Connie, the Pond Crazy water feature expert, arrived this morning. At long last, the fish, who have been languishing in two aerated tubs for many weeks, are moving to a new home in a nice part of St. Louis County (Warson Woods). The fish look very healthy and ready for this change of life. Forecast cool weather will also favor their chances. Connie says she will send a picture of their new digs, and we wish them well in their new adventure. When the water feature is refashioned, there will be no maintenance, but no pool for fish, either. Frogs will remain.
Connie begins to drain the tubs 
Water is getting a bit shallow! 
Fish in net 
Fancy transport containers
When the existing water feature was built 17 years ago, I was sent to the nursery that caters to pond people, to buy fish. I was instructed to buy an odd number for luck, and I was told that black fish are particularly lucky, so be sure to buy one black fish. I was shocked at how expensive the fish were, so I bought 7 fairly small ones. We named them all (the black one was called “Lucky”, of course). They grew and thrived, coming when we called to feed them, and we were very attached to our little school. Alas, once they got big, herons and raccoons began to notice them, and soon, the original seven were fish dinners, and our hearts were broken. No more naming of fish! As luck would have it, though, they had many little offspring. Each year, when the pond was cleaned, there would be a census, and several times we gave away some of the multitudes, as every year there was a new generation. So, these last twenty or so are descendants of those original seven and they are on to better times.
Mistletoe had a haircut today, and she is feeling very stylish. She may be a little bit chilly tomorrow, but she spends most of her time indoors, anyway.
The horses enjoyed the sunshine, as did we all. I took some pictures of flowers, as, with a freeze warning ahead, I fear they may be nipped tomorrow. I have moved the lemon trees indoors and the jasmine and gardenia are on the porch awaiting sheets and blankets. I wonder if this will affect the fruit trees. It promises to be a rare cold snap, this late in April.
Oisin 
Stone 
Bart and Stone 
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum) 
Honeysuckle 
Pink dogwood 
Azalea’s first blossom 
A drift of fallen crabapple petals
Two varieties of woodpeckers were amongst the birds today.
A female downy woodpecker, with prairie fire crabapple behind 
Red bellied woodpecker and leaves opening on the locust tree
Cedar and Nettie found the camera today, but Weedy missed out. He went to town with Harry for a pup cup at Starbucks.
Cedar patrols for varmints 
Nettie poses for the camera
And finally, Harry, dreading the camera, but a good sport about it nonetheless.
Stay safe, stay well. Peace.
Such a sage of the fish generations in 17 years. Maybe it could made into a miniseries for TV somewhere? Fun to know about and admirable to have sustained. Thankful for frog populations too!