Hungry!

The water temperature has settled above 50, with no cold nights predicted in the next week, so I gave them their first meal yesterday.

Once again, anyone who believes goldies have 3- or 30-second memories could not be more mistaken. As soon as I grabbed the soaking glass (where I soften the dry food), they started swimming toward me and followed me around the back yard until the food was ready to put in the pond. They were the same pigs as last year, and they scarfed up the reduced size meal. (I only feed them half portions the first few days.)

This morning they were at the top begging as soon as I came out in the yard. They will have to wait a few days to get a second daily chowdown, but it’s nice to be appreciated. They got wheat germ yesterday, and I have planned a meal of peas tonight to make sure their digestive systems have regained full function.Every single fish made it through the winter, so I don’t want to ruin that with a careless spring.

On the flora front, the irises, plantains, and cardinal flower have sprouted, and the blue rush, which did not die back at all in the winter, looks fantastic with old and new foliage. I have to keep an eye on the fiber optic plant, which stayed green for most of the winter, then suddenly died back in February.

Blue Rush, with Sparky and Flash enjoying its amazing roots:

Plantains:

Irises:

Cardinal lobelia:

The lilies in the back pond are beginning to put out leaves, but the front pond, which is colder and receives less sun, shows no activity as yet.

Spring is here!

Awake!

What a difference a week makes! Air temps are now in the 70s, the snow has melted, the icepack is gone, and water temps  have cracked 60! The fish have awakened from their winter torpor, the temptation to feed them almost overwhelmed me, as they came to the top begging – so much for the 30-second goldfish memory myth. Another month must pass before I can be sure of no more cold snaps, so I resisted even Cheerios.

They even exhibited some spawning behavior; Frankie was chasing Mike vigorously.

Here are a couple of quick snaps:

The small fish in the back pond all wintered beautifully.

That’s one big wakin, and I think she’s preggers.

Winter ponderland

Not much happens in the pond during the winter. The fish mostly rest on the bottom and swim about occasionally on sunny days. The plants die or stop growing and blooming. Maintenance consists of netting leaves and making sure the waterfall does not freeze over.

Everyone once in a while, though, a clean quick snowfall gives the pond a nice frosting to look upon.