Building a Backyard Pond

by Judi on Apr 29, 2006

I’m doing research now for a backyard pond.  Since it looks like we’ll be here for the summer, I thought it would be a nice project to work on and learn.

I’ve found lots of sites that have information, but two in particular have gone into my “favorite” Favorites folder:

Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary, has some really nice illustrations on building a wildlife pond (my goal) and great information. 

The second one I found today is Clearwater Landscapes.  There have been so many pages of interest to me here, the link goes to the main page.  There is also a forum and a Garden Journal with great pictures. 

Back to researching………

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Container Gardening

by Judi on Apr 28, 2006

We had this garden for the past few years, that we really didn’t start correctly.  First, we didn’t take the sod up, but instead tilled it.  Tilling is fine.  Works great, if you do it right.  We didn’t.  We tilled it once and hoped it would be good enough.  It wasn’t.  So the garden was a constant battle.

This year, I started to clean it up and realized just how much grass was growing under the layers of dead flower and weed stalks… way too much. 

We mowed it down and I’ve tossed my hands up for this year.  Instead, I’m going to get a few container pots going and just grow a few specific things.  Tomatoes sound yummy to start.

Came across backyard granger today.  He shows some of his containers.  What a great, and economic idea.  5 Gallon Containers.  My idea was close, and equally economic.  I am going to use a rubbermaid container (economic because I already have a couple sitting around, empty and begging use).

I wonder if either of these container ideas would work for a composter.

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Toad Abode and Bath

by Judi on Apr 25, 2006

Here’s one of my toad houses.  We have lots of toads around the yard, I hope to encourage one to make it’s home here.

The rock path, pictured around the adobe above, leads behind a butterfly blush around to a little toad bath, or toad “pond”.  One of my bird bath water drippers drips right to this pond.  The “pond” btw, is only a small flower pot dish with some rocks in and around it.

It’s very close to our deck, which provides lots of coverage for toads.  And my easy, water dripper, drips right into this mini pond.  See pictures and directions for my bird bath water dripper - water feature.

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Bird Bath Water Dripper - water feature for the birds

by Judi on Apr 25, 2006

I wanted to add a water feature to our bird bath, specifically a mister, something the birds would enjoy playing in. Unfortunately, I’m not in the market to spend much money. My solution was a very easy, budget-friendly bird bath water dripper made out of a milk carton.

Items needed:
- milk carton
- shepherds hook or tree branch, something very sturdy which is able to hold about 8 pounds
- pin (I used a thumbtack)

Fill the milk carton with water and hang from hook.  At the lowest point in the bottom, use the thumbtack or pin to prick a very tiny hole to allow water to drip.  Start with a really tiny hole - if you need more flow, push the pin back in and make it a tiny bit bigger.f

Here is the first one I did.  The screw on cap is still on this one.

Here, I cut the top off. First, it didn’t seem to have any significant affect on the rate of the water flow. Second, this allows for easier water filling - and catching a little rain.

I have two of these set up, one over our bird bath, one over a toad bath near the toad abode (toad house).

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