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The Ponds |
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The Ponds |
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Three raised ponds and several pond beds host a number of waterplants, fish, and other creatures on the property. Here you see the main pond garden in early spring after cleanup. Notice how the ornamental grasses at the rear from the previous summer have been trimmed back for new growth. |
It isn't long before beautiful waterlilies and other plants appear with the bright sun of a new season. This waterlily is called Nymphaea 'Queen of whites'. Almost all lily flowers open up during the peak hours of sunshine, and then begin to close in early evening. |
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The same pond above in early fall, after a wild season of growth, flowering, pollination, and seed. The grasses in the back have reached a height of ten feet or more. Along with the surrounding trees, they help to create a secluded sanctuary from nearby properties. |
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| Nymphaea 'Gloriosa' in full bloom on the main pond. Most water lilies require lots of direct sunlight. |
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Lotus 'Mrs. P.D. Slocum' is planted in a dirt-bottomed pond lined with PVC. Plenty of fertilizer throughout the season ensures lots of flowers. Lotus leaves can span over two feet across! In the winter, the lotus plants go dormant while safely resting for the next spring. | |
| Goldfish move lazily on a summer's afternoon while they wait for their daily feeding. Unfortunately, wild snakes like rat snakes also make the ponds their homes; but enough goldfish survive to keep the pond stocked year after year. The semi-mild winters in Virginia also help sustain the fish populations, which float almost motionless beneath the water's surface for the season. |
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A Lotus Flower unfolds to the sky...Main Page
| Garden Map | House & Cottage | Ponds | Flowers |
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