Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Turtle Pond
[email protected]
<< I often have to dump the toads and frogs out
of the dog's water in the morning before the drown. >>
My kids have never seen a frog in the wild. Toads, some. Not many.
Friends of mine put in a pond lately, with a waterfall. It involves two
pumps (can run on one), will have fish, and some plants, and is hooked into
the water line so that the water level stays up.
If people just have a pond here (Albuquerque) it evaporates into a mudhole.
You have to have a water source for it. And pumping it only makes that
worse--it evaporates into the air more easily.
There are times in the heat of the summer that you can't efficiently water
the lawn with spray--much of what goes up doesn't come down.
So I'm reading about these ponds with wistful fantasy joy, and would like to
see them! We have a little indoor fountain (rocks in a bowl on a stand, low
to the floor) which the dog and cats use as a water dish and I have to add
water every day.
Sandra
Sandra
"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd
of the dog's water in the morning before the drown. >>
My kids have never seen a frog in the wild. Toads, some. Not many.
Friends of mine put in a pond lately, with a waterfall. It involves two
pumps (can run on one), will have fish, and some plants, and is hooked into
the water line so that the water level stays up.
If people just have a pond here (Albuquerque) it evaporates into a mudhole.
You have to have a water source for it. And pumping it only makes that
worse--it evaporates into the air more easily.
There are times in the heat of the summer that you can't efficiently water
the lawn with spray--much of what goes up doesn't come down.
So I'm reading about these ponds with wistful fantasy joy, and would like to
see them! We have a little indoor fountain (rocks in a bowl on a stand, low
to the floor) which the dog and cats use as a water dish and I have to add
water every day.
Sandra
Sandra
"Everything counts."
http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
http://expage.com/SandraDodd
Lynda
If you aren't going to really "use" the bridge, as in people weight, you can
use plaster to make your bridge. Also, if your cement is for the "floor"
and "walls" of your pond, you either need a special cement or you need to
add a water sealer to it.
The kidlets have made the plaster bridges using some real thin rebar and
balsa wood for the frame. Then they picked it up and moved it to the space
they wanted it in. they also took some cedar and built a Japanese garden
bridge for the butterfly garden. Lots of bigger building supply places will
have plans in envelopes that kinda look like sewing pattern stuff.
Lynda
use plaster to make your bridge. Also, if your cement is for the "floor"
and "walls" of your pond, you either need a special cement or you need to
add a water sealer to it.
The kidlets have made the plaster bridges using some real thin rebar and
balsa wood for the frame. Then they picked it up and moved it to the space
they wanted it in. they also took some cedar and built a Japanese garden
bridge for the butterfly garden. Lots of bigger building supply places will
have plans in envelopes that kinda look like sewing pattern stuff.
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: Sharon Rudd <bearspawprint@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 1:23 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Turtle Pond
> Hi Fellow Excavators
>
> Roy and I have the hole partially dug, now. As there
> is no flat ground here making one side deep and the
> other shallow is easy enough. We want one side to be
> so that the toads and frogs and turtles can get out
> easily. I often have to dump the toads and frogs out
> of the dog's water in the morning before the drown.
>
> Tadpoles eat algae. Also water hyacinths help to keep
> it down. And baby fish hide in it.
>
> Hi Other Sharon, how deep does the water need to be
> for water lilies? Our deep side is going to be about 3
> feet. It is mostly in shade...can the lilies flourish
> in shade?
>
> Our little pond is only about 6'X 8'. I can't dig more
> than that!! We plan to have no pumps or filters. Just
> gamboozia, maybe some goldfish (feeder type) our two
> little turtles, maybe transplant some crawdads (plan
> to have dirt in the bottom) and minnows, and then
> whoever else moves in. We do have plans to plant
> plants. Around and in. Anybody have any favorites?
>
> DH tells me I don't have enough cement. 3 40lb dry
> bags. Oh well. DS and I will use this first and see
> how far it goes, etc. then get more. We have plans to
> make inlaid stepping stones here and there anyways.
> Actually the stepping stones were the original reason
> to get the cement mix. I just thought that Roy would
> have more enthusasim for a pond. He does.
>
> Maybe we'll get really ambitious and use the quick
> drying kind and make a statue or shrine or something?
>
> Wonder how hard an arched cement bridge over the brown
> water run-off would be? Maybe just big enough for toy
> trucks. Probably the end result will be that our yard
> will look like archaeological ruins.
>
> Sharon...in NE FL.
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 10 Sep 2001 13:33:19 -0400 Ann
> > <mumsienc@...> writes:
> > I've wanted to do a pond for a long time, but can't
> > keep up
> > with the gardens I have now.
> > LOL
> > Ann
> >
> > Ann,
> > I've found the water garden to be much less work
> > than a regular garden.
> > Another benefit to it is that the bunnies can't eat
> > the water lilies like
> > the way they love to eat everything else they can
> > get at.
> > Sharon
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > removed]
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo!
Messenger
> http://im.yahoo.com
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Sharon Corage
On Mon, 10 Sep 2001 13:23:06 -0700 (PDT) Sharon Rudd
<bearspawprint@...> writes:
As there
is no flat ground here making one side deep and the
other shallow is easy enough.
We've dug this pond out of a sloped lawn building up the lower side with
the excavated dirt. We have clay soil out here so it packed down nicely.
Not sure how you should handle the sandy stuff, maybe you could mix some
of that cement you have into the sub soil to hold it up.
how deep does the water need to be
for water lilies? Our deep side is going to be about 3
feet. It is mostly in shade...can the lilies flourish
in shade?
Water lilies like different depths, anywhere from 1' to 3'. You can dig
shelves at differing depths or invert pots to hold some plants up higher.
Just gamboozia
What's that?
We do have plans to plant
plants. Around and in. Anybody have any favorites?
Water irises add a nice tall element inside the water. I also like lotus
plants but don't own one, they like milder climates.
Around the outside I let the grass grow tall to give it a natural look
and hold the dirt in place. Ornamental grasses would look great but hey,
I'm on a budget. I mix in bulbs like daffodils,alums and tulips with day
lilies and wild flowers. It's a big beautiful mess.
We have plans to
make inlaid stepping stones here and there anyways.
I like this idea. I've seen so many pics in books of Japanese water
gardens with stepping stones.
Sharon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
<bearspawprint@...> writes:
As there
is no flat ground here making one side deep and the
other shallow is easy enough.
We've dug this pond out of a sloped lawn building up the lower side with
the excavated dirt. We have clay soil out here so it packed down nicely.
Not sure how you should handle the sandy stuff, maybe you could mix some
of that cement you have into the sub soil to hold it up.
how deep does the water need to be
for water lilies? Our deep side is going to be about 3
feet. It is mostly in shade...can the lilies flourish
in shade?
Water lilies like different depths, anywhere from 1' to 3'. You can dig
shelves at differing depths or invert pots to hold some plants up higher.
Just gamboozia
What's that?
We do have plans to plant
plants. Around and in. Anybody have any favorites?
Water irises add a nice tall element inside the water. I also like lotus
plants but don't own one, they like milder climates.
Around the outside I let the grass grow tall to give it a natural look
and hold the dirt in place. Ornamental grasses would look great but hey,
I'm on a budget. I mix in bulbs like daffodils,alums and tulips with day
lilies and wild flowers. It's a big beautiful mess.
We have plans to
make inlaid stepping stones here and there anyways.
I like this idea. I've seen so many pics in books of Japanese water
gardens with stepping stones.
Sharon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sharon Corage
On Mon, 10 Sep 2001 17:18:19 EDT SandraDodd@... writes:
It involves two
pumps (can run on one), will have fish, and some plants, and is hooked
into the water line so that the water level stays up.
It sounds like they did it by the book. I have to top mine off with a
garden hose when it gets low. The fish like to play in the stream of the
cool but most likely toxic Denver city water.
So I'm reading about these ponds with wistful fantasy joy, and would like
to see them!
I'll try to dig up a pic for ya.
We have a little indoor fountain (rocks in a bowl on a stand, low
to the floor) which the dog and cats use as a water dish and I have to
add water every day.
Oh, the old pet fung shuai(sp?):-)
Sharon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
It involves two
pumps (can run on one), will have fish, and some plants, and is hooked
into the water line so that the water level stays up.
It sounds like they did it by the book. I have to top mine off with a
garden hose when it gets low. The fish like to play in the stream of the
cool but most likely toxic Denver city water.
So I'm reading about these ponds with wistful fantasy joy, and would like
to see them!
I'll try to dig up a pic for ya.
We have a little indoor fountain (rocks in a bowl on a stand, low
to the floor) which the dog and cats use as a water dish and I have to
add water every day.
Oh, the old pet fung shuai(sp?):-)
Sharon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sharon Corage
On Mon, 10 Sep 2001 16:28:33 -0700 "Lynda" <lurine@...> writes:
Also, if your cement is for the "floor" and "walls" of your pond, you
either need a special cement or you need to add a water sealer to it.
Oh yeah,
There's something about the lime in regular cement that is toxic to fish.
Sharon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Also, if your cement is for the "floor" and "walls" of your pond, you
either need a special cement or you need to add a water sealer to it.
Oh yeah,
There's something about the lime in regular cement that is toxic to fish.
Sharon
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Johanna SanInocencio
Where we live in Tennessee the toads and frogs are plentiful. Sometimes the
frogs make so much noise at night it is incredible. We occasionally find a
frog stuck to the side of our house. Your fancy pet waterer sounds amusing.
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
frogs make so much noise at night it is incredible. We occasionally find a
frog stuck to the side of our house. Your fancy pet waterer sounds amusing.
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
----- Original Message -----
From: <SandraDodd@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 4:18 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Turtle Pond
>
> << I often have to dump the toads and frogs out
> of the dog's water in the morning before the drown. >>
>
> My kids have never seen a frog in the wild. Toads, some. Not many.
>
> Friends of mine put in a pond lately, with a waterfall. It involves two
> pumps (can run on one), will have fish, and some plants, and is hooked
into
> the water line so that the water level stays up.
>
> If people just have a pond here (Albuquerque) it evaporates into a
mudhole.
> You have to have a water source for it. And pumping it only makes that
> worse--it evaporates into the air more easily.
>
> There are times in the heat of the summer that you can't efficiently water
> the lawn with spray--much of what goes up doesn't come down.
>
> So I'm reading about these ponds with wistful fantasy joy, and would like
to
> see them! We have a little indoor fountain (rocks in a bowl on a stand,
low
> to the floor) which the dog and cats use as a water dish and I have to add
> water every day.
>
> Sandra
>
> Sandra
>
> "Everything counts."
> http://expage.com/SandraDoddArticles
> http://expage.com/SandraDodd
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
jefferson academy
>This is so hard to imagine with NJ muggy heat. Our
> If people just have a pond here (Albuquerque) it
> evaporates into a mudhole.
> You have to have a water source for it. And pumping
> it only makes that
> worse--it evaporates into the air more easily.
>
> There are times in the heat of the summer that you
> can't efficiently water
> the lawn with spray--much of what goes up doesn't
> come down.
pond has only twice been filled by us and only once
emptied by nature - last summer we had a tremendous
drought - but didn't even need to fill it then as the
drought ended with a '1000 year rain' -a rain that
they said only happens around here once evey 1000 years!
=====
Michele
(mom of 5dd: Justice 22, Felicity 20, Christian 18, Grace 13, Elysian (Mia)2)
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger
http://im.yahoo.com
Sharon Rudd
On Mon, 10 Sep 2001 16:28:33 -0700 "Lynda"
pool...the fish lived for several years until I
returned them to their original home..Are cement
blocks different someway?
Dunno what kind of turtles we have. They are green
with pointy noses, fairly flat shells. Seem to only
eat in the water but prefer to stay under a piece of
fresh-water drift wood in the damp sand.
Thanks Sharon for the planting ideas. I've got quite a
few books and several of the plants you mentioned grow
wild not too far away.
Pond is getting bigger and changing shape....
Sharon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger
http://im.yahoo.com
> <lurine@...> writes:Plan to seal..thanks
> Also, if your cement is for the "floor" and "walls"
> of your pond, you
> either need a special cement or you need to add a
> water sealer to it.
> Oh yeah,??? Had cement blocks in the child's wading
> There's something about the lime in regular cement
> that is toxic to fish.
> Sharon
pool...the fish lived for several years until I
returned them to their original home..Are cement
blocks different someway?
Dunno what kind of turtles we have. They are green
with pointy noses, fairly flat shells. Seem to only
eat in the water but prefer to stay under a piece of
fresh-water drift wood in the damp sand.
Thanks Sharon for the planting ideas. I've got quite a
few books and several of the plants you mentioned grow
wild not too far away.
Pond is getting bigger and changing shape....
Sharon
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger
http://im.yahoo.com
Lynda
It is just about impossible to kill generic goldfish (of course as soon as I
say that someone will tell how their's all died <g>) but turtles are
suceptible to all kinds of things, fungi, soft shell, eye dieases, etc.
Of course, in the impossible to kill column I would also have put wandering
jew and thought it would be safe to give one to my mother who had a brown
thumb but she managed to kill that too. Go figure <g>
Lynda
say that someone will tell how their's all died <g>) but turtles are
suceptible to all kinds of things, fungi, soft shell, eye dieases, etc.
Of course, in the impossible to kill column I would also have put wandering
jew and thought it would be safe to give one to my mother who had a brown
thumb but she managed to kill that too. Go figure <g>
Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: Sharon Rudd <bearspawprint@...>\
> ??? Had cement blocks in the child's wading
> pool...the fish lived for several years until I
> returned them to their original home..Are cement
> blocks different someway?
>
> Dunno what kind of turtles we have. They are green
> with pointy noses, fairly flat shells. Seem to only
> eat in the water but prefer to stay under a piece of
> fresh-water drift wood in the damp sand.
>
> Thanks Sharon for the planting ideas. I've got quite a
> few books and several of the plants you mentioned grow
> wild not too far away.
>
> Pond is getting bigger and changing shape....
>
> Sharon
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo!
Messenger
> http://im.yahoo.com
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
jefferson academy
--- Sharon Rudd <bearspawprint@...> wrote:
cinder block -not sure and I only used a few - so
maybe it was ok since there was so little of it - or
maybe because the blocks were very very old (found
them laying around the property - or the mix in the
block could be different?
=====
Michele
mom of 5dd 2-22 :)
http://www.usborne-direct.com
Ask me about an 'award winning children's books' home business opportunity (or about getting free books for your child!)
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger
http://im.yahoo.com
> > Also, if your cement is for the "floor" andI said the above (Michele) and they may have been
> "walls"
> > of your pond, you
> > either need a special cement or you need to add a
> > water sealer to it.
>
> Plan to seal..thanks
>
> > Oh yeah,
> > There's something about the lime in regular cement
> > that is toxic to fish.
> > Sharon
>
> ??? Had cement blocks in the child's wading
> pool...the fish lived for several years until I
> returned them to their original home..Are cement
> blocks different someway?
cinder block -not sure and I only used a few - so
maybe it was ok since there was so little of it - or
maybe because the blocks were very very old (found
them laying around the property - or the mix in the
block could be different?
=====
Michele
mom of 5dd 2-22 :)
http://www.usborne-direct.com
Ask me about an 'award winning children's books' home business opportunity (or about getting free books for your child!)
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger
http://im.yahoo.com