[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
NFC: Ponding stuff.....
The Backyard Oasis
Robert Rice
2213 Prytania Circle
Navarre Fl 32566
robertrice at juno_com
As many a Southerner has discovered a Backyard Pond is a
wonderful way to add a new dimension to your gardening. The
sound of trickling water and the splash of color make
excellent compliments to Gazebos, Pergolas, or deep
perennial beds. Relaxation is now defined as sitting outside
enjoying a tall cold glass of iced tea and soaking up the
sights and sounds of my Garden Pond.
One of the most pleasant surprises I have had is the amount
of wildlife that visit my pond. It is a literal oasis in my
neighborhood. Birds of countless types visit for a drink
and an occasional meal, leopard frogs , bullfrogs, tree
frogs and toads have taken up permanent residence there and
are raising broods of wiggly tadpoles. Dragon and Damsel
flies cruise through my yard like stained glass airplanes
eating insects and delighting the children . Aquatic insects
like water striders dance across the ponds surface. I can
honestly say I will never garden without a pond again. It
has become both a classroom and a entertainment to myself
and my family.
Setting up my first pond proved to be a snap I used a
preformed 180 gallon variety from a local hardware store dug
a suitable sized hole and in no time I was in business.
Also available are pond liners which allow you to customize
your pond to any unique shape you can imagine. I had
previously decided to follow a Naturalistic approach and use
Native Plants as much as possible. I found getting Native
Plants no real Problem. Fourtunatly Barry from the local
fleamarket and Elizabeth from my local Garden Gate nursery
carried a nice collection of locally grown native plant
stock . That allowed me to put together a colorful variety
of southern native plants that mixed in well with my new
pond. Now back to pond basics The main criteria that you
must follow is the pond must be at least 18 inches deep.
However I'd recommend going 3 feet deep if you can. I would
also strongly recommend you add a deep and shallow end . By
making it slanted and a bit deeper you allow your fish to
move to the area that they are most comfortable with. In the
spring the fish will congregate in the shallows warming in
the afternoon sun. In the summer they will disappear to the
deeper cooler parts of the pond. This staggering will allow
you keep fish outside year round.
I decided against exotic species , like Koi , a Domestic
Asiatic Carp . I would use species specifically designed to
thrive in my local southern conditions. Species designed for
the unique water and seasonal conditions of my pond. I would
use local species , which I catch with a simple dipnet (you
can also use dry flies to catch small Bream) and the
assistance of my children . With Natives durability my ponds
needed no filters . The fish loved the heat , feasted on
mosquito larvae thus I had much less buggy summers and most
pleasant of all I had self sustaining populations of fish.
So every spring each of my ponds would refill themselves
with killies, shiners and small species of Bream. Observing
their fascinating courtship and life behaviors has become
the subject of many a lazy afternoon discussions with my
oldest daughter Erin. The pond is somewhere between a
classroom and movie theater in my child's eyes.
Killies , Shiners , Bream what are you talking about ? Just
like when you started using Native plants in your Garden you
gotta learn some new terms. First the shiners. Usually what
folks call minnows. These small, long , thin colorful fish
inhabit ponds , lakes and small creeks. They make excellent
pond fish. They need just a slight current to be happy and
are great at munching mosquito larvae the curse of every
pond owner. Second are the Killies. The Killies are
typically larger and wider than shiners but similarly
shaped. They inhabit the top inch or so of a pond. They are
sometimes called topminnows killies are about the most
durable fish you will ever find. They have a great array of
colors and thrive in ponds as small as 30 gallons. Finally
the Sunfish or Bream as they are locally known. These
fella's are cousins to the ones you catch on the hook. Just
accept the fact that the little guys are the ones that work
best in a garden pond and you will be fine. I collect my
pond fish with a dipnet or a fly rod and occasionally with a
fishtrap. To begin with learn just a few species of Shiners,
Killies and Sunfish . In no time at all you will be adding
a new kind of color to your garden. The kind that swims in
your Garden Pond.
Putting in a Garden Pond stocked with local species is a
great way to help your garden look better , your local wild
things be happier and give yourself and your family a small
lesson in natural history. I recommend it highly. Doing it
may very well forever change the way you garden and they way
you look at water gardening.
For additional information I recommend you check out the
following resources Peterson's Field Guide to Freshwater
Fishes by Brooks M. Burr and Larry Page a great book for
identifying your catch and the Native Fish Conservancy a
national pond gardener friendly non profit organization
dedicated to preservation of our greatly underloved native
fish membership is but 10$ and includes their publications
and many merchandise discounts. They support conservation
projects all across the country. From Land Purchases to
children's programs.
Native Fish Conservancy
1663 Iowa Ave E
St. Paul Minnesota
55106
email NFC at actwin_com WEBSITE
http:\\nativefishes.interspeed.net\
Side Bar:
Here is a good but incomplete starter list of Southern
Fishes For your Pond. You will find many other local types
that work great in your pond. Just do a little collecting
and you will surely find a fish for your pond.
Ponds 20-60 gallons
Heterandria Formosa- A tiny colorful livebearer similar to
the Guppy a great fish for the kids and the pond.
Fundulus Chrysotus- The Golden Topminnow is a colorful
durable Killie excellent for the Garden Pond and common to
most parts of the South
Ponds 60-200 gallons all the above plus
Dollar Sunfish- A small Sunfish with intense colors and a
exciting personality and Temper.
Bluespotted Sunfish- A intensely colorful fish that is
rather shy and does great in well planted tannic ponds a
must see.
Flagfin Shiner- A stunningly beautiful shiner with a pallet
of Yellow and Orange in its fins. They will however need a
deeper pond to get out of the heat. So keep that in mind
Southern Redbelly Dace- A large Minnow with a golden body
who's belly that turns blood red in a matter of moments
depending on their mood then just as quickly turns back.
Orange Spot Sunfish- If you live in the upper South This
Lil fire ball may have come across your path. You will not
soon forget the brilliant blues , reds and orange all mixed
together on this underwater rose.
Ponds 200 gallons and above- all the above species plus
Longear Sunfish- This Mid Sized Sunfish absolutely thrives
in larger ponds. As you can see by his photos he is one of
the Most Beautiful fish in the world. His small makes him a
great addition to a pond as he feeds mostly on insects and
not his pondmates.
All of my ponds get fed 2X a month and that's it. Mother
Nature supplies the rest of their diet and I never put more
than 2 inches of fish for each 10 gallons of water this
allows the pond to maintain a nice balance of fish, bugs and
other things. So give the Native Fish pond a try you , your
garden and the wild things around you will appreciate your
efforts.
Robert Rice
Help Preserve our Aquatic Heritage join the NFC
email us at NFC at actwin_com or Sunfishtalk at listbot_com
website http://nativefish.interspeed.net/
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]