Back yard ponds

[Lady tehMa]

I'd like to see pond pics too - I'm nowhere near putting one it but it is on my "wish list".

[ogopogodude]

Aww man, I just found a big honkin' turtle down at my mother's lakefront property (it was about 11 inches in length) and I would have loved to put in my pond (that I have yet to build at my own house//backyard). It was in the middle of the crushed rock road drive way so I picked it gently with a flat shovel to get it as close to the lake as possible. It obviously just wanted to eat grass. It was a real healthy turtle, lots of energy, and powerful arms & legs. Anyways, ... (is it wise to relocate a turtle into one's pond? I would think not, as it is obviously an open fresh water lake type of creature, and a pond would be like a puddle to a big turtle, I would surmise).

[Bpeep]

Very illegal to move wild turtles.
Best to leave them be.

[mexi cali]

Yup. Help em off the road if you can so they don't get squished but other than that, hands off.

[ogopogodude]

yeah, .. that is what I did. The turtle had to be out of the way of us stupid humans and our tires. It would be a pretty grisly site to see a squished turtle on the roadway.
I must say, that a turtle is really an amazing creature. It would be selfish of me (or others) to even think of relocating it to our backyard ponds.

[OREZ]

Yup. Help em off the road if you can so they don't get squished but other than that, hands off.

I had to move a turtle off of the road once and it tried to pee on me.

Jeez, I was only trying to help.

[mexi cali]

My dog does that but I'm pretty sure it's not a defense mechanism as much as that he hates me.

[WeatherWoman]

I would LOVE a backyard pond....have a place for it with mental plan to have it do under our deck. Would love some koi too.

[forum]

Pond porn.

[Lady tehMa]

Pond pics, please?

[mexi cali]

Yes please. I have been patiently waiting since Spring for the follow up photos.

[ogopogodude]

Can anyone comment on planting green moss in/around strategic areas of a pond? ... like underneath a small weeping japanese maple, etc?

The reason why I ask is that I found some good areas up in the bush (Gillard/Chute Lake Road at the 8 or was it 9 Km level) for collecting green moss, .. it is as thick as shag rug.

[TylerM4]

Can anyone comment on planting green moss in/around strategic areas of a pond? ... like underneath a small weeping japanese maple, etc?

The reason why I ask is that I found some good areas up in the bush (Gillard/Chute Lake Road at the 8 or was it 9 Km level) for collecting green moss, .. it is as thick as shag rug.

Just that Moss needs lots of water and typically not much sunlight. It also tends to want/need well drained soil which is difficult with a requirement for lots of water. My experience has been that moss needs some pretty specific conditions to grow successfully. I've mentioned lots of water + well drained soil. But generally in that scenario other plants also thrive and tend to "choke out" moss. What I'll think you'll find is that moss also tends to grow in shallow soil where other plants cannot. I won't say moss needs shallow soil (such is 1/2" of topsoil over bedrock) but without it, other plants will tend to choke it out.

Plant it over just a skiff of soil and mist twice a day and I'll bet it'll grow nicely.

[w84u2]

How come then, I have so much moss on my roof? No soil, very little water, excellent drainage, lots of sun exposure, and hard to get rid of.

[forum]

Add a pond. Breed mosquito's.