Bits & Pieces
This is a postcard of Main Street, Manderson, Wyoming, ca 1900-1910
that was found in a box of family photos when I began my genealogy research.
Victor and Jessie Mary (Elgie) Sykes, my great grandparents, made their home in Manderson and raised their children here.
Click on Thumbnails for larger view.
This spring we made the decision to enlarge our pond. Construction was completed the last week of March. The new design includes a limestone wall where we can sit to feed and enjoy watching the fish. Originally in July, 2002, we stocked the pond with 10 Comets (a variety of goldfish) about 4" to 5" in length. Two subscumed during a pump failure, but the remaining 8 fish prospered with one orange and white one growing to about 13" from nose to the tip of her elaborate, flowey tail, a beautiful charasteric of the Comets. These eight fish survived their temporary quarters during the reconstruction but were happy to be back in their expanded home. Along with the expansion, we purchased 6 new Comets, about 4" in length, and added them to our fishy family. One is pearl white, one has a white diamond pattern on her sides under an orange back, two are solid orange, one is orange with a white belly and one was white with an orange patch on her head (a minature of one of our original fish).
Shortly after being re-introduced to the pond, about the second week of April, at least one, if not two, of the females gave birth to a brood of fry. These little fish, no more than 1/4" in length found refuge in the plants and many survived. I haven't been able to get an exact count, but estimate there are now 30 to 40 fish of sizes varying from 1" to 3" in length in our pond. In the beginning they all looked like minnows, dark with a metalic sheen on their sides. Now many of them are developing colors of orange and black, orange and white, black and white and two are solid white. Many are dark gray and a few have fan or veil tails.
Now the tragedy! This spring also brought a giant egret (4' tall) who liked the menu at Pond Scannell. Sadly we lost some beautiful fish including the 13" beauty and 5 others from our original group as well as one of the new additions. Research tells us the egret has no natural enemies and once they have located a pond, they will be constant visitors. In an effort to give the fish some protection, we added a rock shelf that sits about 6" off the bottom of the pond. They do like swiming under the shelf and it provides shade on hot days, but we still don't know if this will be enough protection from predators.
Pond Scannell
View across the lower pond from the skimmer. A protective rock shelf rests about 6" off the bottom on the north end.
Looking down on the rock shelf. The fish have just been fed and are churning the water as they grab lunch.
Perspective on their size is difficult. The top lily pad is
8" in diameter and the gold
& white Comet to the left is 6" in length.
These gold Comets vary
from 6" to 8" and were added to the pond in early April when they were about 4" long.
Here the larger white Comet is 6" in length while the smaller one is about 2-1/2". If you look carefully you can see two darker colored fish
In the top right corner of this image you will see a white Comet with a red patch on the top of her head. She is 9" in length. The largest of the gold Comets at 12" is in the center of the picture.
This picture shows a couple of 3/8" long tadpoles and a few of the darker fish in the April brood.
This view shows the "front" edge of the rock shelf we added to give the fish a place to hide.
It has been 10 minutes since lunch was served and the fish are still scouting for any missed tidbits. The plant at the bottom center is a Water Poppy, while a Taro (variety of Elephant Ear) grows on the right.
The lily is a variety called Darwin. It has bloomed profusely and is enchanting in the perfect symetry of the petals.
Pond Video Clip
Album Index
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Copyright © 2000 to Present Diane Dozier Scannell,
506 Bosque Vista, San Antonio, TX 78258-3245
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