Peggy.........how's your pond and fen?

[CathyA]

Just wondering how your pond and fen are doing. Are you still in a drought?
Anything interesting going on there?

[CathyA]

Yoooohoooo Peggy...........

[peggy]

Hi Cathy. Sorry, I've been busy.
The pond and fen are both doing great! The water levels are back to where they should be, and even at this date (mid-summer) the levels are good. The water is clear in both and I've put in stuff to help 'eat' the muck on the bottom. Actually not much muck in the pond but a fairly thick bed in the fen, maybe 5 inches.
I did add some more goldfish to the fen since it got so dangerously low last year and I wasn't sure if they had been all eaten by the turtles, snakes and heron. But not much duck weed/water meal on the fen so I'm guessing plenty did survive. The heron, kingfishers, ducks and geese all party regularly back there, and turkeys like to hang around along with deer.

The other day I saw a grey heron, red shouldered hawk and some medium sized water bird (not duck, not green heron) sitting in a dead tree on the far side of the fen. Underneath them on the ground were three turkeys. I had my book out trying to identify the unknown water bird when a young coyote leaped out of the woods behind the tree and tried to get him some turkey! Everyone scattered in a flurry of feathers and noise. It was quite exciting! One turkey flew into a tree, one flew across the fen to the lawn area and I don't know where the third one went. The coyote was unsuccessful, and kind of mooched around a bit. He then walked around the fen and came up into the lawn to chase the one there, but of course it got away. The coyote looked to be a youngster from this spring. I love it when I catch little slices of fen life like this, like that turtle drama last year.
The pond is as relaxing as ever. My hubby pulled three huge catfish out last fall, but there are still a couple of really big ones left. They are probably 3 feet long. Normally I wouldn't mind them being there, but they are such bullies and chase the other fish away from the dock when I try to feed them in the evening. I don't mind feeding catfish, but I really want to feed my koi. They are my pets and I want to see them everyday. The smaller catfish aren't as bold. There are several bass, who lack any self respect at all, who come up regularly to eat the floating pellets.

I've put golden shiners in a couple of times now and I'm thinking I'll put 5 or 6 pounds in this fall. They are so entertaining, leaping clear out of the water all around the edge! I just don't think about WHY they are leaping (which is, after all, their job and lot in life)

[CathyA]

Sounds great Peggy! I envy you and your pond and fen.

I would love those things, but for now I have to be grateful for my little wee stocktank ponds. My lotus bog has put out tons of aerial leaves, and it should soon put out blossoms. I have 3 kinds of water irises, but they're all done for this year. Have a huge northern water snake in the little pond and recently saw a baby snake. Found about a 3' long snake skin last week. I hung it up outside, since the Great Crested Flycatchers like to use it in their nests. I have several green frogs..........but I'm not sure they'll last too long with that big snake around.
No fish here.....just tadpoles.
I have 4 different kinds of water lilies, so its nice looking at them. The hummingbirds like visiting the flowers around the ponds, along with the dragonflies.

Life would sure be boring without all this water stuff, right? :)
I'm glad your water level is back up to normal. Enjoy!

Here's a pic of that baby snake.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/Catherine50/IMG_0644_zpse193fc2e.jpg

[Gardenarian]

Beautiful photo - love that lily!
My frog pond is down to a puddle of duckweed now - all the baby frogs are out on their own.
But they'll be back next year.

[CathyA]

Thanks Gardenarian..........the baby snake seems to like the lily too!

[Tussiemussies]

Love your picture Cathy' the little snake is so cute and the lily is beautiful. How big is your pond?