Pond in Southern Illinois

[Sheetmetalman]

Here are a few pond and waterfall pics I took in the dark--last month I hooked up a spot light to shine on the waterfall, it gives us a little more light on the patio after dark and looks pretty cool.

 

[Sheetmetalman]

Random Fish and Frog Pics taken around the pond including 1 of my 2 albino catfish (dont see them to often--they are usually 5+ feet down on the bottom)

 

[j.w]

Nice plants and the Hosta should fill in nicely. I divided mine last year and this year they are coming up great!

 

[Sheetmetalman]

Looks good J.W. I really like the large dark leafed variety you have--thats my next goal is to branch our into other varieties--I just have 3 varieties right now--plan to get that dark variety as well as the kind where the leaf forms a bowl and the gigantic version that my neighbor has.

 

[j.w]

My problem w/ them is I don't have a lot of shade and those in the photos are on the North side of the house and do get shade most all of the day except in the late afternoon and then we can get some hot days and wham they get kind of burnt. We do have big trees around our property and I could put some like you did under the trees.

 

[addy1]

Nice pictures! We don't have much shade, I have hostas, but they usually are burnt up, out in full sun

That green low growing stuff looks like the creeping charlie I have that is a pita, grows over everything.

 

[Sheetmetalman]

Yep I think its the same, Addy--if it stands still long enough that stuff (creeping Charlie, you said) will cover it--I actually like it because it covers problem areas quickly and it pulls out real easy if its in an area I dont want it. in fact it grows so good here I can rip it out by hand in one place and throw it down on bare loose dirt and it will reroot itself and take off again. I just bought a bunch of Hosta seeds off of Ebay- 16 varieties--I'm gonna try to grow it. Never tried Hosta from seed--if anyone has and has any pointers, I'm all ears.

 

[CountryEscape]

Tim, the "grass that grows in clumps with yellow flowers" are day lilies. They are VERY easy to grow, can grow in the bog, too. The multiply every year, and they can be split (SHOULD be split) every few years to keep them blooming really well. They come in lots of different colors.
I also have some lotus seeds I got off of Ebay. The tubers I got are not doing as well, only one is still living, or showing green leaves anyhow. HOping the others are sending roots and will bud out some more leaves soon, too. Otherwise, I have one of 4 that I bought. So, looks like seeds are more likely to grow for me.

 

[Sheetmetalman]

Thanks Patti, I didnt know that was what they were called but Ive had the yellow version for several years and like them--also didnt know they came in different colors (mainly cause my mom and dad only have yellow ones and thats where I get a lot of my plant starts) now I will have to look for other colors-- love a plant that I can get established and then have to worry very little about like this one.

 

[addy1]

Yep I think its the same, Addy--if it stands still long enough that stuff (creeping Charlie, you said) will cover it--I actually like it because it covers problem areas quickly and it pulls out real easy if its in an area I dont want it. in fact it grows so good here I can rip it out by hand in one place and throw it down on bare loose dirt and it will reroot itself and take off again. I just bought a bunch of Hosta seeds off of Ebay- 16 varieties--I'm gonna try to grow it. Never tried Hosta from seed--if anyone has and has any pointers, I'm all ears.

lol no kidding, if it stayed in the grass I would not mind it, in fact without it we would be dirt i.e. no green. Just don't like it overwhelming the gardens, it is easy to pull out, but my hands really hurt when I do work like that.

I planted a bunch of day lilies that are rebloomers, ie. will bloom more than once in a season, and all different colors. Waiting to see how they look, just put them in.

 

[CountryEscape]

Tim, late last summer, I got some day lilies from Menards at clearance prices, and this year I'll see what color they are! They had tags, which I kept, and one is supposed to be white with deep red center and the other I think is yellow and burgandy. But, bad thing about late summer is that people move the tags sometimes. I'm now waiting for perennials to go on sale and check often at my haunts ... Rural King, Menards and sometimes Alwerdts, since I'm on their mailing list and will wait for sales, since now I know they DO have sales, just have to be on their mailing list to get the email!

 

[Sheetmetalman]

just bought 2 bags of caladium bulbs at walmart that were marked down to 3 bucks for a bag of 8 bulbs. I hope they will grow, but Walmart in their wisdom took all their sacks of bulbs and roots and moved them from in the store where they were cool and dry to out in their outdoor plant area with high heat and humidity so the bulbs looked like little dried up potatoes with spud eyes (roots, or shoots) growing on them--planted them--waiting with crossed fingers.

 

[CountryEscape]

Hey, Tim. If you are looking for just a few really high quality Hostas, you should check out the Hosta King! Seriously, I think someone said he has the most Hostas in the midwest, and he lives just west of Effingham in the country. You can buy any type of Hosta you want, he has so many different varieties. I'm sure he would have the dark colored ones and the huge varieties, and the ones that look like a cup. I have one that looks like the cup, but just got it last year so this is it's first really good year to multiply, but I would be happy to share a start with you next year! The good thing about Hostas is that they multiply pretty fast. I even have 2 minis although I think one of them died, the other is doing well. They stay VERY small, maybe 6" in diameter or so. Really cute! He has people come from all over the place to buy Hostas. He lives in total woods, almost no sunshine, which hostas love, of course.
His website is: aahostas.com He calls his place Avalon Acres, as he has been a Chevrolet/Toyota salesman for many years.

 

[Sheetmetalman]

Thats funny you mentioned him, Patti,--- Me, Gene Durbin, and Randy Wolf were talking Hostas 2 weeks ago at the Pipeline so Randy sent me his Website too--I will have to check him out--after I see how good all these Hosta seeds I bought on Ebay do.

 

[CountryEscape]

Good idea. I know his plants are expensive, more than what you will find at Rural King or Menards, but he sure would have the unusual varieties, and if you buy one, you will have many of the same kind in years to come. Maybe your birthday or anniversary is coming up ... give your wife some hints!