While I am not familiar with the Austin area, I can promise you probably have a huge group of predators that know all about your pond. I am an insomniac so I get to see a population of critters that would horrify my neighbors. There are many birds that could be the culprit. Hawks, eagles, owls, kingfishers and of course the herons are starting or ending their hunts at sunrise or sunset when the fishies won't see them as easily. Then you have raccoons, coyotes, turtles and other 4 legged hunters and snakes. About the only thing that does the job well is a net. Many ponders resist it thinking it is too noticeable but it is the most effective against birds. The least noticeable is bird netting. For the larger critters a Fido Fence or similar device works well. Or you can sit by the pond at night as I do and scare the heck out of them with a good shot from a water hose at full force. If you need the sleep, a water cannon such as a Scarecrow works well for me. Sandy

Oh I sure hope ALL of the redwinged blackbirds come to stay with you for a while. They've been with us for two months, stripping our feeders, hundreds upon hundreds of them blackening our trees and yard. We've gone through soooo much seed and our poor little regular birds don't stand a chance. When all converge, it reminds us of the movie "The Birds". They are so noisey. They loved our beech trees when we lived in Ohio. They will return to us again in the fall.

juliekcmo, I don't know if the kitchen is coming across very accurately in pictures. It is a very french country white in real life, not the light wood look that it appears in these pictures. With that, it reads a little more on the formal side to me. Either way, I just like more formal style. I agree, I need to think about the pool deck, pool and greenery. I"m not a fan of red so I'm trying to bring out the pinks I think... Thanks kswl and mtnrdredux. In defense of my tan, it is not really a peach. It was repainted some time between 2009 and now b/c I've seen pre-2009 listing pics from before the current owners had the house and the walls were different colors. If I have to repaint, I can do that... I guess... But I am really hoping I'll get the furniture in and it will look OK w/o repainting. I truly don't want to go through all that mess if there is any way to avoid! Old listing picture, as an example. This was before the new owners replaced the floor. The house was only built in 2005 and has already had a kitchen remodel, new floors and a fireplace remodel!

Based on its blooming at the ends of the branch in in small clusters combined with the slight nodding, my guess would be Pat Austin. Lady of Shallot, seems to me, to be almost identical in many respects but My LoS puts out small lateral shoots off main cane and blooms on those. They both have shiny green leaves, and depending on humidity, etc, can both look just as healthy . I thought LoS was a new improved PA for a long time, but I find PA to bloom more frequently and be more fragrant. LoS lasts longer, but slower flushes. My suggestion would be to try both (!) and see which one you prefer. Theyre both lovely and about same size. Best, a