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Choosing Pond PlantsBrett Fogle A pond without plants is like cake without icing. Pond plants fight algae, give fish a hiding place against predators, and beautify our own little slice of paradise to plunk down in at the end of a tiring day. Don’t smother your pond with plants, however. Start with half the surface area, and don’t let them cover more than two-thirds to three-quarters at their growing peak. Overcrowding stresses them out, and hey – it just looks bad! Don’t let the terms “hardy” and “tropical” throw you when choosing plants for your pond. Just remember that these terms refer to the environment in which the plant has originally been adapted – and not to whether it can be thrown across the room or how well it looks in a fancy mixed drink. Hardy pond plants, as a rule, can handle cold temperatures and frost. Of course, this is relative to your USDA agricultural zone, found here: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html. Ask your plant professional or check the plant’s label before taking home that plant that does great in Hawaii, but not so great in Maine. Tropicals, on the other hand, pretty much hold true to what they’re called: They will take a nosedive if temperatures get much below 70 degrees, turning into a messy mush if it freezes. But, ah, Grasshopper, there are ways to save even those hardy plants that aren’t quite up to a northern blizzard, as well as those tender-toed tropicals with which you’ve fallen madly in love. Bury hardy pond plants, pot and all, into a south-facing part of your yard and cover with a thick, warm blanket of mulch. Or put them into a garage or basement, making sure they’re kept wet and have good air circulation. Tropicals, on the other hand, need light and moisture year ‘round. If you don’t have a greenhouse, place tropicals in your sunniest window and keep misted, several times a day if possible, to provide the humidity they crave in order to flourish. “Grow lights” do a fabulous fake of the sun, however, and many tropical pond plants thrive under them. Marginal pond plants – those that grow around the edges, or margins, of a pond – can be either hardy or tropical. Some hardy marginals are cattail, plantain, and rush. Tropical marginals include taro, spider lily, and water hibiscus. Of course there are legions more to lust after in both hardy and tropical marginals. Place marginals with their pot tops one to six inches under water. Very tall plants, like cattail, can be moved as deep as a foot beneath the surface one they’ve gotten full-sized. Water lilies, however, like their water deep – between 18 and 30 inches – after starting the season in the 6”-12” shallower end. This gives them a nice, springtime shot of sunshine to get going again. And when the plant pro recommends those funny-looking pots with all the little holes in them, go for it. Pond plants poke their toes roots through them to develop tiny, nutrient-extracting feeder roots. Meshing with one another, these roots provide stability and protection against wind, kids, pets, and adults that have a tendency to stumble into them. Fertilize pond plants when they need them. “Ha!” you say. “And when is that” Well, go back to your plant pro, the Internet, or the plant label you so wisely saved. Each plant may have different requirements, but one rule of thumb: Plants need much more fertilizer in warm-weather months than when it’s cool outside.
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The Base Hit Sometimes there is that rare moment that causes one to reflect on those matters that are deemed important and deflect those that are not.It is a very humbling experience but a nice feeling nevertheless.I had one of those moments. Boating Safety - Its For Everyone Boating, when a few simple rules are followed, is one of the safest family activities there is. U.S. statistics show boating is twice as safe as biking, five times as safe as driving a car, and 24 times as safe as scuba diving.By practicing safe boating, you will provide a wonderful pastime for yourselves and give your children a love of the water that will last them a lifetime. The Bingo Renaissance Little old ladies in slippers, playing for pennies and cents in a converted community hall is no longer the reality of bingo. The game has in recent years and now more than ever undergone a rebirth in its popularity and status and now looks set to boom in the coming years. The Dead Drift One of the most popular fly fishing techniques is called dead drift. Dead drifting is primarily done when fly fishing with nymphs, and are fishing slots, seams or smaller rivers. It is an effective technique that any fly fisher should have in their repotorie of fly fishing techniques. And is particularly effective, when nothing is happening on the surface of the water. Basics of Photography Photography captures a moment in time. It is a creative process as much as painting or writing and has the power to communicate the meaning of a scene or event. Photography is simple to learn yet at the same time challenging to execute. Learning the finer nuances of photography is based on three key aspects - Light, aesthetics and focus. Understanding these three aspects forms the basis of expressing yourself effectively through photography. 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A look at the intriguing History of Snowboarding It has taken almost forty years for snowboarding to be recognized as a major sport that is followed and participated in by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.Humanity’s love affair with snow has been documented throughout the ages, starting with cave dwellers who were smart enough to figure out that snow had its advantages, such as serving as insulation to hold in the warmth in their homes and preserving the day’s kill. Who Invented The Game Of Golf Well, who actually did invent the game of Golf The question has been asked and argued for many years with no true winner. Many countries have a valid claim to an early game that resembles the game of golf. Some of the countries that make this claim are England. Scotland, China, Rome, France, The Netherlands, Belgium and Laos. The most heated debate over who invented golf definitely comes from Great Britain and Scotland. |
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