Information, descriptions, videos, and pictures on my gardens which include a pond and water garden (with videos!), bulb garden, and carnivorous plants! pond, water, fish, goldfish, comets, fresh water, fountain, waterfall, landscape, landscaping, gardening, planting, bulb, bulbs, hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, iris, crown imperials, grape hyacinths, crocus, dutch bulbs, venus flytrap, sunder, pitcher plant, dionea, drosera, carnivorous, carnivore, soil, dirt, fertilizer, aldrovanda, utricularia, pinguicula, butterwort, sarracenia, cephalotus, nepenthes, filter, pump

Due to the violent content of nature, only the non-grusome pictures are displayed here. There are no pictures of a half-squished, half-digested, slimy-enzymed covered unidentifiable creature within the trap of a plant. Both pictures below were taken in early spring a year or two apart. There's just so many bugs out there the traps are fighting for every inch of free space! Think of it as the animals' gateway to hell...literally. Once trapped in the "pitcher", if they don't eventually drown, they'll suffer a slow death as the enzymes released by the plant ever so gradually break down the soft tissues of the bug. Nothing like a slow death for the mesquito who wouldn't leave you alone. To the left is one of Dave's Asian Pitcher plants. This species has been known to trap big rodents (such as squirrels), birds, and frogs -- all found in various stages of digestion. This last picture (right) was taken in late winter. These pretty yellowish-green flowers signify the awakening of the beasts from their dormancy.

The recipe: 1000+ bulbs/plants; hard, physical labor; dirt; mulch. They lie motionless, using trickery and deceit to lure their prey. There are plants that aim to make prey of animals, trapping their victims ruthlessly and without mercy. A Xmas gift idea for mom, constructed over the following Mother's Day weekend. Miscellaneous pictures from Dave's gardens, including hundreds of peonies and our most popular "Outback".

One of many areas in the yard where there are hundreds of peonies. This particular location is known as "peony island". In the spring time when they're all in full bloom, not only are they gorgeous, but the sweet scents blow right through the house when the windows are open! The rocks were dug up from the yard and used as either stepping stones, sitting stones, or broken up to create little rock gardens. The arbor has honey-suckle vines growing on it. Notice all the cute little details such as the "Garden of Weed'n" and the stone cat sitting next to the catnip.

Minor maintanence is needed to keep any pond clean and healthy. After the first year, the pond was drained to inspect the liner. For this task, a Sears shop-vac worked wonders. Most water garden books recommend putting plants in pots with holes (the ones that look like drainers). Put plants in solid plastic pots instead. Otherwise, the roots grow through the holes, pushing all the dirt out and into the pond. Refill the pond, and reintroduce the fish slowly one at a time so if something's wrong, the whole school won't be lost. After the first year, the pond should establish a healthy eco-system, so further drainings are not necessary. Just keep the filters running clean, and take care to remove junk/debris that accumulates in the water.