I have a 3/4 acre pond, a pond full of fish. Most of the fish are tilapia but there's also largemouth bass and bream. The pond is constantly fed by an artesian well. That's what I use for irrigation and hand-watering, low-dose fertilizing every time I water/irrigate.

Ursula, the house we just moved to has a really big pond. It gets to be 17 feet deep, but in the summer it's not even a foot deep. We've been trying to find fish that can handle freezing water, but realized maybe we just can't have fish in it since the pond freezes all the way through when it first snows. I was originally thinking that the fish could stay at the bottom of the pond while it's frozen, but if it freezes all the way through, they're toast.

Beautiful, Ken!

First bloom for this little flask baby I got from H&R Nursery in Hawaii a couple years ago. I dropped it into a basket with 2 other flask babies but this one may take over.


Dryadalla edwallii blooming 2 months early


Brassocattleya Yellow Bird


And Green Bird with all the flowers open.


The Dendrobium blooming in the back is a broken piece off someone else's plant. I picked it up along with a wilted Tillandsia and dropped them both into an empty terra cotta pot fully intending to do something with them. I forgot.

'Solar Flare' is beautiful, Daisy. I also really like Green Bird.

drdawg said:I have a 3/4 acre pond, a pond full of fish. Most of the fish are tilapia but there's also largemouth bass and bream. The pond is constantly fed by an artesian well. That's what I use for irrigation and hand-watering, low-dose fertilizing every time I water/irrigate.

Wow! All you need is an alligator and you will be living the Florida dream.

I agree, Ken that is really a great pond! Surely the fish are your babies by now!

Yes, even for Goldfish, you need a few feet of water to overwinter! Just in case, I keep a heater in the pond over the Winter!

Goldfish just need a little clear water to stay alive. Mine are in 18" ponds and our freeze depth is 18". I only had to borrow a dog bowl heater once though.

The fish in Ken's pond would be dinner at my house. I tried to buy a Tilapia once but its illegal to own them unless you have a permit. The fish was gorgeous - all orange and green stripes! But the man said he would have to kill it before he could sell it.

That Dryadella is such a cutie pie. What spots!!!
Your Yellow Bird Daisy is beautifully colored too!
I also love the color on that Dendrobium in the background of the Green Bird.
What a group of beautiful plants!!!

Thanks Bill.

Nice job Daisy, nice job!!

The second flower has opened on the problem child orchid and while this one is right side up it is still unattractive with curled up petals.

But still attractive.

Thank you Johannian, maybe if the petals ever unfurl we will see something special.

I have never had a gator in the pond and haven't even seen a snake in the pond in the 3 yr. we've lived here.

drdawg said:I have never had a gator in the pond and haven't even seen a snake in the pond in the 3 yr. we've lived here.

I don't think I'd want a gator in my pond! But then again, I have a five-year-old maniac for a brother who I'm constantly looking out for, so that probably has something to do with it LOL.

I don't think you have anything to worry about, Johannian.

Alice, regarding your problem child, for now I would say "nice color". And then there is always next time. Heh, it's blooming!

Daisy, nice show at your place!c

Thanks Ursula.

drdawg said:I don't think you have anything to worry about, Johannian.

There is a hot springs in Idaho with alligators. South Dakota isn't that far, is it? Any hot springs there?

Thanks Ursula!

Ok, BigBill, cover your eyes for a minute.