Joe,
they have import laws on the rocks too?? IF you want to come this way I have a friend that has a farm with a stone house her grand parents build.. I can get rocks there any time I want.. Just time walking the fields.. But lots around here just drive around the farms and farmers dang near beg you to take them.. That large one was pulled off a field about 8 miles from me.. I asked if I could take it.. He said sure and pointed out 5 others I could have too.. haven't made it back yet.. but hubby was a little upset about the flat tire..
Bring a fishing pole!!! Or bow.. lots of hunting and fishing to do around here.. Make a nice little vacation of it.. But If ya don't bring your grafting equipment I won't show you the BEST places to get rocks..

Patty,
still too hot to get any good photos there?? Still a scorcher there.. stinking weather man said would be only 90s today.. it was 101* when I went by the bank at 6pm.. guess that "cold front" is slooooow movin..

Tammy,
Good luck!!

Gina *BabyBlue*

I took some better pics today but when I click on photobucket I get "page cannot be displayed". Ahh, here it is.The pic makes mine look small too! Been so hot, I put foil around the pot in lower right--it does help. You can't see it good, but there is a plant in the rock in back (moss roses) I drilled 2 holes thru back so water comes down both sides of plant on top of that rock & onto that limestone slab under it. You can see water falling onto the walrus (someone gave it to me & had no where else to put it!)
Talk about hauling rocks...those are rose & milk quartz rock next to rock fountain. My sis in AZ gave them to me. I hauled a box of rocks back, in baggage on plane LOL. Very HEAVY.
Yup, more fish but too small yet to get good pic.

Oh hell, I need a better pic!
And, every year I thin out & cut roots of Iris & lilies. This year I did that and also made large 1 - 1 1/2 inch holes around side of pots. There are already long roots running out.

Patty that looks to be about the right size for a small alligator...

And think about sunny Florida when you come near it.

I am testing my computer and am trying to resolve it so this is a test. I cannoot seem to download my replies anywhere so this is a test. I will erase this asap.

Laaz , lets get her a Caiman .

Patty, thats absolutly beautiful very healthy looking .
what are you useing for filteration ?
i have 1 barrol already to go but im also looking into the hay method even though i think with my pond it might look tacky. Remember im just doing research now havent even dug the hole and we may put the house up for sale next yr .

So might just wait . kinda looking for a area like we have here with out all this Nasty wind . NO im not bragging the huge 60f+ tree is a evergreen and it just moves like Crazy. 80-90 temp days arnt bad. Portland has it horrible with heat so im kinda looking for a mirical home again i guess.

Global warming not sure how i feel about it .
But we are getting cali weather . was looking at property in Hawaii last night . but then i refuse to give up my birds .
and it will cost me to start building Tammy

Made my own bio-filter from clay pots, lava rocks and quilt-batting. Works very well. Easy to clean.

I LOVE ALLIGATORS..he'd have to stay in basement for winter though.
I took good pics of the big rock planter & waterfall but when I plugged into 'puter, said 0 pics in camera (there were 10). Try again tomorrow.
The filter is at front (deeper end) under lily pads with tube going to pump just under fountain (back of lillies). Sucks water from filter & puts it thru tulip fountain. Filter is 12X12 pad charcoal filter & something like quilt batting (JoeReal) on top of that. whole thing was bought at Stein's garden center. When water flow is low, I just clean the filter pads. Been using same one for 8 -9 yrs..just get new filter pads every yr. Some people make their own like Joe did. There are ALL KINDS. Wish there were more lillies in bloom...few weeks ago I counted 14 in full bloom!
Tammy, I wouldn't build one if you are planning to sell. Ponds won't increase your chance of selling or increase value.

They do increase your property insurance if they are over 18" deep!!! mine almost doubled because of my little pond!!!!
Patty.. When you want to divide your plants let me know.. I'd sure love some of you blue iris.. I'm wanting to do a blue and white theme to my pond and pond garden.. If you want some yellow, purple and salmon "land" iris let me know I'm going to pull all of mine out and they will go to the compost pile if no one wants them..
Gina *BabyBlue*

AHHHH, found a pic that I took this May. Shows the tubing going from filter to pump-- sitting on a rock to keep fountain above water. The purple & yellow Iris just started blooming. Notice the 3 lily pots. I thinned them out & cut roots away & put a few fert tabs in pots. The 4 little feeder fish are hiding in rocks- the water was cold then...those horny devils! Lower left is a rock holding filter down. Gasses can make it float to top even though there are rocks inside it to weight it down.

Patty , I dont plan on making the house value go up wih a pond LOL .
My house is Values at 250,000 . any more the taxes would kill me .
the town i live in is a retirement town .
very small but really cool Mostly older people . Not too many jobs though weather is ok but if i sell im 40 yrs old i have alot of work left in me i want to get kicken it again and yes ill take my plants NO way would i leave them here . Too many mistakes can be made and i would be heart broken.
the liner is still in its container and waiting my plans . Im looking at 130 acres in Mo. Going back into horses since i have 8 owed to me threw breedings and the people i made the deals with have been waiting me to deside.

i had 2 stallions Mardel Dixon and Playboy Mardel was a Quarter paint and Playboy well Playboy was just a quarter .
im gonna get A colt out of the lines and then see how closely hes been bred befor picking out my brood mares.Tammy

YOU KIDDING ME about insurance going up? And almost double?? I know you're not but geeze, would that be a risk of someone drowing? Must be, but then, kids can drown in a bucket! Mine didn't go up, but then they don't know LOL. I'd argue what risk there is.
I have no room for any land Iris - already have some but thanks. Sure, I can thin out some - actually purple (but more bluish), Iris. I cut roots away in May & drilled & cut 2 inch holes in sides of pots for roots to expand. I can see about a ft. outside of pots already. My X boyfriend dug them out of small lake up north 2 -3 yrs ago. I will have a problem remembering which ones were blue or yellow , but I think I do.

I got a 7 man hot tub a couple yrs back they raised my insurance weird huh . anyway Patty iadore your pond looks about the right size for me .
How deep is it and what size of oh shoot Brain fart Rubber black stuff did you use . Mine is huge went in a big pond alot bigger then what i really want.so im trying to get something cool. my size so i dont hav too much work after and befor work Tammy

I believe my liner was 12X15 ft. but only needed 12 X 13 1/2 ft. The end by the rocks is about 20 inches & the DEEP end is about 27-28 inches. I leave everything in over winter except the pump & filter. Oh yeah, I have a underwater light - really cool, with different color lenses but I hardly use it.