Friday 1 November 2013

Time to winterize the goldfish pond - I had helpers!

The pump removed, it is sadly silent.

As I write publish this post, we've had more than 25 mm of rain, high winds and a temperature of 16 C.
I usually prepare posts ahead of time. Sort of like a day book teachers write. Sometimes it was a day behind book, to quote a colleague of mine!

It was quite balmy last night. When I was doing this work, Tuesday, it was bitterly cold.

Geraldine was sitting on the side of the pond last night. She'd disappeared under the cold surface of the water when the temperatures dropped at the beginning of the week.
Geraldine - she's a big girl!
It is time to shut her down for the season. It looks so quiet. No more tinkling of water to soothe the soul.

Yes, I had helpers. Daisy found a mole. Dorah found a fieldmouse.
Wee mole
Daisy and her mole

I rinsed, scrubbed and soaked the pump in vinegar water.
It was bitterly cold, but the sun came out.
After I was done, I ran the lawn tractor over the catalpa leaves to mulch them. I spotted another mouse running away. At least the leopard frogs, fond as they are of the deep grass, have gone for the season!
Last look at the pond with the fountain.


Winterizing the goldfish pond from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Yes, it was time. It was -6 C. Monday night. The frogs are nowhere to be seen. This is the last look at the pond pump for the season.

5 comments:

Jackie McGuinness said...

This was always my husband's job until we downsized last year to a condo!!!
The fish would be captured and put in my neighbour's aquarium for the winter.

Powell River Books said...

Does Geraldine dig under dirt and/or leavers to make it through the winter? - Margy

Jenn Jilks said...

She goes into the pond, Margy. I saw her when the pond had iced over, and she was slowly swimming under the ice. Eventually, she'll hunker down into the mud in the bottom.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
There is something that speaks to basic instincts when undertaking such preparations; hunkering down like Geraldine!! A lovely, atmospheric post. YAM xx

Red said...

I'd say you're pretty lucky with your pump at those temperatures. As far as gardening is concerned it's all over for this year except the crying!