Hey, all! I guess it's time for an Equisetum update. The E. giganteum topped out a little over seven feet, although it had to be tied up to keep from falling over. Because of its size, it might have to be moved and staged differently. My containerized E. hyemale has performed all summer to colonize this large pot. First, a pic from earlier this summer - and then a pic from this morning. I imagine this plant will grow for another month and a half at least. It sent up many spore-cones, but they were small and delicate and seemed to fall off with the slightest suggestion of wind, water, or touch. That's all for now. Not bad, eh? Josh

I'm looking for Crystle Confetti and Skunk Cabbage. I have Large Horsetail rush and Variegated Water Celery. I also have several water lilies. Check out my list or just ask. I have loads of Pond plants.

Kate, as you know, I have kept water gardens of some sort for years, including container water gardens of every size. You really don't need a pump or filter in a small container garden if you have it balanced with plants and a few guppies or small goldfish. I usually get a pregnant female guppy, and put her in an urn or other water garden with some floating aquarium plants to hide the babies as she drops them. Then for very little expense, you soon have enough guppies to eat mosquito larva, etc, and they require very little supplumental feeding after awhile. In the beginning, I feed them flake fish food, but once the container gets really well established, there are often enough other goodies for them to live on fairly well. But if you enjoy feeding them, you can continue to give them small amounts of fish food daily. Some of my favorite plants to put in container gardens are cannas (just sit the pot right in the container), Japanese iris, taro of various kinds, dwarf water lilies (HD has them), pickerel weed (pull some up out of a ditch & pot it), variegated rush, dwarf papyrus, water lettuce (if you can find some in a lake somewhere...they don't sell it due to its invasiveness), and any small aquarium plants you want to throw in as either floaters, or weighted to the bottom. Valisneria, cabomba, hornwort, and anacharis are good choices. You won't try to put ALL of the above in one garden, of course, but they are foolproof choices. I have sometimes had four or five container water gardens of varying heights and sizes grouped together. They make a fantastic display, and you never have to worry about them wilting in hot weather. I also often add a few drops of black food coloring to the water. It hides the pots and makes the water a perfect mirror to reflect clouds and blue sky. If you have fish that you really want to see, you can skip that. It's just a matter of taste. Duckweed will definitely overflow when it rains, so Kat's suggestion of holes around the top is a good one, though it will also flow right through those, sometimes. I usually just scoop most of it up and throw it back in. And unless we are having major storms, if you don't fill the container up all the way, you often have room for a summer shower without it overflowing. Some afternoon shade is not a bad idea, if possible, as it will keep the water temps a bit lower. Don't add many fish. Just one or two will probably do it. If you have well water, no need to worry about chlorine. If you have city water, you need to let it sit a day or two before adding fish, OR you can get some Zip drops (or a similar product) from PetSmart to neutralize the chlorine. I almost always keep my plants in pots. Easier to switch them out if they decline, and less mess to worry with. BUT, I have, on occasion, made a half sand, half potting soil mixture and covered the bottom of a tub with that, then planted directly into it. Especially with really big plants that would need a large pot which might crowd the main container. There are lots and lots of ways to do water gardens, and mostly, it's easy. I've had very few problems with mine. When you come over Saturday, I will have some plants you can take home if you want them. I have extra black taros, extra striped rushes, and probably some extra papyrus, if you're interested. Good luck. What you've done looks great!! I predict you will enjoy them thoroughly! Marcia

BigMama - Don't forget to look at the link Fran made and make some requests from the lists also. I will do my best to get you some of your requests. Becky - I will also be posting some more toward the end so keep checking back I am trying to get to the nursery but just haven't made it yet. Fran - I will be happy when Im back to being me again also. I have one more test at the hospital on Monday. I am praying everything is alright because 2 weeks ago there was a problem and if its not corrected at this ultrasound they are going to have to do another dnc. So not looking forward to that. I just realized I missed your offers completely. LOL. Marian - I noticed noone requested your coontail moss I would love a sm piece of that also. I am looking for a couple oxygenators. NEW REQUESTS marian - coontail moss fran - Litrope, Thalia, orange canna, wild daffs.