Spring housing problems

I have a garden full of tree frogs. These two love to live in my calla lilies. Unfortunately the callas are fast rotting away, but the frogs love their houses and refuse to move.






If they would consent to moving just one floor down, they could have two brand new calla lilies, model houses, if you will, and be the first occupants of these elegant new homes.

Fertilizing aquatic plants

If you have not yet fertilized your water lilies, now is the time. Use aquatic plant tabs and push them into the soil. Use one tab for each gallon of soil. If your lily pads have not yet reached the surface, wait until they do.
I do not fertilize other aquatics. The fish waste seems to do a fine job of that. The plants leap from their pots as it is. With fertilizer, they would be camping on my front porch.

SHIPPING:

Many of you buy pond products from me. I have the shipping costs linked directly to UPS, so I do not control shipping costs at all. I know shipping costs are sky high and I don't like it either. Product costs also suffered a hefty rise in price last week, something else I cannot control. Just as the cost of groceries is rising, the cost of having a pond is rising. I wish that were not the case, but it is.

You can see an entire catalog of my pond articles at Backyard ponds with the pondlady
You can probably find answers to your pond questions in one of them.

I have a new project just started for writers or wannabe writers. Have a look at xiffi Stop by, join and have a look around. If you have a submission, send us your submission and we will publish it.

Fire Ants and the Pond

I get many questions about killing ants (especially fire ants) around the pond. They are worried about poisoning the fish if some ant killer gets in the water. Diatomaceous earth is an effective and natural ant control. Even if some gets in the pond there should be no problem. Diatomaceous earth is available at most garden centers. Follow the label's instructions for use.

Read the Pondlady's articles to find answers to your pond questions.

For more information, see Backyard ponds with the pondlady

We have started a new writers' site. If you are a writer or a wannabe writer, take a look at Xiffi

We are not able to pay writers yet, but hope to as we get up and running. Enjoy.

Koi and Clay

Koi will scrounge around a pond's natural bottom for food. When they eat the food, they also get some tiny pieces of clay. The clay provides tiny particles which provide needed grit to help with digestion as well as beneficial minerals which account for much of the very bright colors of Koi living in natural bottom ponds.
You can add Koi Clay to your lined pond and the color of your koi will brighten.

Do visit us at Gardeners Gumbo to swap gardening info with gardeners from all over.

To read the pondlady's pond articles, visit Backyard Ponds with the Pondlady

Fish spawning

It's spring and a young male fish's fancy turns to thoughts of female fish. When you see your fish chasing after each other, sometimes even removing scales or acting as if they are fighting, they are really spawning and you will soon be a goldfish grandparent.

Fish are not good parents. The moment the fish is born, the parents try to eat it and are often successful. Goldfish are born a grayish, brownish color to give them a chance at life and obviously, some make it.

If you give those babies a place to hide, they have a better chance of survival. The best place for fry to hide is in the fine roots of water hyacinth. Scatter the hyacinths around your pond so the fry can stay there until the coast is clear. When they get a bit bigger, they can survive much more easily.

For fish care items, food, medication, nets, check the Pondlady's Shop

To meet and swap information with other gardeners, join us at

Gardeners Gumbo

To see a catalog of all the pondlady's pond articles, see

Backyard ponds with the pondlady

Koi? Illegal?

Owning or keeping koi is illegal in the state of Maine. Koi are considered a nuisance fish that can invade public waterways and cause native fish to die out. No matter what state you live in, check with your local extension service to find out the status of koi.
Other states are considering making owning koi illegal. Check with your local pond society or extension service to learn the status of koi in your state.

If you do have koi or goldfish, you can get fish care products at my pondlady shop.

Join us at Gardeners Gumbo for gardening information from gardeners all over the country.

Read pond information and articles written by the pondlady, Backyard ponds with the pondlady
She will answer most of your questions.

A Walmart Experience

I don't go to Walmart. I have not been to Walmart in probably three years. Today I needed some dog food and other silly things like those whatzits to hang a shower curtain with and 4 placemats. You get the picture.

I was getting dog food when I heard a wife asking the clerk if what she had in her hand was the right thing to kill pond algae. The clerk did not know. Hubby who was standing there told the clerk that it was not the right thing and his stupid wife didn't know anything anyway. Everybody knows it takes a filter to move water to get rid of algae. Here's where I made my mistake. I had on my pondlady shirt, so turned and said, "Filters do not move water, pumps do and a pump will not kill algae."
He says, "You don't know what you are talking about and I don't believe you."
Me: "I build ponds, but I see I don't need to waste my time giving you free advice because you know everything."
Him: "I do know everything and I don't need some silly woman telling me anything."

Here I did the only smart thing I did all day. I put the dog food in the cart and walked away.

And that's why I don't go to Walmart.