300ga stock tank pond, 3/4 buried in the ground (5'x5'x28"). ~1000gph submerged pump goes to a 60ga DIY skippy-type filter with scrubbies, rocks, and lots of plants on top. Water flows out and down a small stream back to the pond. Six 6-8" goldfish/comet/shebunkins and 1/2 a dozen babies. Spring: Raise the potted plants from the bottom, re-pot and fertilize. Drain ~1/2 the water and clean out any debris on the bottom. Put the plants back in and start up the pump. Fill the skippy and put plants back in it. Buy new oxygenator plants. If the water turns green add prefilter of quilt batting or window screen to pump. Clean once a week for a couple weeks until the plants get growing and the water clears, then remove. Summer: Prune plants and remove yellowing pads as necessary. Remove string algae from the stream once in awhile. Watch so the watercress doesn't plug up the skippy outlet :) Feed the fish 2 or 3 times a week. Fall: Stop feeding fish when water temp Winter: Just before the first snow or hard freezing pull the pump, clean it and store it inside. Drain the skippy and flush it with the hose (this is the only time I 'clean' my skippy). Leave drain plug out for winter. Add air stone and tank heater to pond. This year I'm going to cover 2/3 of the pond with plywood or foam board. Fish stay in it. I have clear water except for ~ 2 weeks in the spring. I try to keep my fish load low and have lots of plants. I rarely have much string algae, my fish seem to like to graze it down. I have a 2nd pond a bit smaller with a 640gph pump and a 1/2 whiskey barrel skippy that I remove all plants and fish from and let freeze for the winter (it's a liner pond and only 18" deep). Otherwise maintenance is the same.

Hey Dean... I remember!! Come home safe... nice to see you bed is doing well. Just think, it will take some of the wait out of those seedlings - maybe they will bloom for you next season! Is Silaom Rhinestone the light or dark pink one. I LOVE the dark one!! Don't worry about the kale, that is the one thing the BF had success with in the FRONT yard, and he won't let me take it out (even if it IS going to seed).

I know I have several sets that would match up if I tried them on each other, it would probably take hours to do that, though. Right now they're all mixed up in a bag. I should have taped them together in their pairs just in case, huh? lol Well, I like a good puzzle. I liked the craft that made the walnut a little presentation box for a small gift. I think you could fashion a hinge and a latch on one, too, to make it open/closeable. Oooh- pirates need treasure chests! lol I think I WILL be matching up my halves now. ***waving a paper in Haley's face, wake up, hon, wake up!* rofl

Celeste - yes, I had to resize pics, too, as well as start a folder on my desktop - can't remember who told me that one. But nothing seems to matter with the Houzz system; sometimes it will take the pics, lots of times it won't. I can totally get Mantis's frustration with it. Maryl - cute story of the frog in the watering can. One year we had a grey tree frog that lived in one of the birdhouses - ha ha! I have more photos and will try to post a couple more; really expected someone on here would have them in their daylilies, too, though. I see them every single day - and more than just one or two. Frog on spent daylily blossom: frog in Marvelous Madness seedling: Alex