Snip snip

[PondJunkie]

So I have a fair number of hardy lilies growing, all of which are doing very well. I haven't had a bloom free day since mid-Spring!

At any rate, in the past 2 weeks I have notices something strange. While doing my routine pruning, I have noticed a number of the pads were already "disconnected" from their plants. When I pull them out, they appear to have been cut in a straight line, as if by shears. This is exclusively on pads that were healthy the day before. I am fairly certain I have not been "sleep-pruning".

Any thoughts on what kind of thing might be causing this? All I have in the pond creature wise are some gold fish ranging from 4' to 8', and some transient bullfrogs.

 

[Airic]

I think a 4-8 foot goldfish would eat the whole plant:biggrin:. Lillies are pretty hard. I pinch prune and they are not easy to break off. I would think some sort of bug is doing it but, don't know what it would be.

 

[PondJunkie]

Note to self, the shift key can represent a significant force multiplier in regards to fish size.:biggrin:

 

[Billkeyups]

In the swamp / bog in my back yard, turtles cut off lily leaves on a regular basis. Very few new pads ever make it to the surface before getting cut. I see them floating around loose. Could you possibly have a visiting turtle?

 

[DrDave]

I really want to see these 8 foot long fish. Can you post a photo. LOL

 

[koiguy1969]

and some of us thought our koi were getting some good size! lol...... good eye D.D

 

[PondJunkie]

A turtle, now there is an interesting thought.

I have had a few fish go missing recently.....

I have not seen any evidence of a turtle, and the pond shares a backyard with our 3 dogs, but I suppose it is possible. Are turtles particularly nocturnal creatures? Most of the day I have a good view of the pond & I haven't seen anything turtle-y swimming around.....

 

[PondJunkie]

Would a rodent be a possible answer? The reason I ask is that I turned one of my floodlights on last night and saw something jump in the pond that was NOT frog shaped. I'm pretty sure it was some sort of small rodent, no longer than 4" in length.

 

[DrDave]

Would a rodent be a possible answer? The reason I ask is that I turned one of my floodlights on last night and saw something jump in the pond that was NOT frog shaped. I'm pretty sure it was some sort of small rodent, no longer than 4" in length.

Why didn't you go out and see what it was?

 

[PondJunkie]

Why didn't you go out and see what it was?

Kids to deal with.....

Haven't seen it again, and I haven't had any "snips" in the past couple days. Maybe Nessie has moved on.....