I never realize how much I miss my "outdoor room" until the time comes around again to enjoy it. And now that everything's set up, I try to get up a little earlier during the week so I can sit out by the pond, have my coffee and try to enjoy the "zen" feeling before starting another hectic day.
Of course, right now before I can do that, I've had to add another chore to my morning routine ... cleaning the pond filter. Yes, it's become a daily ritual. Every morning I open the curtains on the sliding glass doors, look out onto the patio, let the dogs out and feel the tranquility ... which is abruptly interrupted when I notice the slow trickling of the waterfall!
So, I trudge out, griping the whole way, unhook the filter and walk it down to the other side of the yard where the hose is (all in my pajamas of course). And, every now and then, one of my neighbors is out and wants to talk. Great.
It's my own fault really.While my planting is done and mulched way ahead of last year, my pond maintenance has suffered. Last year it was all about the green water, and this year it's all about the muck. When your pond goes from 16 fish to over 30, it really makes a difference in waste! One of these days, I'll get around to installing that Not-So-New-Anymore waterfall and cleaning out the bottom of the pond. In hopes of actually getting this done, I just ordered the Muck-Vac from www.muckvacdirect.com. For $69.95 (and that's a LOT cheaper than many pond vacuums), it boasts the ability to clean the bottom and sides of any pond/fountain without disrupting plant life or fish. And according to customer testimonies, "it works great and has cut down pond maintenance time drastically!" I can only hope ...
Back to the morning routine. As I sit and take in my backyard oasis, after getting dressed mind you, I can see two chipmunks running sunflower seeds back to their nest, one of which is on the other side of the pond, down next to the hard plastic lining. I figure it stays nice and cool in the hot summer months, and that's why they "build" it there. I stay still so as not to be noticed. And if I'm real lucky, I can sit pretty close to Hank (the frog), while he sits atop one of the pond plant pots, waiting for me to make my next move.
The peacefulness is interrupted by a scuffling sound, and I look up to find my Bichon Frise Lexie treeing two squirrels. They are giving her heck because they want to come down to the bird feeder, but she won't allow it!
After a few tranquil minutes, I look at my watch and am reminded that it's time to leave for work. Damn, can't it be Saturday already?
Last thing I do before leaving is to plug in the Bubbler. The Bubbler used to be a beautiful Bell fountain, as pictured above (in the bottom right corner). When we had our smaller pond, the fish kept knocking the fountain stem off the pump. I always figured it was because the pond was too small for the size of the fish, and they couldn't help knocking into it. After we installed the larger pond, the fish continued to knock the fountain stem off its pump.
Then I finally realized that while we humans like the Bell fountain, the fish prefer the bubbler effect the fountainless pump has on the water. The air pressure shooting out of the pump creates a "jet stream" of water that splashes up at the surface. For the fish, it creates a kind of water park effect. When the Bubbler is on, they take turns swimming through the pressurized water, sometimes being propelled up and out of the water. So, I like to think of it as our treat to them.
At night, when I turn the bubbler off (to give them a break, I think), they all just kind of hover around it like I just took away their ball and the game is over.

Tomorrow, I promise, the Earth Boxes will be revealed ... I WILL get them done tonight!

With the rising cost of gas, food and everything else, "Staycation" is quickly becoming the buzz word for Summer 2008.
A Staycation is defined as a vacation that is spent at one’s home enjoying all that home and one’s home environs have to offer.
And it doesn’t have to feel like you’re not getting away if you take the time to create your own backyard oasis.
For many of us, gardening provides an escape from the daily stresses in our lives. To make your garden even more of a retreat, you can create a backyard oasis within your garden – a place to get away from the rest of the world to read, sketch, cook-out, relax or just contemplate the beauty around you.
To create a backyard oasis, you don’t need a lot of space. In fact, the smaller and more intimate, the better. Even a tiny patio near your back door will work if it is shielded from neighbors or a view from the street.
My own oasis is just outside the sliding glass doors off our sunroom (which is an oasis in itself). It’s just a brick patio with a table, chairs and a couple of resin rockers.
Five years ago, it was the view from this patio/sunroom that served as the inspiration for the gardening paths and pond that now provide a great place to get away from it all.
Once you’ve decide on your oasis location, use the following suggestions to define a garden getaway that offers both comfort and privacy.
Add plants for privacy, especially ornamental grasses. They grow tall and provide a great natural privacy screen. Also add pots of plants. The colors and scents can provide relaxing stimulation.
If you really want to go all out, try adding shrubs or hedges. Although it might take a few years for everything to grow in. That's why I opt for the grasses, they grow fast and are virtually maintenance free. (It's really hard to kill grass.)
When it's time to select seating for your private space, it's all about comfort! That Parisian bistro chair may look charming, but if it isn't comfortable, you won't use it. How about a hammock? Nothing says relaxation more than that (as long as you can get in and out of it.) Swings and rockers also do a nice job of providing comfortable seating for your oasis.
And don't worry about making a big design statement -- if it makes you happy, it's perfect. So go out and create your backyard oasis, it'll make that staycation all the more enjoyable (and you won't have to use any gas to get there)!