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pond proud

Jonna — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:31:13 +0000

Finally! The first bloom from a night blooming lily. I’ve had 2 other night blooming lilies but they both died, not sure why they just never grew much and then disappeared. This one was given to me by a local ponder Francisco and I am thrilled with the huge 6″ bloom.

almost ready to bloom

First the anticipation, I spotted the bud when it was just emerging and watched it for over a week as it got closer to the surface. Then, for 2 days it kept growing above the water. We almost missed the bloom because it didn’t open until late that first night, after 10pm. The next 2 nights though it opened after sunset and stayed open until 10 or 11 the next morning.

Isn’t it beautiful?

Three blooms open this morning, it was overcast and the nightbloomer stayed open until after the day bloomers had opened.

things that are blooming today

Jonna — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 01:19:57 +0000

This is a water lily named Foxfire hybridized by my virtual friend Craig Presnell in Florida. Getting one of Craig’s lilies from Fernando Molina was a great joy for me. Fernando also helped me a lot in putting together the pond. He was involved in the installation of the incredible Aquaparque and is available to put in ponds and lilies here in Mérida.

Foxfire

This is another famous water lily hybrid named Wood’s Blue Goddess. She’s another beauty that I got from Fernando. This is a 3rd day bloom.

Wood's Blue Goddess

This is one of the Canna’s in the outside pond. They are all doing really well with their roots a foot under water.

Canna

I believe this is a type of Tolumnia Orchid, I don’t know which one. I have it on a piece of wood on the terrace. They bloom in long sprays of tiny blooms, exquisite in their detail.

Tolumnia blooms

Not really a bloom but as splashy as one. This is the Coleus outside the guest room on the terrace. It is in full sun much of the day and wilts at times but it has the most incredible colors.

Coleus

Also not a bloom but as pretty as one. This is Bob the Betta in his pot on the terrace off our bedroom. I was worried that he would get too bored alone most of the day so I put a mirror in for about an hour most days. He flares and parades and shows that other fish how gorgeous he is. He has figured out that there are really two of them, he swims along the back of the mirror and shows off for that one too.

Bob

This is Bob’s world.

House of Bob

Water lilies and Mollies

Jonna — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:02:25 +0000

Foxfire

The outside pond is starting to come together as well. The water is clear as gin – I love that phrase – and the lilies are blooming. I’ve identified one positively, which is the one I most wanted so that’s cool. It’s called Foxfire and was developed by an online friend Craig Presnell. How the lilies got to me is through another water lily aficionado who was instrumental in developing the Aquaparque – Mérida’s incredible public water garden. He has ponds of his own here and sold me 5 of Craig’s lilies. They weren’t all tagged correctly though, in fact they had no tags at all but he said he thought he knew which ones he pulled up for me. All his lilies came from Craig so I knew I’d figure it out when they bloomed.

probably Manassas

I’m still waiting for confirmation but I think this is another of Craig’s hybrids called Manassas. I am waiting for the third lily to bloom so I can send Craig the pictures and be certain. That third lily could be another favorite of mine although not one of Craig’s, there is a bud rising now so I don’t have long to wait.

Water Hyacinth

I’ve also had one of the hyacinth’s bloom, they are a reviled water weed in some places and a valuable plant for cleaning water in others. Almost forgotten at times is how beautifully they bloom. They are a floater, with trailing roots in the water that can absorb and detoxify even heavy metals. In a pond, they take up a lot of the organic waste and keep the water clear. The fish like to eat the roots as well and I had problems in the beginning keeping them alive. I think most of that was the elevated PH from the curing concrete. The lilies are doing better, the hyacinths and the cannas in the pond as well.

lily pond

I had a vision of this pond as mainly a water garden with small colorful fish darting among the lily pads. It’s coming together, it’s not there yet but then when you are hooked on gardening or ponds you rarely feel they are finished – that’s why it is an endlessly fascinating hobby.

Duque or Duke Mollies

The Mollies are still numerous but I have added 5 small and 1 more large Angel Fish to the pond, there are now 4 large adults and 5 younger and smaller. Hopefully I will achieve a balance and the Angels will only eat enough of the Mollies to keep the population down without decimating them. My bet is that the Mollies breed faster than the Angel’s eat. The Angel’s only eat the very tiny fry so the adults pretty much ignore them, they aren’t a threat. I might even get some baby Angel fish, two of them have paired off but I haven’t seen any breeding activity. I can’t take a good picture of those Angel’s for anything. They are paranoid and shy and you have to catch them from the side or they disappear they are so narrow.

I do get out and about and I’ve got some ideas for posts that aren’t just gardens and ponds. Plus, we’re going over to Akumal this weekend. Mimi is working at the annual free spay and neuter clinic. So, more pics of the beach and the Caribbean.