http://s636.photobucket.com/albums/uu88/mondotomhead/?action=view¤t=000_0133.jpg" target="_blank">

Here's a picture from exactly 2 months ago....

http://s636.photobucket.com/albums/uu88/mondotomhead/?action=view¤t=000_0099.jpg" target="_blank">

And here is one of the culprits just ready to drop its leaves into the pond. I read somewhere that a medium tree has 300,000 leaves!

http://s636.photobucket.com/albums/uu88/mondotomhead/?action=view¤t=000_0135.jpg" target="_blank">

Summer picture:

That tree looks EVIL! I like the way your net bracing curves over your pond and your netting is nice and neat. I've just put rebar stakes in the ground and tied the net to it. Its not exact even so leaves get caught in the folds of the net. Still, it better than the leaves filling up the skimmer box or dropping to the bottom.

I hate to think how many months we have to wait to get our ponds beautiful again......(sigh)

I had a few minor problems doing that. First was thinking the net size was 15 x 20, so I cut the PVC "arches" at 15' and fitted the ends onto the rebar that were in the ground. I loved the high pitch of the arch, BUT the net was actually 12 by 20, so I had to cut 18" off each end so the cross brace pieces still ran along the top which made the arches 12' like the net. I also had to move the rebar in a few inches closer to the pond, so that I would still have enough arch.

The second batch of trouble I had involved an accidental fountain I created. I was driving tent stakes into the ground, so I could use small bungee cords to make the net tight. Well, I drove one right through the hose that goes from the pump to the waterfall. Yep, that's when I hollered for my husband. "Oh Crap. HONEY??!!" LOL. But, anyway, I am still very happy with the way the frame and the netting came out. I knew I wanted it to arch and the net to fit tightly, that way I could just use my broom to sweep away alot of the leaves and hopefully the wind would help keep them blown off.

Well, is spring here yet? We will have to keep ourselves inspired by new ideas and projects to try when spring is here again. We will have to keep each other posted on all of our wild ideas. I have a few. :)

I, too, was procrastinating and since I'm gone from home 13 hours a day I only see the backyard on weekends. The tree just above the pond had shed all its leaves right into the pond. The skimmer box was totally filled so there was a backup of floating leaves waiting to get in. It took over two hours to hand pick leaves out of the plants, rocks and hyacinths. As I was netting leaves out of the bottom I accidently netting up one of my goldies. She was NOT happy!

And Hardin, I almost drove a piece of rebar into my hose too. I just happened to notice a small piece of it that wasn't under the ground just before I whacked it with the sledgehammer.

I am complaining right now but in a "funny story" way. I love my pond in all its seasons and don't regret one minute I spend out there.

I took my netting off the pond on Sunday to take out the pumps and assorted gear. Thought I'd cover it up with tarp for winter since all the plants around it have been killed off by the early snows this season.

Long story short, never got around to finishing up with the tarp and now the dang thing is FULL of leaves. Plan for tonight is to put on my rubber boots and get as many leaves out before I put the pond to bed for the winter.

Please hurry spring! I can't wait to add lilies and fish and new fun stuff to the pond. I'm already envisioning the secondary pond that I want to put in next to the big pond and waterfalls! Gotta figure out, too, how to add pictures so I can show everyone my crazy first time ponder escapades!