See our slide show at yardshare.com

Take a look at our slide show at yardshare.com

In a small Huntsville, Alabama subdivision, which is just under .50 acres. The ornamental garden area contains a water feature of approximately 1800 [CLICK HERE PLEASE]

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Meyer Lemon

Here is a picture (click image to enlarge) of the lemons that fell from the Meyer Lemon tree.

At the end of the summer, the Meyer Lemon tree was brought inside and placed in front of a window in the living room. The tree re-bloomed in the house, but did not set fruit. However, the three lemons that hung from the tree dropped to the floor this month (December). I used one lemon (juice) in some homemade guacamole dip and another lemon was used in some shrimp scampi I prepared.

I harvested the seeds from one lemon and plan on starting a Meyer Lemon tree soon. Most citrus trees are self-pollinating, even indoors.

Buy a Meyer Lemon Tree: Meyer Lemon Tree One Gallon by Monrovia Growers

More Reading on the Meyer Lemon:

The Meyer Lemon: More Than A Pretty Face by Julie O'Hara

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Koi pond frozen over

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Crinoids - The ancient sea lilies -350 Billion Years Old

While gathering more rock for my waterfall in the watergarden, I decided to collect some Crinoids to eventually make some ancient 'Indian Bead' necklaces. I picked these up on the side of Highway 72 on the side of the road where 72 and 565 connect in Northeast Alabama. What are Crinoids? Wikipedia describes them as

"Crinoids, also known as sea lilies or feather-stars, are marine animals that make up the class Crinoidea of the echinoderms (phylum Echinodermata). Crinoidea comes from the Greek word krinon, "a lily", and eidos, "form". They live both in shallow water and in depths as great as 6,000 meters.

Crinoids are characterized by a mouth on the top surface that is surrounded by feeding arms. They have a U-shaped gut, and their anus is located next to the mouth. Although the basic echinoderm pattern of fivefold symmetry can be recognized, most crinoids have many more than five arms. Crinoids usually have a stem used to attach themselves to a substrate, but many live attached only as juveniles and become free-swimming as adults.

There are only a few hundred known modern forms, but crinoids were much more numerous both in species and numbers in the past. Some thick limestone beds dating to the mid- to late-Paleozoic are almost entirely made up of disarticulated crinoid fragments."

Crinoid stems:

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Dunavant Cotton Plantation

The Dunavant Cotton Plantation is producing cotton now. The two plants are not enough to do anything with except use in a decorative vase or shadowbox.

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Meyer Lemon update

The Meyer Lemon Tree is doing well. The lemons are slowly changing fron green to yellow ...can't wait to make some homemade lemonade with these. I can remember my Grandmother Dunavant bringing me fresh lemonade while I bush-hogged the "North Forty". Man that was good. I miss you Grandma Dunavant!

Wren

Here is the mother wren sitting amongst the sage on her eggs.

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Black Swallowtail on Zinia

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The butterflies are in a great abundance this year in my ornamental watergarden area this year. Below is a Black Swallowtail. The Black Swallowtails, in my yard at least, are drawn to the Zinia flowers more so than the roses, butterfly bush, and marigolds.

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Water Lotus and Lotus Seed Pod

Here is an update on the Water Lotus growing in my ornamental water-garden in Huntsville Alabama. This is an August 2010 picture showing the Lotus seed pods as they begin to dry. The Lotus was purchased at Across the Pond this year. The seed pods make a beautiful dried arrangement when placed in a clear vase.

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Topsy Turvy Tomato (tomatoe)

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Pineapple Plant

Below is a pineapple plant that I planted. I cut the top off a grocery store bought pineapple and planted it it the soil in the backyard. It seems to be growing well. I will dig it up and pot it for winter growing before the first frost to see how that works out. Anyone else have success doing this?

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Old Times Here are Not Forgotten ...we're living in high cotton

Cotton Plant:

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N. Lutea, American Lotus

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Here you will find 'N. Lutea, American Lotus. This is the 'seed pod' which is often used, after growing larger, in dried flower arrangements. This is the pod after shedding the beautiful white flower petals. The petals lasted about three to four days, then fell off when I touched them, revealing the beautiful pod. If you want to see the Lotus flowering click here for our earlier post please.

Water Lotus Bloom

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Water Lotus: I have wanted one for so long ...it has been well worth the wait. The picture below is provided to see how large the Lotus is ...that is my hand and anyone that knows me, knows it is not a small hand. This beautiful Lotus was purchased at my favorite garden store, Across the Pond, where owner Trevor Cole is often found 'on-site' to help you with your gardening needs. If you haven't walked the grounds of Across the Pond, you are missing out on a beautiful experience. Thanks to Trevor for setting this Lotus aside for us!

Zinnias

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Canna (Italian Group) 'Yellow King Humbert'

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Watergarden Update (Video); June 30, 2010

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Baby Chicks Nesting Next to Watergarden

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Bullfrog in the watergarden

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Bunny with a Hat

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Hare with Lizard Hair

This was too cute not to post. This picture comes from my Mom and Dad's garden. Check out the lizard toupe.

Lola Inez Hood Dunavant Flower Pot

I love this pot because it belonged to my grandmother Lola Inez Hood Dunavant, who was an avid gardener. All of my grandparents were gardeners. My love for vegetable gardening was spawned by years of summer vacations spent in the vegetable gardens of my paw paw Thornton and paw paw Dunavant. My grandmother Dunavant and my Dad are responsible for my love of water gardening. They both maintained (grandmother) and maintain (Dad) beautiful water gardens.

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Muscadine

Although our Muscadine Vine does not sit in our water garden area, it is a part of the overall backyard garden area. The Muscadine grape grows wild in the southeastern U.S.. Our Muscadine is a mature and very fruitful vine. The dark grape is sweet, juicy and very tasteful.

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Mum

This is a Mum in a beautiful pot. The pot sits on a rock next to the watergarden.

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Mixed Color Pansies

The pansy or pansy violets are a large group of hybrid plants cultivated as garden flowers Pansies are derived from Viola species Viola tricolor hybridized with other viola species, these hybrids are referred to as Viola × wittrockiana

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Lemon Tree (Meyer)

A new addition to the pond area is our Lemon tree. It is a Meyer Lemon that was purchased at Bennett Nurseries. Wikipedia says the Meyer Lemon (Citrus × meyeri) is a citrus fruit, native to China, thought to be a cross between a true lemon and a mandarin orange or sweet orange. The Meyer lemon was introduced to the United States in 1908 as S.P.I. #23028, by the agricultural explorer Frank Nicholas Meyer, an employee of the United States Department of Agriculture who collected a sample of the plant on a trip to China.

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Worlds Largest Hosta

This is a picture of the worlds largest Hosta. I have placed my Harley Road King in front of the Hosta so you can see the size. The bike is actually a scale model of the 2006 Harley Road King.

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Growing Container Strawberries

This is a strawberry plant I have placed in a concrete planter I made.

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Hanging Strawberries

Here i have placed a strawberry plant in a metal bucket. I hung the strawberry plant in full sun. Notice the long tendrils trailing from the bucket. If you look closely, you can see the shiny CD that is placed in the bucket to discourage birds from eating the ripening strawberries

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Flamingo guarding roses

Here you see a picture of our plastic Flamingo guarding our rose plant

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Varous plants in containers

The picture above are pots of peppers (Cayenne and Jalapeno) and moss rose.

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Container Gardening

Above is a large planter where I have placed a tree, bulbs, Irish Moss, and two different types of ground cover. Additionally, I placed a landscape light in the pot to help highlight the container at night.

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Cotton Plant as an ornamental specimen

Pick up some cotton seed from your local nursery or your nearest cotton gin and plant the seed in a large pot. The cotton plant makes a beautiful ornamental specimen plant for your backyard garden. The picture above is a freshly emerging plant that has just popped through the soil. The plant will eventually bloom with pretty flowers and then produce cotton. Many of us have seen cotton growing in fields, but it is so taken for granted in the deep south that we do not think of placing a specimen cotton plant in our backyard so we can enjoy the beauty of cotton up close. Stay tuned for more pictures as the plant matures.

Note: Be sure to check the agricultural laws in your area before growing cotton. This protects large cotton farmers from boll weevil infestation.

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Blue Pansies

This is a picture of some blue pansies. This pansies do well this time of year here in North Alabama. This picture was taken on May 6, 2010.

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Grow a vertical garden

Here is an article on growing an indoor garden wall: Gardens That Grow on Walls

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Foster and Smith Launches Aquatic Supply Site

The Foster and Smith Aquatics website is dedicated to aquarium hobbyists and pond enthusiasts to better showcase pond and aquarium supplies and products. You won’t have to navigate through cat and dog products and search results.

Naturally Controlling Algae in Your Watergarden

Here is an excellent article on controlling algae in your pond, watergarden, or other type water feature: Plants that fight algae in the water garden. This article was found on www.csmonitor.com. Please also note that all watergardens can benefit from a total cleaning and pond water change out at some point. We did our for the first time after about sixteen (16) years ...pretty good for a water garden of less than 2,000 gallons, 103 fish, four bullfrogs, and with no filter. Please also note that a complete water change in a watergarden is a radical and dangerous event if not done properly. We only lost fourteen (14) of our 103 fish during our clean out this year. Please click on the aforementioned 'pond water change out' for a few pics.

Video of the Water Garden

Click on the video play

Pond Area Guard Dog

Here is a picture of Powder, our cocker spaniel. Here you see Powder laying in the winter rye grass in a green-space near the water garden.

Flamingo in Alabama Water Garden

Here is a Flamingo floating in our backyard water garden pond

Pond Water Change Out

Take a look at our recent 'Pond Water Change Out'. On March 7, 2010, we did a complete pond water change out of our goldfish and Koi pond. This is the first complete water change out and cleaning since the creation of the pond around 1994. That's a lot of years without having to change the water! That means we got it right. Specifically, for a pond to survive, live, and grow, with very little maintenance, you have to find that perfect 'natural' balance. The change out of the pond water caused a minimal loss of fish. Of the 106 fish, we only lost 13 in this radical pond environment change.

Snow on Bluebird House next to the water garden (March 2, 2010)

Pond and Waterfall

here is a picture of the pond and waterfall. Note the vine growing along side the waterfall ...it is a watermelon vine.

Garden Bench and Iron Fence

In the picture above (click the image to enlarge) you see the sitting area next to the ornamental water garden. Although the water garden is not shown, the pond is only about four feet from the pictured iron fence. The garden bench and table were homegrown weekend projects of building forms and mixing and pouring the concrete.