Buadhai Builds A Pond

[Wayne Kerr]

All that water gets me thinking of fish ... any idea what you're gunna put in the water?

Here's one for Mrs. Buad Hai ... ฆ่าควายอย่าเสียดายพริก .

[Gerbil]

Seems a lot of hassle.

Why not just buy one of those premoulded fibreglass thingies and stick it in a hole?

[buad hai]

any idea what you're gunna put in the water?

Tuna....

Why not just buy one of those premoulded fibreglass thingies and stick it in a hole?

I'm just not in to butt plugs....

Here's one for Mrs. Buad Hai

She didn't understand it. Please explain.

"Kill the buffalo but don't feel sorry for the peppers?"

If you want to do something big don't sweat the small stuff?

[Wayne Kerr]

If you want to do something big don't sweat the small stuff?

Yep something along those lines ... but I'd replace "big" with "well/properly/something you'll be happy with". Sorry I've had too much beer and fun with Wikiquotes tonight.

[buad hai]

^Thanks, Wayne. As for fish, it will just be goldfish, comets and a few platys. (At least I think they're platys.)

[ChiangMai noon]

^
what do you do with all the extra liner?
do you just cut it off?

[a. boozer]

Any photos of your pond to share?

BH, no sorry, did have one or two, but they were taken on my old pre-digital camera, and I think that they were discarded prior to the move out here.

[buad hai]

what do you do with all the extra liner?
do you just cut it off?

Yes. In fact Ms. B and I just got back from doing exactly that. Once the edging of brick and stone is mortared in we will trim even more. Fortunately, the pond held water overnight so maybe we're OK.

The mud is still too thick and sticky to continue with other work, though. Maybe tomorrow.

[buad hai]

This brick and laterite will be used for the pond edging.

I chose the laterite for where I want the pond edge to look "natural". It will be topped with sticky soil (usually used for lotus and lily) and then with Malaysia grass so it looks like the turf grows right down to the pond edge.

The bricks will be used to build a couple of low walls that go right into the water.

[klongmaster]

Fortunately, the pond held water overnight so maybe we're OK.

Well that's good news...I got one of the thingies from 7/11 that you can use to reseal bags of snacks like crips etc...

I was wondering if that would work to weld the liner where there are holes?

[ChiangMai noon]

^
getting back to gerbil's point up there.
is there anything wrong with those ready made ponds that you just throw into a hole?

[buad hai]

^They are usually not very deep and not very big. But, there's nothing really wrong with them if you find one that suits your needs. I've seen some very nice water gardens with a pre-formed pond. I've seen them here made out of both plastic and cement.

[ChiangMai noon]

^
There is an area in the corner of my new place, around 4 metres by 1 that almost looks like a natural pond already.

I suspect we will be following your instructions for that area.
was thinking of another ready made one somewhere else.
which would be better.
plastic or cement?

[buad hai]

^I prefer plastic only because I've seen so many cracked cement ponds around that end up being nothing but planter boxes or dust collectors. But, I don't have any experience with the preformed cement ones.

The plastic is probably easier to handle and install just because it's lighter. But, the plastic can be UV sensitive, so you need to make sure to leave none of it exposed to the sun when you install.

[hillbilly]

I have enjoyed reading about the pond adventures thus far! However, I have to say that I am glad that I am not the only one that has problems with projects!

[buad hai]

^

grrrrr

[buad hai]

Damn. Pouring down rain again. I guess that means no pond work tomorrow....

[Butterfly]

man, you seem to be doing a lot of additional work yourself on that house.

We need to have a dummy guide here for making a nice garden with plants recommendations.

I am starting that project in September

[buad hai]

We need to have a dummy guide here for making a nice garden with plants recommendations.

You kind of have to know what sort of look you're after. I dislike the Thai semi-formal type gardens with paths, borders, topiary and single plants that stand out alone. That type of garden is going out of style, but you still see a lot of it. I think it comes from generations of beating back the rainforest and a desire for a garden that demonstrates mastery of nature rather than harmony with it.

I'm rather fond of the Bali "wall of green" style garden where you have a sala or some place to sit, an open area with a pond, or paving or just swept soil and beyond that a jungle-like wall of green that contains plants of many sizes, all sort of jumbled together with individual plants that introduce color, motion or fragrance. To me the garden should present constant surprises as you move around. Discover a flower here that was hidden where you were standing before. Go around a bend in a path and discover a completely new look.

One place that we look for ideas is in the Thai magazine บ้านและสวน ("House and Garden"). The monthly rag always has a few good gardens in it. Even if you can't read Thai it's worth browsing. There's another magazine called "Home and Decor" which puts out "idea" books in addition to the monthly magazine. We have one called "Small Garden Big Idea" which indeed has some great ideas.

If you check the bookstores you'll find many books (in Thai) which are full of good local information. We have one with nothing but fragrant plants, another with different varieties of edible and decorative bananas (including Heliconia) and another called "Plants for Decoration" that has both Thai and English common names.

And, of course, there are quite a few experienced gardeners here who are always ready to help!

[corvettelover]

^They are usually not very deep and not very big. But, there's nothing really wrong with them if you find one that suits your needs. I've seen some very nice water gardens with a pre-formed pond. I've seen them here made out of both plastic and cement.

just an idea
If you had a shape in mind build a frame cover it in wet cardboard and allow to dry cover it in plastic and get some fiberglass matting and resin and build your own pond
But in your case wait til rain stops

[buad hai]

Too muddy to start work on the edging, but we still face the problem of mosquito larvae and algae growth. So, in go some fish and plants:







(That second shot was almost good enough for the Knickers thread.)


I'm using a brick hammer to break the laterite stone into sizes suitable for the edging. I hope to finish that up this afternoon.

If no rain today, we can start work tomorrow morning.

[a. boozer]

BH. It's coming along nicely, look forward to seeing the finished product.

By the way, do you know the Thai name of that floating plant that Mrs.BH is pictured putting into the pond?

[buad hai]

By the way, do you know the Thai name of that floating plant that Mrs.BH is pictured putting into the pond?

จอก - jok

English is Pistia or "water lettuce". Great for filtering the water.

[dirtydog]

Water Hyacinth?

[buad hai]

Water Hyacinth is a different plant. We have some where we are now and we'll probably take a bit over.