I’m predicting that the large koi might be able to move into the large pond in three weeks – but that’s a big maybe. The best plans will often get derailed by weather, work and other things that happen. This weekend I finished another large gardening project. Gardening is important to me because I happen…
Category: landscaping
The pond builder is too tired to watch fireworks
The pond builder is exhausted. This weekend he toiled under the hot sun around the lower pond. I can hear the local fireworks outside, but the pond builder is falling asleep. You might be wondering why we’re working outside all the time but it really is our hobby. We enjoy puttering around the yard and…
Sod is our friend
Just over a week ago, we had barely finished the lower pond area to be somewhat presentable to our guests. Lots of dirt areas covered with mulch, some areas just dirt and rocks, but in general it was okay. This weekend we tackled the landscaping and while it’s not finished, we’re quite pleased by the…
It’s like a second job (but fun)
The pond builder and I have put in about 40 man hours of work on the pond and yard this weekend – it’s a second job! I’m so pleased with all the work we finished. The lower pond is ready for some concentrated work now that the shade feature has been stained and moved forward….
The Upper Koi Pond is Open
I feel like we have been behind about three weeks from last year but the upper pond is finally open and some of our koi are swimming around. We intended to have only female koi in this pond but I may have a male or two in this bunch. I like the balance of colors…
Weather forecasts a busy weekend ahead
Great weather means we’re outside all weekend. We got a head start on our weekend by heading up to Koi Acres in Scandia, MN to pick up my new Dainichi Showa tosai. He/She (hopefully she) is named Costello. Showa koi like Abbot and Costello take about five years to develop. The Showa and Shiro Utsuri…
Spring morning in Minnesota
Winter seems really long in Minnesota. Spring seems to turn everything green overnight and the plants come back to life pretty quickly. We’re still in the middle of opening up our ponds. The upper pond filtration equipment is being redone and the koi might come out of the garage this week. The lower pond re-do…
Spring is around the corner (finally)
I’ve been spending most of the week in sunny Las Vegas for a trade show. I can’t wait to have 70 degree weather in Minnesota. Our spring weather seems to be finally coming in with days in the low 50s. My pond digger has been very excited to get out into the yard. Last weekend…
Spring is trying to get here
We’ve had some warmer weather and it’s tempting to say that winter is over. Of course the minute you think that, it snows the next day. We’ve had some strange swings of temperature but nothing long enough to get back to work outside. The pond areas look pretty dreary: The pond digger is itching…
Trust a rabbit to damage your landscaping
I have always thought that rabbits and deer did not really like evergreens like pine trees and shrubs. Not sure if I read it somewhere or just made it up. This winter, the rabbit handiwork is very clear. Little bunny prints all around the trees and lower branches nibbled. We have even seen a few…
Thanksgiving weekend = pond work
Having a few days off means the pond digger is hard at work doing stuff. He put a smaller pump on the indoor pool filtration system and we actually have clearer water. Sometimes changing the water too fast never gave the floating debris a chance to settle. He also added in a no niche skimmer…
Summer is over :-(
It’s Fall now and I feel I have missed a great deal of the beautiful Minnesota summer this year. I certainly have been a little behind in posting, so I’m going to play catch up. Mostly photos but read the captions… First up is a video of the koi taken about a week ago. All…
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