I'm sorry to hear about your night time visitors. It's possible the water has satuated to soil and so now there isn't anywhere for the water to drain so it appears that the pond isn't losing water. Here is a copy of the article on finding a leak. I hope it helps. Finding a Leak The primary function of any pond is to hold water. Leak checks are a vital part of any start up. For a still pond the obvious question is Does it hold water? If so then everything is set to go. If it doesn't, then it is a simple matter to allow the water level to stabilize and then inspect for damage at the stable water line wherever it may be. Lowering the pond level an inch or two below the stable water level will allow some additional space for inspection. Careful inspection is in order for all ponds. Inspect liners for deterioration from ultraviolet exposure or physical damage. Tubs and preforms should have no problems due to weather conditions, but may need some adjusting of level or back fill to support the container. Concrete ponds in freezing climates may have been subject to freeze damage or settling if not on a firm foundation. The key issue for many ponds is finding the exact leaking area. Whenever there is a system that moves water out of the basic container there is a risk of leakage. Often these leaks can be difficult to detect because of the nature of the pond, filter, stream or other feature. Ask: When was the leak first noticed? How often is water added? Is there an automatic fill device? Is there any damage or settling? Is animal damage a possibility? Children playing in the pond, or well-meaning landscaping near the pond may result in leakage as well. Next, take a walk around the pond to look for any obvious wet areas, filled soil berms or retaining walls that may be subject to settling or movement. Gradually increase the detail of the inspection as obvious possibilities are ruled out. If the details of construction are known, the inspection as obvious possibilities are ruled out. If the details of construction are known, the inspection can focus on finding the leak. For ponds of unknown construction, the inspection may need to include some additional details about the pond to know exactly what to look for. Keep in mind that splash or evaporation should be less than five gallons per day for the average water feature of about 8 x 10 feet. This amount can be scaled for smaller or larger features. Isolating the systems is the key to finding the leak point. If the leak appears when the pump is running, then turn off the pump to see if the containment leaks at all. Be sure to start with the pond filled to the overflow point. Even very small cracks or holes can leak substantial amounts of water. Allowing the pond to stand will either identify or eliminate the basic containment as the leak point. Small leaks may take a long time to reach a stable level. To speed up the process, it may be helpful to pump out a few inches of water and then re-check for a constant water level. By lowering the level a few inches at a time, a relatively narrow band of pond containment can be isolated for inspection. If the basic containment is intact, the next step is to isolate any other system components to check for leaks. Piping and filters can be checked by filling the system and shutting off the pump with a check valve, gate valve, or pipe cap to prevent back flow and then watching that part of the system to see if the level drops. This operation can be done at the same time the basic containment is being checked. If there is a waterfall or stream, that part may best be examined with the system in operation. Installed liners make this process easier since any leakage will probably be at the edges. As needed, a hose or pipe can be placed in longer streams starting at the bottom to isolate portions of the stream to check for leaks. Concrete watercourses without liners underneath may be subject to leakage through cracks or settling of the stream bed. Once the leak is isolated, the correction is usually quite simple. If there is liner damage, a patch appropriate for the liner type will provide for a permanent repair. Component or piping leaks are usually a simple repair or pond edges are often a simple fill or restructure and replace any decorative stones or plants. Depending on the time of construction and the nature of the site, the first winter may have significant settling of berms and edges. These areas are the first place to look for leaks and often are the source. Edge leaks will generally leave evidence as wet spots along the edge. Dry days are the best for checking pond integrity. The obvious goal is to build ponds with no leaks from the start. By building a pond with a variety of inspection points around the edges, it can be very simple to check pond edges for adequate liner height. - Fold some liner under the edges to have some additional liner available if settling occurs or the owner desires some small modifications. Also check for liner folds that may allow for channeling of the water. Any folds should perpendicular to the edge of the pond or steam. Folds at an angle may have a section that sags below the water level and produces a leak path. Also be sure than liner folds in the stream overlap downhill like roofing shingles to prevent channeling in the stream bed. For those involved with concrete construction, placing a rubber liner under the concrete structure will prevent leakage in the event of any cracks in the concrete shell. Even concrete with applied coatings can benefit from being installed over a liner. Any waterfall or stream should have a liner that overlaps the basic water containment. Try to use the maintenance activities as an opportunity to meet with the owner. Ask if they are satisfied with the performance of the pond and the overall environment. There may be a desire to upgrade the systems, install a more efficient pump, or change the companion landscaping. Also answer any questions the owner may have regarding the pond and routine maintenance functions that could make the pond experience more enjoyable. Article courtesy of John Menhart, P.E., Pond Sweep Manufacturing, Company

Tiffy, That Dianthus sounds amazing! I know that's going to be missed :-( Karen, I wonder if you have voles? They make it quite a battle for me with putting things in the ground. I did the orange peel thing and it seemed to stave off my cats and the voles-- which the cats should be hunting and don't. I lost three successive plantings of Monarda one year in one week. Every time I planted the seedlings, the voles sucked them under, leaving little trace of their presence, and no plant. They did the same to my basil. I misspoke when I said, "blooms of things that previously didn't work for me at all". I meant to say "sprouts" not "blooms". Not much is blooming yet because the weather has been mostly under 65 degrees. I'm thinking that I'll have to pull out some kind of protection for all plants, every fall since we don't get dependable, continual snow cover like we used to. We could have no snow at the WRONG time and then, like a lot of people experienced this past winter, lose tons of est. plants. That would make me cry. Linda

I quit feeding the wild birds when I got chickens, because they were under my feeders every night, and I didn't want to attract them to the chickens. I haven't seen one since. They are noxious creatures who will get into everything around the outside of your house. My bird feeders used to be inaccessible to the coons, but they'd come every night to pick up the dropped seed. Then they'd climb my trees and get into fights and damage the trees. They get into the trash, and the dogs water dish, and my water garden and leave poop all over the place. htown, I would highly recommend that you take your scraps FAR away from where you want the coons.

Jane, I'm glad that my simple words gave you comfort. The approaching evening might be a difficult time for you -- it often is for those recently (within years) bereaved. And with dusk, those birdies leave for the night -- except, do you ever notice how the cardinals are often the last to call it a day? And in the summer, those hummingbirds also come after dusk as well. Hold on, Jane. Take all the time you need and grieve how you need. Be gentle with yourself on this awful rollercoaster trip. Time does temper the heartache, but before that, it seems to take forever to find release from the crushing loss. (A friend once described the pain of grief as being also physical pain for its intensity.) But, even if someone has a miracle pill, it wouldn't really help hasten what needs to take time, reflection, remembering and tears. But remember that you are not alone in many other ways. Words are inadequate, but it's all many of us can offer. We need to offer as much as you might need to receive. Claire, I meant to tell you how much I loved those turkey shots. Beautiful. I used to have turkeys milling about, but not so much in the past couple of years. I'm curious what they are looking for on the ground (to eat?). Do you put corn or seed out for them? I just love wild turkeys. Seeing them feels like "everything's gonna be just fine" even if the world seems crazy from one week to the next. One late afternoon I got to watch a group of them fly up into a tall oak and settle in. I don't know if they stayed there all night or only until Leno was over. Susan, love those goldfinches, but you're are so yellow only their hairdresser knows for sure.