Filling up the stock-tank pond
The unfinished stock-tank pond was making me feel lazy. So this morning I got out a measuring tape, level, shovel, gloves, bug spray, and sun hat, and got to work. My vacationing husband helped me measure and dig the trench for the retaining wall, and then he conveniently had to take a business call.
So I started moving rocks into place, and before I knew it the wall was built. I was wilting under a beating sun and humid 90-degree temps (it ultimately got up to 105 F, or 40.6 C), but just then my DH came back out and helped me level the decomposed-granite area where the tank was to sit. We rolled the tank into place and checked the level, and then removed it a few times to rearrange the granite base.
Finally it was good enough, so we stuck a hose in it, and while it was filling we jumped in the swimming pool to cool off. Ahh!
It looks bare now, with just my new ‘Colorado’ water lily in it (and a mosquito dunk to keep skeeters from hatching). But in a week or so, when the water temperature has warmed and the chlorine in the water has evaporated, I’ll bring over the water plants from my old pond, including the all-important underwater plants that keep a pond oxygenated and clean, plus the fish if they’re still living. And then this tank will start to look like a real pond. In the fall I’ll start work on the paver path around it.
Checking on the pond this evening, I found a dragonfly that had landed in the water and gotten its wings stuck. Probably the clear surface confused it. After snapping a quick photo, I found a stick and lifted him out.
He immediately started buzzing his wings to dry off, and soon he flew away. I hope he learns to be careful until I get more plants and a rock perching spot installed.
The bees were bellying up to the bar at the bird bath. They have been so thirsty in the heat and drought that they’ve been hogging the bird bath for the past couple of weeks. Jean at Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog recently mentioned the same thing is going on with bees in her birdbath. It’s a thirsty time of year for us all.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
It is exciting that you made such progress on the stock-tank pond. Hurray!
I am glad to hear you finally reveal the mystery of the bees. I’ve been seeing them at my birdbath all summer. I never knew bees drank water! They actually hover when I get the hose out and wait for me to refill the birdbath.
Wow, what a cool photo of that dragonfly drying off! Your pond looks good enough to jump into right now. I’m sure it’ll look like a proper pond in no time. All this talk of ponds is making me lust after a pond myself. Oh to hear the frogs and toads at night. BTW, we got a little rain this Sunday and a break from the triple digit temps and lo and behold the bees disappeared for a time! But they’re back again.
I haven’t seen bees in my birdbath, but the water is about as green. Congratulations on your big accomplishment! I look forward to many satisfying blog posts lolling about the new pond.
Whoo hooo — and you did it on a scorcher, to boot. It looks great — I can’t wait till it’s all filled in and the Colorado lily gets some friends. Hat’s off to you.
Pam, did I mention that I recently got the same stock tank for a completely different purpose all together?
You did, but I hadn’t seen the picture of Eowyn enjoying it. She should have a good time this summer. Mine is a bit bigger than yours though and would fit several more dogs or a tiger or two. —Pam
All right! That’s so exciting! BTW, I’m using Mosquito Bits for my water features. The water district guys told me the dunks don’t work very well. The bits are more effective, and a little goes a long way…We have problems with West Nile here, so I asked for advice.
Thanks for the mosquito-fighting tip, TM. —Pam
Most excellent – congratulations! I have to get some sort of water source for my garden – a bird bath, a fountain, something – love the drinky bees!
Congratulations, Pam! What an accomplishment!
Glad you got that bit done! Can’t wait to see the update next week!
Well done Pam, and in that heat too. Glad you could jump into the human pool to cool off a bit. Poor little dragonfly, that was lucky you noticed and rescued him. Our bees haven’t been seen in the birdbath, but we are not nearly as hot as you are. Your stock tank already looks much like your inspiration sheets too. 🙂
Frances
I couldn’t read if that was “fake” a business call or “take” a business call…tee hee… either way you gize got the wall built and the pond leveled in that horrid heat. You did a great job. I am so enjoying the creation of this water feature. You have the perfect spot for it.
That was quite a job in such a sweltering heat, Pam. When it was hot over here I took things much easier and only worked in the garden when it was cooler. Right now it’s very, very cool over here, just 15 C. Ha, that’s the Netherlands for you, from one extreme to the other in just 1 day.
Anyway you’re pond looks cool, in every sense of the word. 😉
Pam, I knew there had to be a dip in the pool after all that hard work..I could see it teasing us in the first shot. The pond is wonderful and the rescued dragonfly is a testament to ‘if you build it they will come”. gail
Yaaaaay!
I’ve been waiting to watch the progress on this project! I forgot you had a pool, I was wondering if you cooled off in the tank. I would have had to take a dip in it. LOL–Randy
Pam, I’m very impressed that you did all that rock work in such horrendous heat and humidity! I know you’re glad it’s done. I look forward to watching the stock tank grow and change!
It’s a good thing you have a swimming pool, otherwise you’d be tempted to take a dip in the stock tank. It looks like such a cool oasis in the garden. Good job on getting it set and ready to go.
You are amazing!
Yea! I’ve been waiting for this. Can’t believe you got this in place in just one blast-furnace day! It will be great fun to watch the development.
Our bird baths and hummingbird feeders were thronged with honey bees last year. They’d swarm me every morning when I brought the sugar-water feeders out. But were so sweet-tempered I never got stung. We have only wasps this year (sweet-tempered too, fortunately). I’m distressed at the bee disappearance. They made it through the last drought (2005-2006), the monsoons of 2007 and the beginning drought of 2008. Any ideas as to cause–virus, predatory insects, general pesticide use in their range?
I’ve read about the bee-killing virus, but I don’t know if it’s affecting our area, Kathleen. I hope not. I’m seeing a lot of bees in my garden, but we’re in town, and I don’t know if that accounts for the difference. —Pam
Pam, the pond is terrific — great job on the retaining wall, especially in that heat and humidity! I can’t wait to see how it looks with the rest of the plants!
Gorgeous! I was riding my bike last night and passed a garden on 49th just west of Burnet that had a couple of galvanized stock ponds that looked awesome– I thought immediately of you, of course. Drive by and check em out! The wildlife are going to be thrilled to have some H2O! Good work!
I think I know which house you mean, Sue. I had a friend who lived down the street from that garden with all the stock tanks in the front yard. It could have looked junky, but it looked great the way they did it. For a long time, though, they didn’t have the garden fenced, and I worried that a little kid would fall in and drown. Now it’s safely fenced though. —Pam
I’m worn out and dripping sweat just imagining you out there today, Pam. However, it is a great feeling isn’t it, to get this far. Good work!
Wow, that looks great, I can’t wait until it is all finished and complete. Are you taking out your old pond? I have never seen Bees do that, that is a cool picture though.
Jake
Yes, I will be bringing my pond plants from the old pond over to the new one this week, Jake. I plan to salvage the old stock tank to use as a planter in the new garden. —Pam
My pond has been loaded with bee’s lately.
Oh, Pam…on the last post you said you were making “Inchworm like progress”. Guess you are not an Inchworm but a Yardworm! What a cool TaDa post on the installation. The retaining wall looks great! I hope that new water lily will soon be at home.
Bees and wasps used to drink from the birdbath but since we put in the stone fountain they prefer landing on the sides of the rock to get water.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
In this heat, Annie, I don’t want to be an inchworm or a yardworm but a bookworm—inside with the A/C on, reading a good garden book! Now that I’ve got this project done, I plan to hold off on anything else until the weather breaks. —Pam
Pam,
I have been religiously checking in on your Stock Tank Escapades for the last two months and I am so very impressed. I went out online looking for information on how to set up Stock Tanks as container gardens and as a water-feature and found you just as you began this project. Thanks for all you information I am “stocking” it away (I know bad bad pun) until this fall when we are going to begin our back garden (we are light weights and can’t take the heat here in Katy, Tx). Thanks for all your info!
You are most welcome, Rebecca! I will be posting more about setting up the pond this week. Stay tuned. —Pam
glad I found your blog- I just bought a stock pond and need help turning it into a pond. Do you put all the plants in pots- are any planted directly in the pond?
Hi, Dee. I’ll be posting more about the pond plants later this week, so stay tuned. But to answer your question, I keep them all in pots as there’s no soil in the bottom of my tank. —Pam
Nice job on the wall Pam. Sometimes a job goes a lot faster if one person does it by themselves. It is so exciting to see a project grow.
Hi Pam. I haven’t been by in a while but I picked the perfect time since you’ve just gotten your stock tank installed. I think you’ve almost inspired me to try one next time around instead of digging. Kudos to you for working in the blistering heat. Aren’t you so glad you have a pool to hop in afterwards? Anyway, I love your inspiration for it and I know you will have yours equal or better than that soon. I think I “need” a Colorado water lily too, don’t you?!!
Also, I hope you get some relief from the drought soon. We were in that with you last year but the jet stream changed for us and this summer we can’t dry out. It’s been so strange. I feel like I’m in a different climate altogether. Now that you’ve got the hard work out of the way, enjoy putting the finishing touches on your pond.
Kathleen, you definitely need a Colorado (or other) water lily, and a pond to put it in. They are such lovely flowers, and a pond is always a focal point and people magnet in the garden. —Pam
Hey Pam, what kind of oxygenators do you have for your pond? I tried hornwort and anacharis but both died over the winter. The ponds never got ice, so I was surprised, I thought the hornwort was hardy up to Michigan.
What do you have?
I usually use anacharis, Jenn. The fish eat it up over time, so I have to replace it a few times a year. I’ll be posting more about the pond plants soon. —Pam
Should you need fish Pam, we have hundreds of baby fantail goldfish right now. We have been netting them out when we can and have them in a tub so they are handy if people want them. They are in all colors and are about an inch and a half long right now. Just let me know if you need them, Bob
Interesting with the bees. Haven’t seen this in my bird bath but it makes for a cool picture. I guess everything gets thirsty in this heat.