Mike! Everything looks wonderful!! I'm so happy for you that the cactus are going to bloom! The rainbow is such a bright, beautiful flower! The plants look great. And the other, which I'm blank on the name at the moment..lol.. looks like it has a ton of buds! Wow! cant wait to see the blooms! The pond is beautiful ! It looks like it's been there forever, with all the plants around it! What a cute little visitor! :=) gotta love them! We haven't seen any toads yet. No bullfrogs around here... but we do have the Colorado River toad that gets Huge! Now, why is the chair in the greenhouse empty? Were waiting for a picture of you and mom! You don't have to post mom here if she's shy, but you could email it to a few of us. ;-) Thanks for posting these! It's all so great! JoJo

clip this post email this post what is this? see most clipped and recent clippings Posted by mikeygraz 5 Omaha, NE (My Page) on Fri, Jul 11, 08 at 15:43 PervinPatty - Obviously you didn't do YOUR research on this subject. You undoubtedly got your information from the following website: www.californiaherps.com This is an excellent resource, and I know some of the people who have put that whole thing together. You obviously didn't look at the species list closely enough, as you will see that the southern leopard frog (Rana utricularia) is an INTRODUCED species - that means it is not native and doesn't belong there! While northern leopard frogs once had a few spots in northerneastern California where they were present, it is likely that they are EXTIRPATED (that means they are gone) from the state now, as it also says on that site and if you actually took the time to read scientific journals (as I do) you'll see that repeated efforts to find relict populations have failed. Also, you'll notice that northern leopard frogs never ranged into Central california, where you say you live...so again, that goes back to my saying you shouldn't be bringing in nonnative or nonlocal species. Obviously you didn't read my original post - do you really think that a northern leopard frog (or leopard toad, as you put it, haha) with its origins in North Carolina would survive in your region? I doubt it...not to mention the fact that it is ILLEGAL. You tried using the word "indigenous" as well - you have to use that word with some measure of scale - there are lots of anurans indigenous to California - but how about YOUR LOCAL area? I guess by your rules, you could take a Couch's spadefoot toad from extreme southeastern CA and put it in your pond...because its indigenous to California, right? Or maybe a Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea), because they are indigenous to the United State, and they sure are pretty! Again, do your research, and if you're too lazy to go find some construction sites or golf courses nearby you, then tough luck. Don't get pissy at me for advising and educating you about the problems that could be caused by your actions. ~Mike An old post but worth repeating!

Why thank you, Digger! If it wasn't for the pond forum, my husband and I would never have dreamed we could take a project like this on. We've learned huge amounts from the observations of the ponders who've shared their joys and heartaches here. It's a fabulous resource. Karen, there were days when I really felt overwhelmed and wondered if we'd *ever* get it done. As to its size, one of the things I read over and over here at the forum was that folks always felt they made their first ponds too small, so this pond is 23' long and at its widest it's 14' across. The deep end is just over 4 feet, the shallow end is 2 feet. No fish right now. I wanted to spend the first season just learning how to get the water stable. Lots of life in the pond, though--endless tadpoles, plus salamanders have bred in it. It's great to be able to watch salamanders. I'm thinking that when I do get fish I'll go with shubunkins--the beauty of koi, but a tougher fish. We have 25 acres, but have only cleared one acre and will stop there. A significant hunk of this valley has been bought by the Nature Conservancy to create a green corridor for wildlife between Quebec and Vermont. When Paul and I moved here (he grew up in this valley, but I'm a city girl) there wasn't the wildlife we see now--lots of deer, wild turkeys, some moose and now a bear. Not so thrilled by the bear which was cheeky enough to walk up on to our front porch three weeks ago. I'm still in shock over that one. I cracked up when you said you'd asked your husband to toss you under the pond liner when the day comes. Too funny :) Have you posted pictures of your yard here? If you have, could you point me to them? I'm always looking for inspiration :)

Hi, my name is Lori from suburban Chicago. I have to admit I am a bit glassy-eyed from reading this thread...it will take a while for me to remember you all. I am glad to meet you and enjoyed reading your stories. I laughed when I read about the Hookers... I used to tell people I was a drug dealer (I am a Pharmacist, part-time, large chain) I am closing in on 50, married to my college sweetheart (27 years) have 2 sons, 18 & 17. My first memories of sewing are in 8th grade. My mom was an awesome seamstress, but I mostly leaned on my own. I did some garments through high school and college, left sewing for a while, came back when I had kids. I found less pleasure in sewing for boys so I started sewing for my nieces (dresses, doll clothes). Then my college roommate (home ec major) sparked my interest in quilting. My first quilt was for a beloved pre-K teacher who's husband was being transfered to MN. It wasn't a "quality" product...I had the kids (3 & 4 year olds) and their parents to my house to make quilt blocks using fabric paint and who knows what...then I pieced it and stitched in the ditch. That started it all! I will admit here, although most who know me, know this about me.. I am a fabric junkie. I have yet to complete a successful rehab of my addiction. I don't think I own a quilt that I have made. (UFOs don't count) The pre-K teacher's quilt got me started on a series of teacher's quilts. I made a quilt for each teacher (through 6th grade) when my youngest son finished the grade. Both sons went to a small Lutheran school, one son right after the other.. I kind of felt like it was combat pay for the teacher, surviving both boys. I had a common theme for these quilts, Each year I would trace the hands of the students in the class and formulate a quilt around the choosen theme of the school year. My youngest son transfered schools after 6th grade. I had planned on his 8th grade quilt to have had a current handprint and an "original" handprint (from JK or whenever a student arrived at the school), but that quilt never came to be. I found the GardenWeb when I was doing a kitchen rennovation a couple of years ago.(a 20+ year in the making project) I stumbled upon the quilt forum when I did a google search on longarm machines. I recently purchased a Tin Lizzie (used from Ebay) I haven't recieved it yet, a bit nervous about it. I own an old singer (was my high school graduation gift),an antique treadle machine, a babylock serger (LOVE IT)and my workhorse Brother Ult 2001. I also love machine embroidery (many of my quilts have some embroidery somewhere) and digitizing. It's kind of amazing for someone who never thought she had an artistic bone in her body.(Math and Science -yes). I am currently working on: 1. a quilt for an assistant pastor who is retiring. (should be working on that right now...) 2. college for son A (senior in high school) 3. college for son B (junior in high school) 4. sorority items for nieces and friend's daughters... found I loved to make gift items when my oldest niece joined a sorority her freshman year. I have made tote bags, pillowcases, night lights, sweatshirts, pillows, photo albums..My favorite is the quilt I made for my niece (picture in the gallery) Notice missing from this list... housework... never on my to do list if I can help it. Ok, I will also admit I like to chat... I can be wordy... thanks for listening.. Lori