I remember my mother refusing to get me a turtle as a pet after hearing that they could transmit salmonella. (She probably had no idea at the time that they can also transmit Hepatitis B.) She also told me not to touch the ducks in the neighborhood lake. She probably had heard that they can …
Community Spread of Algae Contributes to Antibiotic Resistance Read More »
We water gardeners generally enjoy seeing nature and the ecosystems that surround us. Adding a water garden to a landscape is a great way to add more nature that is up-close and personal. While many enjoy the sound of water and others are drawn to the beauty of waterlilies and fish, there are other ways …
Natural Ponds Attract Wildlife to Your Water Garden Read More »
One weekday afternoon, a customer came into our store inquiring about installing a pond water feature. Interestingly, he followed it up with, “I’ve looked it up online and I really do not want to buy a bunch of expensive jazz.” With all the home remedies out there and the DIY channel, who can blame him? …
The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and your dog is relaxing in the grass after a playful romp in a nearby pond. But after a few minutes, it becomes clear that something is wrong. His exhaustion has turned to disorientation and extreme lethargy. A few minutes later he is overcome by muscle tremors …
To many pond owners, frogs and toads are about as different as creeks and cricks. In reality, these two amphibians vary greatly in diet, anatomy and habitat. If you’d like to know a bit more about the noisy, four-legged hoppers in your pond, read Benjamin Timmermans’ comprehensive overview and see these fascinating creatures in a whole new light!
Caring for the health and wellness of a pond full of fish is no easy task. But when the wildlife in your pond has feathers instead of scales, the complexity reaches a whole new level! Max Taylor of Magnolia Ponds and Water Gardens explains the unique challenges of maintaining a pond just for ducks.
Most customers end up keeping to many animals in their ponds. Read what can happen when the “customer” thinks they know more then you do. This is a fun article to read, but the important point is the problems animals can cause when the pond is not built for them. For
example, red-eared sliders do not go well with lilies in a water garden and oh what a mess swans can make! Balance is the key.
Just say the word raccoon and I can already see you cringing. They are everywhere – urban and rural. They adapt to their environment and they just love water. Learn the signs to tell whether you have raccoons or not and how to prevent the damage they can cause. Like building the pond with steep sides, at least a one-foot drop instead of slopping sides. If you can’t prevent them there are also several tips on how to control them.
Ponds and water features are magnificently
magnetic. Learn what the ‘Wildlife Habitat
Program’ organized by the National Wildlife
Federation is and why you need to know about it?