Freezing Water

Over the next couple of days, we're supposed to get some extremely cold weather for this early in the winter, with lows in the single digits.  This area is just going to get a glancing blow from the weather system that is moving across the country, and we shouldn't get the snow predicted for other areas.  But this forecast does mean it's time to remove the pump and fountain from my pond, and to put out the pond de-icer. 

Dragonflies

This evening when I went out to feed my goldfish, a dragonfly was resting on one of the rocks at the edge. It was not, of course, interested in the fish food, but it was the only critter that came to see what was being offered.

Recently, feeding time at my goldfish pond hasn't been very well attended.  I think that we may have been visited by an egret or heron from the river a few blocks away.  In the past, when I would come out to the pond, the fish would come eagerly to the surface, just waiting for me to drop food pellets in.  Now I've only caught quick glimpses of three fish lurking deeper in the water, though there may be others hiding beneath the water lilies.  They aren't eating nearly as much either, so I think that relatively few of the fish are left.

Goldfish Pond

Putting a little pond in my back yard has added a lot to my garden.  The sound of splashing water attracts many birds to come visit. I find it relaxing when I sit out on the patio, to watch and listen to the fountain in the pond as well as to those feathered visitors who come around.

Pond Difficulties

Whew! Finally resolved an issue with my little backyard pond tonight.

Last Thursday evening when I went outside I found that the fountain in my pond was no longer spraying water. I assumed that meant that the pump in the filter had become clogged, as has happened a couple of times before, so despite the slight drizzle of rain, I cleaned it. When I plugged it back in, I was disappointed to find that it still did not spray out any water. Sometimes before when it didn't start immediately it did after a while.