This year's theme seems to be 'spikey.' I have a Dwarf Umbrella Palm (Cyperus alternifolius), a Variegated Sweet flag (Acorus calamus variegatus), a dwarf Acorus in green and yellow (the veariety of which I have temporarily misplaced), and I am filling out the base of these with Red Stem Parrot's Feather (Myriophyllum brasiliensis).
This is Benny, the fantailed occupant of the pond in the summer. He sure looks happy to me. The pond sure is better than any stupid old fishbowl.
Is Cyperus alternifolius the same thing as papyrus? I believe papyrus is a Cyperus species... not sure, though.
Posted by: Arwyn | August 15, 2005 at 10:18 PM
I want one! I love ponds and water things... and I like the way whiskey barrels look. Wonder if I can get one (or three) cheaper since it's the end of the season. Use two for plants and one for a pond.
Posted by: Bridgette | September 17, 2005 at 06:20 PM
To the Cyperus query: an answer.
Regarding barrel ponds: I get most of my stuff at the end of the season. Three pots sounds like a great equation, but remember you want fish for mosquito control in all three.
With a pot as big as a barrel, you can probably get away with buying 4 or 5 'rosies' for each of the plant pots - these are tropicals that are 'feeder' fish, very cheap and with little or no personality. At least half of these will die the first week, fish those out and toss them on your compost pile.
Posted by: djinn | September 18, 2005 at 12:24 PM
Rosies can be used for mosquito control in a whiskey barrel pond then?
Posted by: Dave | April 04, 2006 at 02:15 PM
Yep Dave, they can.
They have the benefit of being very inexpensive.
Posted by: jenn | April 04, 2006 at 06:36 PM
Thanks Jen. Guess I'll have a go at a barrel pond then here when in a month or so.
Posted by: Dave | April 05, 2006 at 11:00 AM
Hi,
Ihave a very large Koi pond with waterfalls - the whole shebang and twnety one Koi of various paired ages and sizes and breeds. I love it and now my husbnad is setting up a whiskey barrel pond for the midle of our rose garden near the top of the falls that go into the Koi pond. WE intend to use it for the eggs and then small fry that will hatch after the Koi spawn. We bought the plastic liner for it and someone told us that we needed to let the liner sit in Clorox X 3 days and then rinse thoroughly before puttingin the water we will be using for the Koi eggs and small fry. I know that when you havev had something like this which was already used for fish or any other water wildlife and then switch it, you need to "burn" the holder, , or in ths case the barrel in caaset of any parasites and such from the precious residents ...but is this neessary to do to a new liner?????? I thought maybe yes becasue platic for these liners has a peteroleum product i it - but I don't know really ...Does anyone have the answer? Thanks so much.
Sincerely,
Shari in Washington State
Posted by: Shari | May 04, 2007 at 05:44 PM
Wow, Shari, that set-up sounds fabulous. I'm sorry that I don't know the answer to your question.
I just let the plants and water sit in the pond liner (one of the plastic preformed jobs) long enough for it to seed with mosquito larvae, then added my fish.
I've never had babies to worry about, and don't know what they will require.
Good luck!
Posted by: Jenn | May 05, 2007 at 02:12 PM
i have two ponds one inground one above ground i raise fish beautiful koi i keep fountains running all summer for aeration
i have plants like cattails water primrose yellow flag parrots feather and bog reed
Posted by: matthew | August 23, 2007 at 05:08 PM
Wow, Matthew, that all sounds fabulous!
What state are you in?
Posted by: Jenn | August 23, 2007 at 10:12 PM
Nice work on the Whiskey Barrel Pond and I really liked your shot of Benny the Koi. I've bookmarked your site and will check often to see updates and how things are going. Good job!
Nigel
Posted by: Nigel | September 03, 2008 at 10:58 PM