66 thoughts on “The changing of the seasons”

  5. OK you’re hired to fix me a pond next spring. Your place always looks like a real vacation retreat. Even now, there’s the waterfall. Sigh. (Besides Molly Malamute could use a spot to cool off in the summer…Nooooo. Still may try anyway) Looks like you’re ready to take on the next few months.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • Our next door neighbor had a pond and a dog. It was a Portuguese water dog and she loved to go in. Their pond was bigger than mine. Sadly both dog and pond are gone. You would need a big batch of Turkish towels to dry Molly off but it would be worth it!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  6. I’m glad you got the job done! It isn’t lush like spring and summer, but it still looks very nice! I don’t need to winterize, but the lilies are definitely dying back. And last night a raccoon thrashed the pond, eating a few fish and it just looks awful! Every fall! I guess that’s my version of winterizing?

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply ↓

    • We have 4 birdfeeders around the pond. The raccoons come and dine on the sunflower seeds but have never done any damage to the pond. Occasionally a pot near the edge is turned over but I always assume some critter was getting a drink and got sloppy. Technically I have too many fish so I could spare a few. The problem is that they always take the prettiest or biggest. For a while I had a groundhog who ate the lily pads that were near the edge. A deer did the most damage a few years back and caused us to fence the yard.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  7. Of course, the summer photo is quite lush — absolutely gorgeous. I like the bare pond too, especially since the brilliant fish stand out. Perhaps they don’t STAND out, but they are very visible now. I’d love to watch them swim about.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • The pond has been a learning experience. Not everything I have planted around it did well. Some things overachieved and had to be removed. It’s a humid environment so finding the right stuff has taken a lot of time. I often wonder if it will ever be “done.”

      Like

      Reply ↓

  18. Your August pond is gorgeous, Kate! I can see why it’s worth the effort of opening it in the Spring and closing it in the Fall.

    It looks a bit “barren” in the 2nd shot . . . but still pleasant enough. And it’s nice to see the fish flitting about.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • It is pleasant enough and we are not outside much during the winter. When there is a partial freeze and snow covers most of it (I keep an area open for gases to exchange for the fish), it has a wintery beauty. Still like it best in the summer when flowers are blooming and frogs are croaking and fish are doing whatever they do.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  22. Hey Kate – Smarten up! Your pond is only sad because you remember how it was in August. It still looks lovely, and I bet there are many people in your area who would love to have your pond (in its current state) in their back garden! Be thankful! Here endeth the first lesson! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • It’s 5′ x 11′ which isn’t big. During the season it’s not much work at all. The filter unit gets backwashed once a week. It’s very easy and takes less than 5 minutes. I do a complete water change in the spring because I have too many fish there is a lot of poop over the winter. That is work but it takes about 3 hours plus time to refill. The fall cleanup is less work except I have to dismantle and clean the filter. I would do it again but perhaps a little smaller although maybe not! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  25. You have a beautiful pond – much bigger than I imagined.
    It’s always so sad to pull out the reminders of summer. I’m so far behind in my seasonal to-do list. Maybe I can draw inspiration from you and get my behind in gear. This morning we had frost … it’s time.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • It’s really not big. It’s 5′ x 11′. We haven’t had a frost yet and the temps the rest of the week look warmer than usual. We will get on soon though. I hate doing the clean up when it’s really cold. We still have the screened porch cushions to bring in and furniture to cover so the work isn’t completely done.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

    • It was emotional work! The fish survive the winter. There is a bubbler in there to keep a section of the water open. The water lilies will start to push up pads around the end of March or when the water warms up a little from the winter.

      Like

      Reply ↓

Don't be shy, I'd love to hear what you're thinking!