Sandy - I disagree with your comments on a philosophical level and am contrasting my thoughts in the honest commentary you ask for. Flowers, with standards of color and arrangement and whatever, are not ponds. The original post here was mean-spirited in its sardonic and sarcastic presentation, but it sure was a no-holds- barred critique of someone's pond that stimulated responses. I don't agree with the poster's attitude, but in looking at the pond when the pictures were available, I can say that while I wouldn't build that, it is interesting as an expression of an individual, perhaps of class and culture. The owner probably takes as much pleasure as I do with mine or you with yours. Any pond is inherently interesting to me as a personal expression. Nowhere that I have seen has anyone said a pond must be artistic or a work of art-some turn out that way by design or accident. Not everyone has your aesthetic, background, creativity or ability and we just muddle along making ourselves happy (and obligated to change in the future of course). I have never seen a poor pond by a poor pond builder or pond keeper-only ponds that don't suit my location or desires. To critique a pond based on very subjective criteria isn't fair; helpful comments or a pat on the back just for the hard work and money is all anyone really asks, if they ask. To me the key is the concept of appreciation in the broadest sense--to look at and learn and understand there is always something to be seen and to learn from. To judge (poor pond) or apply a personal judgment that is not some universally accepted view (bad ponder - and we have no standards for that)is negative rather than constructive, constructive being hard to do, an art in itself. Anyway, that is my point of view, philosophy that diverges from yours in some ways. I really enjoy your posts, we have had some interesting back and forth on some topics, and hope that continues because it is instructive and especially, fun. This is an obscure post in a less well traveled part of the forum I suppose, but do hope you see it as well as others. Hopefully some will respond and there can be more discussion on the idea of looking at and commenting on what ponders submit. My two cents today; like you I have too much time on my hands and find myself getting old, err, maturing. Mike

I did a prazi routine 2x, 7 days each. I was going to get them in the pond and then maybe do one more prazi treatment out there but the weather has been so horribly cold and wet I havent gotten them out. I decided I just do NOT want to wreck my algae/bacteria ecosystem by using PP on it. I fed them food soaked in prazi for7 days because I was paranoid about tape worms - havent seen any white pieces lately so who knows. The remaining fish look fine, better than they have in years. The ones with white, their white is much whiter - they probably had body flukes as well. They actually started looking better that very same night I started treatment- that was the day I saw them ALL at the surface with their gills flapping - I did a radical water change of about 90% and even then they seemed better, then added the prazi, and the next morning they were swimming around seemingly happy and normal. WHEW.... I am still seeing the occasional long threadlike, wormlike thing (clear) so who knows. Someone may have calmarus (sp????) worms... which requires a different treatment). What I find kind of frustrating is that with flukes, they take much longer to hatch at cold temps rather than at warm temps. No where could I find any kind of info about how long the intervals might be at different temperatures. IE if my water temps are 50, then what would the hatching interval be? I treated 7 days apart, but it could be that I still missed the next batch of eggs hatching. They might hatch out at 65 and then I'll have a mess all over again. If anyone's looking for a science project, that would be a good one to do!

Kendra, the ducks are fairly shy and will leave the backyard if we go towards the pond. When the females starts to sit, she stays in the box, even if we mow the lawn right at the box, but if you open the door to her box, she will be off and not come back for several hours or more. We have two boxes, but a starling has scared them by sitting in the door to one of the boxes, so all three females that are laying are putting their eggs into one box. I think I have scared off the starling, but it will take awhile for them to try that box again. There was one egg in that box and I transferred it to the other box. Now we have twelve eggs in that box and none in the other box. We have put a camera in each box. So far the females have gone in and left before another enters the box but in past years we have seen some nasty fight when two females both get into the box at one time. Here is video taken in 2010--It was Fathers day. In this video you may see that one duck does not make it. He finally jumped after about 20 min. Mom was still waiting for him. Here is a link that might be useful: video 2010

Thanks - Suspected that and didn't want to risk a bunch of cats on such a fresh start, so moved most to the ground where they'll likely become ant food. Will watch the few that remain on the slim chance I can get a photo or otherwise confirm an id.