Rose Cottage Ltd

I haven’t been able to post much lately. It seems that about 75% of the leaves have fallen so raking has become part of a nearly daily routine! But, there are quite a few left ON the trees as evidenced by this colorful example:

For once there is a bird feeder without a squirrel on it!!

As for the Paperwhites…

I came down this morning to see several of the bulb stems bent over – meaning the top-heavy buds are starting to form. Right on track for some Thanksgiving Day blooms this year…

You can see the picture of these bulbs from last week in the post just below or via this link. Here’s a picture taken today, October 22, 2013.

There has been a LOT of growth in just one week!

I’m off sometime today in search of the perfect pumpkin – have found some new Halloween pumpkin design ideas online and one new method I am ready to try.

Clue: It involves using a drill…but not a chainsaw…

More on that later…

Leaves are changing color and MANY have already fallen in Central North Carolina. The lake is still somewhere around a foot low on rainfall but I’m hoping the remaining fall and then winter season to come will help raise the level of the lake. In the meantime, the geese do not seem concerned that nearly one-third of the water is missing!

Leaves falling on the surface of a lake or pond will add acid. If fish begin to show signs of stress (floating sideways on the surface or fish that seem to be struggling near the surface,) either add aeration as soon as possible or short of that, try to remove as many of the leaves from the lake itself and from any streams or brooks that feed your lake’s water.

Drought conditions of the last few summers have really put your fish – and your investment in them – at risk. A fountain is probably one of the quickest ways to improve lake oxygen levels but you’ll be looking at around $1000 investment in most cases. Keeping dead leaves and other debris out of your lake or pond will still provide long-term improvement in your water feature’s environment.

++ Fountain Mountain

For everyone spending today outside versus inside….