Just like all other past avocations, I think I’ve grasped at straws locally and indiscriminately as I learned more about water garden aquatic plants and animals.

Plants: I buy something here and there locally because that is what is immediately available to satisfy my desire to have some aquatic plants. A few water hyacinths, water lettuce, some marginals....and lots of oxygenators!

8/5/01: I know now to line up friends to take some of the excess hyacinths, lettuce and hornwort. It does grow to overtake the space available.

A trip to Ramsey Indiana at Aquarius Water Gardens and some of my plant needs are fulfilled! Iris, Parrot Feather, lots of Anacharis, bog beans and four hybrid water lilies. It’s a start.

06/27/01: The question is whether it will be enough to avoid or minimize the inevitable first algae bloom.

Fish: I’m not in it for Koi or fancy expensive fish. I’m interested in insect control. That’s why I buy my fish by the pound. Common goldfish and fathead minnows. I do take precautions to make sure they are healthy but they don’t get names. They just love mosquito larvae of which I had my share due to the slowness of my getting all my mechanicals in order. Now that the water moves, it isn’t a problem, but the fish have decimated the larvae that moved in during the still water period.

I also arranged a pebble beach area for birds and other water seekers to take a drink. I’ve heard frogs down there but I think the fish will take care of any frog eggs this season. Maybe next year when there is more cover......

6/26/01: Yes, there be frogs down there. Just had a conversation with one. Frogs eat bugs. Welcome one and all - except for the doe I surprised. Deer resistant plants........

7/02/01: The first water lily blossom. Quite a sight for a beginner. Also the first appearance of a ring of algae around the perimeter of the lower pond and stringy filamentous algae in the stream. Now I’ve heard that having the one might just help fight the other - pea soup monocellular algae so I’m leaving it alone to see what develops.

All right. I will compile a species list of all the plants and maybe the fish. Just a thought though....not a promise.........

7/16/01: I just discovered that several of the hornwort plants, submerged a month ago, has grown nearly 30 inches and will break surface in the lower pond in a few days. I’ll probably be netting the stuff out soon. They were hitchhikers to begin with.

The water is crystal clear and the pH and alkalinity is dead nuts mid-ideal. Wonders never cease. I’ve moved two of my lilies to the middle of the lower pond, I’ve rearranged things to give everybody a little breathing room and things are looking pretty good to me.

7/19/01: Finally got a picture of Froggie. Last time I saw him, he was sitting on a lily pad, just like in the kiddy song. I’m hoping there will be frog eggs and tadpoles down the road.

7/20/01: I’m starting to believe that there will be no algae bloom. I’ve got smooth algae on the liner, just a little filamentous algae in the stream and the water is still crystal clear (except for the occasional gully washer that overwhelms my drainage pipes. Everything is growing like crazy and I’m a happy ponder.

8/02/01: Do I notice a bit of green in the water? I suppose it was too much to ask for no algae bloom. The real issue is why now? Is the fish mass getting too much for the water volume? At 163 square feet, they say I should be able to support half that many inches of fish. At an average of 4”, that’s 21 fish. It can’t be insufficient plant growth. The anacharis and hornwort in the lower and upper ponds are growing like crazy and I’ve got the upper pond at least 2/3 covered with water hyacinth and lettuce. Hmmmm.......maybe some quilt batting in the filter?

8/03/01: Nothing new on the algae front but we’ve got tadpoles in the upper pond feeding on minnow spawn. Also noticed that the goldfish are actively feeding on minnow spawn, despite frenzied but futile attacks by the minnows. Interesting little drama going on here.

8/5/01: I’ve discovered that the green I saw was filamentous algae building up on the pond liner both on the sides on top of the smooth algae and less so on the bottom . A twirl of a dowel and the water’s green tinge is gone. The stuff sure grows quietly and quickly. I’ve put some water hyacinth on the top layer of the biofilter and while it looks a little silly, hopefully it will add to the filtration.