My pond runs all winter, zone 2/3

callingcolleen1

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Hi! Most people here on this forum may know me by now, I'm Colleen from Canada, and I have been wintering my pond for the past 20 years, I will post regular almost daily pictures and "show and tell" you everything I do, or do not do. So far have been very successful, watch this thread and I will take you through the harshest weather in "planet earth" and watch slowly as my pond freeze's and comes back to life each year.... stay tuned! Winter's coming here very soon!!
 

callingcolleen1

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Ha ha ha, going to work on the pond today before the "big freeze", clean the filters, shut some smaller pumps down, and check the water temperature too. The leaf net is still on the pond, but that will come down soon or it will freeze stuck to the ground, and I don't need it soon cause the trees have dropped most off their leaves here. Will post picture later tonight!
 

addy1

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My poor pond has been totally ignored, too busy digging holes and moving plants.

Will enjoy watching colleen! Who knows if it will get cold here this winter. Flowers are regrowing and blooming out in the yard.
 

callingcolleen1

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Worked most of the day outside in the yard, had to take the little 80 gallon display pond apart, and pumped most of the water out, waited till the water settled the leafs and caught the last two small goldfish that were hiding in there and moved them to the bottom pond in the back yard, where other small goldfish live.

Took the water Callas out of the middle Pond, the tops had half died off, and stored on the floor of the greenhouse which is heated to just above freezing. The Callas will go format and sit there dry, till spring.

I gathered the frost bitten long slender spear shaped leaves of the yellow flag, into a pile, and stacked above the plant, they should pull away nicely in the spring. Snow should fall tonight over the pile and further insulate the huge yellow flag in the pond. This yellow flag is a naturally floating root ball, and provides a home for the fish, as they like to disapear under this plant for the winter.

There was a big chunk of ice in this large bucket of water I had outside with a few plants from the front pond.

Pond surface water temperature of the big back yard ponds is currently 41 degrees. Larger bodies of water take longer to freeze up, although I expect to find some ice on the main ponds within days now.

Supposed to snow for the next couple days, starting later tonight!
 

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addy1

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Good job Colleen! Getting ready for that snow. It is almost too warm here, out working in shorts and a t shirt.
 

sissy

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Getting almost warm enough out now to finish sealing the porches and caulking anything that needs caulked .Have to make sure the dew is gone also .
 

callingcolleen1

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Got lots of heavy wet snow, Pond temperature only 33 degrees at surface. Snow fell hard and fast last night, must have got a foot of snow, got to shovel again! Right now the air temperature is about 28 degrees f.

Look at all the snow!!
 

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j.w

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OH man Colleen makes me shiver to look at those pix! Is sunny here right now..........now snow in sight and I'm glad cuz I'm not ready for it! You are doing a good job of making thinks winter proof!
 
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That last picture lookes like the fishys are snuggling to keep warm. Here in Ohio we are having a few days in the 70's... :fingersx: one last breath of warmth before the snow & cold fall on us here.....great to see your pics by the way :D
 

j.w

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Not even 50 here yet today and sun was out but clouds moving in for the rain dump! Hubby just left to go cut wood so I guess that means I gotta go eat something, jump on my bike and head over to help also. It's getting old now this wood cutting stuff :sad:
 

callingcolleen1

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It's good to have a wood burning stove, just in case... and a big pile of wood to get you thru the long, cold, DaRk WinTER!
I thought I had all the little fish taken out of the front yard pond, but a quick look late last night with a big flashlight, revealed there was still two little fishy swimming in the two inches of water that was left. I quickly netted them and moved them to the back yard pond. Thank goodness! Cause now it's getting colder and that little puddle will surely freeze hard tonight!!
 

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