May 13, 2017 - Saturday

43 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

That's right, the pond is actually full, water is spilling down the falls and the fountain is spewing water skyward. What a good feeling it is to have something other than a hole in the middle of our garden!

Friday began with me shoveling the remaining gravel from the trailer as I had to be at the farmer's to get a load of compost/cow manure by 10 AM. Thankfully, there were just two wheelbarrow loads remaining.

I enjoyed my visit with Don, the compost man. I've purchased the manure/dirt from him for six years and we use the occasion to catch up on the area news and talk gardening. He and his wife, Mary, are nice people.

I only got four yards this year rather than the usual five. The soil is used to rejuvenate the planters and raised beds, and fill in any small holes around the yard.

Once home, I parked the trailer and resumed work on the pond. I was a man possessed with a goal of having it filled and the waterfalls working by nightfall.

Sargie had brought home some new plastic edging Thursday evening, a type where one doesn't have to dig to install it. It worked like a charm and that chore was finished rather quickly.

I ran hoses, buried electrical cords, rearranged rocks, and did a few hundred other things.

Before I could begin filling the pond, some sort of box with screen needed to be constructed in which to place the pump that powers the waterfalls. It was back into the shop, measuring, cutting, and assembling.

I finally came up with something that should keep most of the large debris out of the pump. A small box was also made to mount on the side of the flower planter to house the electrical connections. 

It was time. Though more hoses needed to be hidden, I couldn't contain myself. Let the water flow.

Two hours had passed. The pond was full and it was time. I took a big breath, said a silent prayer to Baby Jesus, and hit the switch. I heard gurgling then splashing. The garden pond sprang to life!

Lots of work still needs to be done, mostly decorating, adding plants, rocks, and everything that makes a garden pond look nice, but that will require Sargie's decorating expertise. For now, the pond is "good 'nuff."

I migrated from outside to inside the greenhouse where I planted this year's sunflowers. Three varieties were planted, my own hybrid giants, the Teddy Bear variety, and a few seeds from last year's world record holder that grew to over 19 feet in height and had a head of over 3 feet across. I'm calling that variety the Mega. 

I do love my sunflowers.

A bit of daylight remained. Hmm, could I? Should I? As long as I was on a roll, why not!

I hopped on the Cub Cadet and mowed the yard for the first time this year. The old mower shook and rattled, but worked well. As always, I'm hoping it will last just one more season. Of course, I've been saying that for the past three years. The only thing holding the deck together is a series of welds.

Sargie had to close and wasn't home until late last night. We had a quick evening together before bedtime.

She's off to a family bridal shower in Green Bay with the Milligan sisters today. It's my intention to pressure wash the back deck and get it treated. No doubt, the patio furniture will be brought out of storage in the next day or two and we'll officially pronounce the opening of the summer season.

Time to get busy. Got to make hay while the sun shines.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Mowed for the first time this spring