more of where did twenty-ten go to? Man the year flew by and before we know it it will be over.
It's sad actually. But nature needs time to rest and restore itself, I guess.
But now I'm reminded that it's not too terribly long until Hobbes is once again trapped inside for the season.
So you don't need to continue to aerate your pond during the winter. Perhaps it is your zone. We keep our water running for the koi even though they just lay at the bottom of the pond during the winter.
Goodnight, moon.
I want a pond. I had a dream the other night that gardeners doing a neighbor's lawn came and cut my grass by mistake. Then it was lush, plush and green. I think I need to move to a house with a better lawn.
That was really sad, and beautiful, too. Reading that made me miss your yard, your pond, your house, and your family in general.
-- Taylor
The sleeping pond...something about that sounds like a verse from a poem.I hope you pond friends have a safe winter.It is good to know you are a fellow hand quilter!It is a good winter hobby!
Awwww..I'm gonna miss the pond also..I love to read about the froggies and the fishies, the lilies and the snails. I hope they have a wonderful winter and survive until the spring. I look forward to more wonderful stories about them!!! :)
Banjo and I will keep our fingers and paws crossed in hopes that all your pond friends make it through the winter!
xo Catherine
Oh, sheesh (as my friend says) you were depending on me to remember? I should have written that down. Was it seven? Or were there a couple who always hid when you came around, and nobody really knows?
Goodnight!
Awh, sad time of year. But, at least they're safe:) I can only imagine how much our cats would love giant buckets of water with plants in them in the house! Sometimes I think Lucy only drinks the drips after our showers. Crazy.
It does sound like a lot of work but the rewards are worth it. Loved the last 2 lines...
Funny, but I kind of wish I could go on hiatus like your pond. Clean u, hunker dow nand hibernate. Rest. Not taht I want frogs hibernating in the folds of my garments, but I think you get the picture :)
~Jen
Everyone needs a little hibernation....
Sigh, where did this summer go anyway?
G'night, froggies. Have a good sleep!
It seems like it was just a couple weeks ago that you were opening that pond up. What happened to summer. Goodnight Pond and frogs
Glad you don't work at MarineWorld! Actually, wonderfully written, Lin. Made me sleepy too. Fran's Dad
Goodnight pond! We'll look forward to when you wake up next spring!
I have never known anyone so fond of reptiles as you. lol. You write odes to frogs. Quaint!!
My son has begged for a pond. But holy cow, I have enough to do around here. But we practically HAVE a pond, anyway, since the sump pumps run day and night and the basement and backyard flood on occasion...
You take such good care of them!
Here is to hoping that Winter isn't so harsh this year and that Spring comes early!
Jodi--No kidding! I just realized that I had better start Christmas shopping. :(
Violet--Oh, no, Violet! He LOVES the snow, remember??! I'm anxious to see if he still loves it as much as last year.
Highway--We don't have koi so the heater does fine. We just have to make sure the air hole stays open. (Gees, that sounds bad!)
Helene--The pond is lovely, Helene, and I miss it so in the winter. I count the days until the water is running again and we can all go out and enjoy it.
Taylor--I miss you too, Taylor! I hope we can see you over Thanksgiving! Did your mom tell you we were hanging with her and Sarah at the football game? I LOVE them. I do. :)
Melodie--I've got to get my quilt out. Now that I've starting working again, there doesn't seem to be enough time for work, blogging, the house, AND quilting. :(
A.Marie--I always worry about the frogs and the snails. The snails have a really hard time making it, but they die if they come in too. It's a lose-lose with snails.
Catherine--Thanks, pally! I really worry about the frogs. I love to see their dark faces pop up when the ice melts. Then I do a head count and I know who is safe.
Vanilla--I left you in charge, pally! You were supposed to remember for me! I think we are at 6 and my mom wants to bring one over from her pond. That would be 7. REmember that, okay?
Diana--You are saying that like a tired mom who wants her kid to go to bed, Diana. :)
Nancy--Oh my gosh! They LOVE to drink from those plants and it drives Joe NUTS! hee! hee!
Grace--Oh, I worry, Grace. I worry all winter about my frogs, fish and snails. Most of the frogs are hiding now and the fish have stopped eating. It is the first signs of hibernation. :(
Jen--I think we sort of do hibernate. Well, here in Chicago, anyway. We all stay indoors and don't see the neighbors for months! Hooray!
Pricilla--I do! I think everyone does but Hobbes. He just wants to keep going! I wonder if he will still like the snow this year?
Tracy--GONE! Dang, it went fast, didn't it?
Daisy--Hi, Daisy! Yep, I will miss them and worry a lot about them all winter. Every so often, they will pop their faces up for air if the ice melts, but other than that, I just have to sit and wait. I don't like that part very much.
Ann--No kidding! This year it seemed to really fly by because we were so busy. I'm ready to rest a bit this winter.
Fran's Dad--Uh oh--was it boring???! ;)
Beaded Tail--We used to bring the frogs in all winter, but that shortens their lifespan I read. But at least I knew they were safe. Ugh. I can't win.
Rebecca--I think I've grown to love the frogs because I raise them and set them off into the world. Like a mom, I can't help but love them--warts and all (no pun intended). I love the pond--it is the BEST thing we have added to the yard. I'm with your son. :)
Sharky--We used to bring them in for the winter, but that got crazy! And they need to hibernate to live a longer life. We had tanks everywhere, Sharky. You would have loved it! it was so funny.
Stephanie--Let's just make it fast!
Already? It seem like just yesterday you were having the opening ceremonies.
Good to know useful tips from you. I living in the 2 seasons country where ice only happened in the freezer. Since you ask number to Vanilla, the answer is obvious, seven :)
I wish I could say I live in the country where ice only happens in the freezer.
Where exactly is that, by the way.
I have to thank you for anticipating my question about the the pump and why it stays in water for the entire winter. But. Doesn't the water in the bucket freeze in the middle of winter? Is your garage heated?
Secondly, can I please see a picture of the water plants in the tubs of water in the family room?
I'm imagining a tub -- like a 40-gallon container of water with a plant floating on top. Is that what it looks like?
Thank you in advance for indulging my curiosity.
WOW! Time flies, Lin! I can't believe another season is over already.
Over here, we know a season is over when a show's season finale ends!!
Bummer, I've to wait for another 3 months before the show Vampire Diaries Season 2 comes on again!
Chocolate--Doesn't it?! Where did summer go? :(
V7--Okay, pally. You are the official back-up counter to Vanilla. I'm putting all the Vanillas in charge of frog counting this winter! Do you ever wonder what it is like to live in the snow and ice? I'm thinking not, right?
CG--The garage is not heated, but it is a 1 car attached garage and it does not freeze in there. Previous owners used the garage as a family room, so I think it is well insulated. I will see if I can get a shot of one of the two goofs drinking out of the tubs for you, CardioGirl. We are ALL about pleasing the folks here.
Veronica--I would miss the seasons, Veronica. It is a nice change in our everyday lives. Well, until we get to winter with all that driving in snow and ice.Blech!
Post a Comment