A cat leaping out to the potted plants isn't at all likely if I'm reading you correctly that the plants are all clustered in the center of your pond? surrounded by water? Accidentally knocking a plant into the pond would not cause your fish to hide like they are. Something has been after them, that is what causes them to hide like that. A heron or raccoon has been into the water after them. They are scared for their lives and with good reason. A heron could easily knock plants over when landing there to use the plant island for a fishing platform. A cat watching doesn't scare them, I've seen my fish come right up to a cat (before electric fence for raccoons) Cats don't dive or wade into ponds after fish. Look at your pond really early in the morning, dawn/sunrise. I bet you'll see a heron. There is a DIY "Scarecrow" on the website below if you are handy, it adds up to less than they retail for if you make it yourself. Here is a link that might be useful: Heronizer

Thanks again everyone for the very kind comments! As far as breaking the 11th commandment, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's pond, well, I'm very guilty of that one. It is all the pics on this site that I've examined with almost stalker-ish fanaticism that has given me so many ideas and inspiration! Okiee-I'm using a 20 watt Pondmaster UV light and a discontinued filter that I got for very, very cheap (the Hozelock trinamic). The filter is rated for ponds up to 3000 gallons with heavy koi loads. As my pond is only about 1200 gallons, I think it's doing its job of keeping the pond very clear! LOL I oversized the filter because I know that my pond is overstocked. Lisa - I am going to be adding a 500 gallon addition to the pond this fall to hopefully give the koi some extra breathing space to grow. But, I know that because of the small size of my pond - even with the addition - I will have to likely have to part with some of my koi eventually. A local cafe/pottery shop/artist's retreat has several ponds with koi. I might ask them if they want some of my koi if they outgrow the home I can give them. I'm also planning on hooking up with some other local water garden societies so I can meet people who may welcome some adopted koi. I just want to make sure they go to a good home someday. But, before I get ahead of myself, I probably should just try to get them through a Wisconsin winter!! LOL (see my post on overwintering koi under thick ice)

Blue for You: CCRS rose auction next weekend has it. And we'll even grow it for you for the winter and send it in the spring if you prefer. It makes really good sprays here, and I love this little rose too. It's quite vigorous and roots fairly easily. Twilight Zone: I've been growing its parent, Della Reese, for many years here now, and I think it is an excellent rose --very vigorous, nice purple color and no mildew. So I expect that its offspring Twilight Zone (the new one) would be equally good. The improvement is probably in the blackspot arena, as I see Carruth is intro'ing this one nationally, and I don't think he would have done that without some blackspot testing. I did hear that Della Reese was not good for blackspot, and that's why it never became a national introduction for Weeks, but rather an "Armstrong exclusive" meaning only available in California, where the blackspot is not so much a problem. Anyway, I ordered Twilight Zone as soon as I saw it, from S&W Greenhouse, who is also carrying the "sneak peek" roses. Kathy Here is a link that might be useful: See CCRS Auction list for Blue for You

My first flush developed in an unexpected heatwave and bloomed in a cold snap (Boston, zone 6b). So they're a little more fuchsia than purple, but have VERY purple shading. This is LOVE. There are 24 frigging blooms on this thing and, in its first year, it's bigger than any of the other non wild rosebushes in my garden. What a happy, healthy, rosebush! This post was edited by Julietlovespurple on Tue, Jun 11, 13 at 17:45