It’s a spring ritual with me and Nancy – a ride across the mountain to Greenville and a visit to Springdale Water Gardens. Nancy has had a small lily pond (into which I snuck a few tadpoles and goldfish) for years.
Water lilies are gorgeous when they bloom and we have even kept the small pond heated to keep the lilies alive through the winter. Then, last year we installed our genuine goldfish pond with lots of water plants, snails, tadpoles, plus the goldfish which were transported from the small pond.
Since it’s now spring, we headed for Springdale. They sell lots of plants, koi fish, snails, tadpoles, and lots of water garden accessories. It’s a lovely drive over, about an hour, and worth it even if you don’t have a pond or water garden.
We’re hoping this year to keep the raccoons form pilfering our large snails. We’re looking at a motion activated machine that deters varmints – maybe that will work.
We also learned a lesson from last year. A few water plants go a long way. The dozen plants we initially put out in last year would have taken over Lake Erie if given the chance. We had to cull and cull and cull, but the frogs liked them
Springdale Water Gardens is located about 2 miles north of Greenville – follow the signs. They are open 9 to 5 M-S through the end of March, then expand to 1-5 pm on Sundays, Call them at 540-337-4507- or go to springdalewatergardens.com
