Hi, I've found all of the info here quite useful! A friend was helping me construct a pond and waterfall. he dug the hole but I wawnt to make it larger (3 feet deep by appx 8 x 12now or smaller I forget). I obtained everything I had needed so far gratis eg lots of boulders and slate, even fine pebble which I am rading might not be any good to use (blck and very fine like for aquariums), als bricks and concrete blocks, etc, for edgdes. Had to remove some so cn use thoes around sides. Anyway, we had to abandon the project when my friend went for medical treatment; besides it was cold then. Thought we would pick up the project in the spring but my friend left treatment and I can't locate him. There is no way I can do this project being a woman of chronic illness and pain..lots. I can't afford a landscapre so I really don't know what is goign happen here. But in case we manage to find help and finish the project, a rew questions: We piled up the dirt where the waterfall would be but am now wondering why as we need to pile rocks and slate for that right? Not a 3-4 foot pile of dirt..what use would it be? So should I get rid of it and should I leave any kind of mound for teh waterfall? I've not ordred anything else for it yet. Am wondering if sand is or is not a good idea to place under the underliner as we have had problems with horrid bamaboo in tht area; my Dad had to have it dug over 4 foot deep and ccovered wiht thick black cloth..now I;m digging thru it to plant etc. once in a while a root pops up butI handle them. There is a wall of ivy nearby so those roots are also underground... I have a neibhbors HUE elm tere partially overhanging in the area but not directly over pond; nevertheless it has caused me so much grief in teh past with its saplings I can;t even describe it. Thousands of them in every single pc of my property which is 2 lots there. So as far as underling Ithink its a must, what kind is best for me? I don;t want any mold. Would carpeting have eto be outdoor type? I need to find someone to make the hole about a foot or so larger to maaybe 12 by 16 and 3 deep. I also need advice on what do get as far as equipment although I have read alot, still need advice. Pump, how to actually construct that wterfall as I want it high and wide as possle..there is an electrical outlet nearbby on my old brick furnace..where can i find out abotu in ground drains and cost etc. I won;t be adding fish yet so do I need a motility thingy/ What else, a filter...any help woud be appreciated even as far as if you know anyone who might be interestedin helping me build for a good price. My last landscaper took me for every penny at the lat minute and like a food O paid him; then he dudg up and tossed out 100-200 rock cress spreading plants. I nearly died but discoveredit too late..He doesn;t know his job and took advantage of me which is easy to do financially. My birder left wtih 2 mos rent and my saw, tools, even coat and uggs! Andmoney which is why I;m in a slump financially but determined to get this done. The upkeep may be hard but Ise the glass half full. Do not have a clue how much ponds cost to run and have never ever thought of that befoer I started the project. Sorry for the length..am excited to have found peopel to discuss gardenign with already. Any repluy to any part of the post will be appreciated.

Well, I'm assuming you mean other than water lily. I like my pond and stream to look natural. My favorite plant is veriegated sweet flag. It needs to be at least slightly damp but will do fine submerged. Even a small clump can be divided and you will then have a lifetime supply. I use it at the edge of the pond and stream and right now in the filter although that reminds me to replace some of it with some color like impatiens which are also a fav of mine. If you don't have some shade, impatiens wouldn't work for you. Here is a link that might be useful: sweet flag

Ken: Lily was my aunt. She was so sociable, she had a whole Society named for her (and I really did have an aunt named Lily...at is more, she was an avid gardener). I'm fine: busy sending out art fair applications. Bellarosa: Welcome back! Woody is still president. Maybe because no one else has stepped forward! :) I will be posting future events on the FB page, including the bulb sale. This year there will be some satellite bulb sale locations, which is really exciting.

I'm a bit further out west in the burbs in DuPage County. I see mostly tiger swallowtails, black swallowtails, monarchs, red admirals, several species of the small grass skippers, american and painted ladys, spring and summer azures, and of course cabbage whites. I have also seen silver spotted skippers, question marks, sulphurs, and common buckeye. Strangely enough I have not seen an adult mourning cloak yet, but did have a caterpillar in the garden one year. Probably came from one of the numerous elm trees that sprout up as weed trees along fences in the neighborhood. I also have had the nessus sphinx, snowberry, and clearwing hummingbird moths. You could check the regional checklist on the BAMONA website for your county, if you haven't done so already. The one for DuPage county lists a fair amount of butterflies, but the moth data is lacking. Cook county might be more complete though. The only things I have raised from host plants so far are monarchs, black swallowtails, and hummingbird clearwing moths. So I can't comment too much on what host plants are best here from personal experience. The monarchs used Asclepias incarnata, A. tuberosa, A. syrica. The black swallowtails ate dill, fennel, parsely, carrots, and rue. The hummingbird moth was on arrowwood viburnum. I'm always trying to add more host plants, but don't have a lot of room for the trees and large shrubs. I start a bunch of stuff by wintersowing seeds from seed swaps and generous gardenwebbers. I also have gotten plants from a local native plant sale. There are three coming up in late April to mid-May in the area that I know of. The one I have been to is in Wheaton and it is a pretty good deal because you can get small plugs for $1.50. There is also one in Schaumburg and Oak Brook. I think there may be some native plant sales in Cook and Lake county too, but am not sure. Below are links to the three that I know of. Wheaton Sale Oak Brook Sale Schaumburg Sale