Home About Gardening Water Photography Travel Victoria Guestbook Blog Links Series MyWalk Cars Progress The Larix Landscaping construction of the pond and surrounds. Prelude In the beginning: The old water garden equipment etc: creating the water garden In April of 1998 I discarded the tub, dug the hole larger and deeper. I now have a 30 inch deep pond, that is approximately 8' x 8', lined with EPDM, with a shelf for shallow water plants on two of the sides. I have added a pump and waterfall. The volume is approximately 1050 American gallons. After the liner was in place I filled it with water (watched the water meter go to 1044 gallons - Canadian). Since then the sides have eroded. On April 24, 2019, I bought a new Aquascape Ultra water pump Model 800, which is to pump 800 gph. I got a few parts I needed to connect it to the waterfall on the splitter, from Bartle and Gibson. Hooked it all up and set the flow to go out to the waterfall, attached the old filter, put it all into a plastic mesh bag, attached to a string so I can bring it up without pulling on the electrical cord. Plugged the cord into the additional plugin post (the 25 ft. cord is not long enough to reach the plugin) and turned it on. The flow is just right. I will have to be more vigilant about keeping the filter clean. On December 11, 2020 I ordered a Pond Boss Spillway: Dimensions: 14.5 in. x 10.5 in. x 6 in. (L x W x H) with 8 in. spillway opening. Fits 3/4 and 1 in. ID tubing, on ebay. See blog link of June 12, 2021 about the installation of the Spillway and creation of the new water fall in April of 2021. There were a number of other things happening in this very busy time of the rebuild of the pond: Thursday, November 21, 2024: Niko set up the Pixel 8a. Plumbing problems: November 28, 2024 Plumbing sprang a leak: The plumbing sprang a great leak last night at about 12:00. We spent a couple of hours mopping up the water. Turned the water off and went back to bed. Pat found the name and phone number for the plumber that had fixed our last flood in 2021 apparently. Ballam Plumbing 250 598 4581. Greg came over about 11:00 and did the repair. The carpet is still wet down there. Greg had talked to Pat about this plastic plumbing and that it had been recalled and should have been replaced, and that our insurance would not cover the costs of repair. We are to keep an eye on it in the next few days, and turn the hot water off when we go out. Also on the 29th: The repairs are not dripping. Pat vacuumed up water from the carpet. It is whole lot drier in there now. He has the humidifier turned on and the doors between the entry way and the suite are open. Plumbers email to Josie: emails of January 27, 2025: "the plumbers will be here on the 28th, 29th, and 30th of December so the water will be turned off most of the day for those days." Plumbers finished on the 30th. We have had a death in the family and must be away from home January 10, 11, returning on January 12th, 2025. January 8th email from Joel: due to people with illnesses and time off for Christmas he will adjust the schedule to start Monday, 13th of January, 2025. Construction of the Pond and Surrounds Partial quotes from Journal entries of 2024 and 2025, also partial quotes from emails: ****Journal Entry: On November 20, 2024 the pond is fine: (from my Journal Entry of 2024) .. was out in the garden from 11:30 to 12:30. 11 degrees. Skimmed off the pond, cleaned off the filter a bit. The water hyacinth is blooming. ****Journal Entry: November 23, 2024: Fish are still in the pond: Got Pat to turn on the water out back and filled the pond. Took me a while to get the taps set right. The fish were swimming in the pond as it was filling. The big gold ones (2) and white ones(2) are getting quite big now. There is another white and another gold, plus the new ones .. a gold one that has lost all of its black, a smaller gold one. A small sarassa and a medium sarassa. These are mostly white with very little gold on their heads. I didn't count them all. Fed the fish. There are probably more small black ones. I would still like to get a couple of shubunkins and a couple of gold fish for the deck tub. After I get the fish in the tub, I will fashion bamboo sticks through the wire cover and maybe put in another float thing to keep the wire above the water, so the water lily can bloom. Will need a bigger piece of wire, I think. ****Journal Entry: November 24, 2024 Found that the pond was half empty. So, got Pat to turn on the water to fill it. Did that and it was still emptying. Decided that the waterfall thing was loosing the water out the side connection. Unplugged the waterfall and filled the pond again. Watched the fish at the top. Finally got it full again and it is staying filled with the waterfall unplugged. So, that waterfall connection needs to be fixed, but its too cold out there to do that now. ****Journal Entry: November 25, 2024 Water level down more: 7 degrees at 11:00. The pond seems to be down a bit. ****Journal Entry: November 26, 2024 Level of water in pond going down: The water level in the pond is going down, even though the waterfall is turned off. So, I have to decide if I want to get some help to restore the lining and water fall, or if I just want to fill it in. I will need to get some quotes, I guess. **** Journal Entry: November 27, 2024: first email to Larix After filling out a form on Larix Landscaping to get a free estimate to have my water garden fixed (My epdm lined pond has sprung a small leak in the lining. I will need a new lining and edging. I also have a waterfall with a spillway much like the photo on your introduction page. I will need this spillway to the waterfall properly installed. I look forward to your visit in order to provide me with a quote for your work. They got back to me by email this morning to set up a date for them to come to do the estimate and we set Wednesday, December 4 at 10:00. Filled the pond again. pictures of the fish. ****Journal Entry: November 29, 2024 The water level in the pond seems to be holding steady after going down to just even with the ledge that holds the irises, etc. Fed the fish. ****Journal Entry: November 30, 2024 The water level in the pond is stable at just above the level of the shallow water planting ledge. Fed the fish. ****Journal Entry: December 2, 2024: The fish pond water level is only a very slight bit lower than yesterday. On Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 9:12 am Margaret Meehan wrote: Hello Josie Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I would be available to see you after 10:00 am on any of these days: December 4, 5, 6 at 1106 Loenholm Road. Telephone (land line) 250 727 6401. I would prefer communication by email, as I can get back to the email to review the arrangements made. Thanks Margaret Meehan On 2024-11-27 10:41 a.m., Larix Landscape Ltd. wrote: Re: Regarding pond repair and upgrades to Margaret, Hello Margaret, Thank you for your email and getting back to us. Middle of next week sounds wonderful. How about we aim for 10:00 AM on Wednesday, December 4th. Please confirm this works for you, and if anything changes let us know or else we will see you next week! Respectfully, Josie Office Manager Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com This works for me. See you on Wednesday, December 4th at 10:00 Margaret Meehan ****Journal Entry: December 4, 2024: Joel from Larix Landscaping says he will be delayed about 45 minutes. So, probably see him about 11:00. I hope to show him what I want but have to delay it until the Spring, due to the plumbing disaster and have to get that fixed. Thinking I will try to overwinter the fish. Move the pond over about 8 - 9 feet. Save the plants and fish and mossy rocks. Make the entry way under the deck near where the dry stream is now. Next stage will be the cistern and the deck and old sidewalk entry area way to the back garden. Saw Joel and he did not agree with any of my stuff above. But talked of rebuilding the edges. Said the level the water was at now was ok. He measured 2 feet 2 inches. Wanted to get this done in December. He will send me the estimate. Wasn't much interested in my next stages. So, when I receive the estimate, I will start moving my mossy rocks, mermaid. He likes my garden designs.. my words "garden rooms". ****Journal Entry: Thursday, December 5, 2024: Spent the morning getting the proposal from Larix guys via emails, sent Joel a link to my water page, and a link to a photo on their site that I might like the waterfall to look like, and another one about the electrical cord of the pump needs to be dug up before the construction. Also, wondered if they could give me any approximate costs that the electrical work (which is extra and aside from Larix costs) might amount to. NOTE: We exchanged a few emails about the electrical connection. I am using my old kind of connection using a drybox. So, there will be no more reference to the electrical connection. The costs, etc. will be in the Restoration pages. Current total price on the proposal is $5670.22, and they reserve the right to add any additional costs as they go along. They give one year warranty for almost everything. I also mentioned that the payment system was a bit vague to me, and wondered if they could change that to 10% initial payment, 40% half way through the project (since it was not going to take many days) and the other 50% upon completion. Sent reply to the latest proposal requesting the addition of the fixing of the waterfall costs for my approval. Then made a jpeg signature and one online that is a drawn with mouse that is a png. I like the jpeg much better. Pat shut off the water cause he is afraid it might freeze, so must remember to get him to turn it on when needed. Margaret Meehan 5 Dec 8:19 PM Hello Joel I was honoured to have the owner, and very knowledgeable person visit my tiny garden to do the estimate. I wonder if you could add the cost of fixing the waterfall where it sits now, by repairing the connection to the spillway, and moving the spillway to overhang the edge of the pond; much like the photo on this page: this page. This is a link to one of the photos on Larix site that looks a bit like the renovation of the spillway that I would like to have of my waterfall. You were absolutely right in not being too enthused about moving the watefall. In that regard, I no longer want the water fall moved. When you repair the spillway thing it will probably move closer to the edge of the pond, maybe even to fall directly into the pond instead of running over a spill rock. The spill rock arrangement I have now allows the birds to have baths on it, which is kinda cool to watch, but I think it adds debris to the pond causing the green algae that needs to be cleaned up with desolve or some such product. Also, if we moved the waterfall it would not be visible from the entry to the pond area. Hope you can add this water fall renovation correction and the costs, to a new proposal for my approval. Margaret Meehan PS: I do not know how to add a signature. Do I create a Jpeg of my signature and add it into the approval space? Joel Cuttiford 5 Dec 5:04 PM Hi Margaret, Well done on the information and Website. I even watched the video! There is no problem with the Waterfall; I will remove that from your Proposal. Yes, we can adjust the grade so that the overflow runs away from your house and down the back corner of the pond. There would be no extra charge for this detail. Also, no problem with the electrical line as we can put a Conduit under your Slate or just leave a small amount of room between the slate and where your Waterfall is. Joel Margaret Meehan 5 Dec 12:12 PM Further to my previous reply to your proposal: The cord that connects the pump to the electrical out let is buried under what I call the viewing platform and will need to removed from under there before the beginning of the concrete construction, in case of ever having to replace the pump. This pond is built in heavy clay. Anytime I have over filled it, the water has run towards the deck and has never affected the drainage under there. But perhaps we should move the lowest edge for this overflow to be directed towards opposite side of the pond, please. But, of course, you would know that. :) Margaret Meehan Margaret Meehan 5 Dec 11:41 AM Since the electrical work in addition to the costs listed in this proposal, could you give me an estimate of what these electrical work might amount to? Also on thinking over moving the waterfall to the other side of the pond, I think just moving the spillway closer to the edge of the pond and to just drop directly into the pond would give the waterfall a much better appearance and would reduce the bulk of the fall and create a better appearance of the pond. Moving it to the other side would not make the falls visible from the entry to the pond, and not a nice view from the deck either. Removing the spill rock and all that stuff would not allow the birds to be bathing there and creating debris to dirty the pond. Also the payment schedules are a bit vague. I wonder if we could arrange a 10% initial payment. Since this project will not take many days, perhaps another payment of 40% halfway through the assumed time of completion, and the remaining 50% upon completion? Thanks for your consideration to the adjustment of your proposal. Margaret Meehan Josie V. 5 Dec 10:20 AM Good morning Margaret, Our apologies sometimes our system gets excited about the projects and send out the message before the proposals are ready. We are actively working on yours, and it should be out fairly soon. Once it has been sent out, you will be able to log in using your mmmee@shaw.ca email. Apologies for the confusion. -Josie Office Manager Margaret Meehan 5 Dec 10:09 AM thanks for the photos. Photo no. 2 looks a lot like the photo we talked about. Here is a link to the water page of my ancient web page, that I have created by myself: I hope you can send me my password to coconstruct and I can login using my @ shaw email. I cannot seem to see how to get to the estimate. https://lirp.cdn-website.co...-1066x800-1920w.jpg this is a link to one of the photos on Larix site that looks a bit like the renovation of the spillway of my waterfall. In that regard, I no longer think we need to move the waterfall, as when you repair the spillway thing it will probably move closer to the edge of the pond, maybe even to fall directly into the pond instead of running over a spill rock. The spill rock arrangement I have now allows the birds to have baths on it, which is kinda cool to watch, but I think it adds debris to the pond causing the green algae that needs to be cleaned up with desolve or some such product. Hope to get a look at your estimate for the renovation soon. Joel Cuttiford 6 Dec 7:10 AM Good morning Margaret, Thank you for the compliment. That's what I think everyone should think! We can swing by mid-morning, look at your spillover area, and make the proper adjustments. If you are out, no problem. I can get that sorted for you. Joel Landscape Proposal Date: December 5, 2024 Presented To: Margaret Meehan Thanks for meeting up to have a look at your landscape objectives. Attached are some options for your landscape areas. This proposal is valid for 30 days from the proposal date. We are in the business of designing and installing landscape projects that increase the value, function and aesthetics of our clients landscapes. Please have a look at our new Website and Video Testimonials at larixlandscape.com if you have time. Scheduling of your landscape project will be performed should you wish to proceed. Please let me know if you have any questions. Respectfully, Joel Cuttiford - B. Ap. Sc. Landscape MGT Owner/Manager Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Rd. Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com Proposal 1106 Loenholm Road Landscape Proposal Date: December 5, 2024 Presented To: Margaret Meehan AR Landscape: 10% down payment to guarantee spot in our schedule: (Jan 6th, 2024) $1,024.38 Subtotal: $1,024.38 GST (5%): $51.22 Total: $1,075.60 Thank you for your business! We are currently accepting the following methods of payment; Cash, Cheque or Bank draft made out to Larix Landscape Ltd. eTransfer to Larixlands@gmail.com ***Please note, we are now accepting Credit Card payments online (Visa, Mastercard, Discover & Apple Pay). A 2.9% processing fee will be added to all clients wishing to pay via credit card. Kindly let us know if you wish to pay via credit card and we will send the email as soon as possible. Thank you and we hope to work with you again. Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:43:12 Subject: Invoice #4066 - 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation From: "Larix Landscape Ltd." To: mmmee@shaw.ca Reply-To: "Larix Landscape Ltd." You have a new invoice. Invoice #4066 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation Due Date: Dec 18 2024 Summary: 10% Deposit for 1106 Loenholm Rd Water Feature Renovation Issued By: Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Rd. Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 1B9 AR Landscape: 10% down payment to guarantee spot in our schedule: (Jan 6th, 2024) $1,024.38 Subtotal: $1,024.38 GST (5%): $51.22 Total: $1,075.60 Thank you for your business! We are currently accepting the following methods of payment; Cash, Cheque or Bank draft made out to Larix Landscape Ltd. eTransfer to Larixlands@gmail.com ***Please note, we are now accepting Credit Card payments online (Visa, Mastercard, Discover & Apple Pay). A 2.9% processing fee will be added to all clients wishing to pay via credit card. Kindly let us know if you wish to pay via credit card and we will send the email as soon as possible. Thank you and we hope to work with you again. Hi margaret meehan, Your transfer to LARIX was successfully deposited. The $1,075.60 (CAD) you sent to LARIX has been successfully deposited. Transfer Details Date: Dec 11, 2024 Invoice #4066 1106 Loenholm Road PANIC MODE On Fri, Dec 6, 2024 at 2:05 Margaret Meehan wrote: Hello I have just looked out at the water garden. The water in the pond is nearly all drained. I am in a panic mode for sure. I think your revised proposal for fixing my pond is going to have to include new liner. I really do want to get the pond fixed and realize this will certainly increase the cost. Please give me a revised proposal to include the new liner and the adjustments to the waterfall by leaving the waterfall where it is now and fixing the spillway to pour over the edge of the pond, perhaps. Maybe you will need to have another look at the job, again before you proceed? I will be out raking leaves this afternoon, so will not be available to a phone call until about 4:00. Hope to hear from you soon. On 2024-12-06 2:45 p.m., Larix Landscape Ltd. wrote: Hi Margaret, My Friday has gone long. I will pop by on Monday at midday and look at your pond. Respectfully, Joel Cuttiford Landscape MGT Owner/Manager Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com hello Joel Thanks so much. I rescued some of the fish. and have calmed down. Have yourself a great week-end and see you Monday mid-day. Margaret. Journal entries of early December, 2024: ****Journal Entry: December 6, 2024, I am typing this the day after the pond panic, as I have calmed down considerably. About noon, I had a look at the pond and was shocked to see the water level to be about 6 inches deep at the most. I sent a panic email to Joel at Larix about this. Pat turned the water on and I added a bit more to the pond. About 3:30, with Pat's help I got the pump set to shoot the water out of the pond and into the big black tub. Filled the tub. Rescued the fish: 1 big gold one, 1 big white one a small sarrassa, a few small black ones (don't know if they will survive as I didn't realize right away that some of them were in the basket. When I checked my email and found that Joel will be over Monday 9th, mid-morning. By this time I had decided that I would try and get the whole pond and waterfall rebuilt by Larix, and damn the cost. ****Journal Entry: December 7, 2024: The water level in the pond is still quite high. Fed the fish in the tub. Amazing they did eat a bit. Added a bit more water to the pond. The level is up to the top of the blue tub. Moved the big mossy rock from the dry stream to the strawberry patch area, with the other one. The mermaid is under the chair. I Think I will ask if we should dig out the two willows before they start the work. And the Lebanon cedar has to be moved, further back from the edge of the pond, so that it does not drip its leaves into the pond...maybe next to the stump. I might take an ax to that stump to level it off to ground level. The revised waterfall could move over a bit and the marsh marigold could go on the shelf where the falls empty into the pond now. This might give the fish the deep end to hibernate, and I should be able to run the waterfall 24/7 in the winter to keep a spot of open water, as it has done all winter before. The pump cable does not quite reach the plug in, can we splice in a longer electrical cord, I wonder? Probably a question for the electrician. See if I can find the guy who did the hook up for the heat pump and get him to do this, if I have a choice. .. must ask all these questions. NOTE: in the end, all electrical connections goes to the Restoration pages. ****Journal Entry: December 8, 2024, Fed the fish, added a bit of water to the pond. ****Journal Entry: December 9, 2024, Looks like my rescued fish have disappeared. (checked it at 9:30) And I don't see any more of them in the pond either. The water level has gone down a bit from where it was when I filled it yesterday. 12:00 Joel was by to see what we were going to do. He talked about adding a bed of sand on the old liner, reline it and build up the edges, with 14 or so inches of cemented in flat rocks. Fix the water fall to fall directly into the pond (he said that would be expensive) They would save the cement blocks I use for paths. Redo my stone path and straighten the entry to the cutting garden, make the overflow drainage to the other corner into the apple tree area. Keep the two willows and the pond plants. NOTE: larixlands@gmail.com Dec. 9, 2024 proposal. Jay brought 2 copies to my house on Dec10, 2024 and I signed them. Hard copies on file. Estimate 3000 Landscape $7,427.99 .... New proposal: .... $10,243.79 L01. Pond Preparation $2,408.75....... $ 2,408.75 The landscape crew will level the pond and prepare a sub-base for the new capping. Sluffed-in corners are to be reinforced with new concrete. No material is to be removed from the site. L02. Pond Reline $2,056.00 ....... $2,056.00 The landscape crew will complete the following: 1. Remove all plants 2. Power wash all existing liner 3. Install less than one inch of fill sand 4. Install 225 square feet of EPMD Liner L03. Masonry $1,139.24....... $3,955.04 * includes option #1 Masonry to be installed and reinforced as needed per specifications Specifications: Prepare base around the entire perimeter of the existing Water Feature with compacted road base and concrete (for slumped areas only) The new Flagstone is to be approx. 12-14" in width around the entire perimeter of the Pond. All concrete steppers around the existing Pond must be stacked and kept on site. Note: The suggested flagstone is to use Silver Mica 1" to brighten up the area and give it some shininess. This will have the most significant impact compared to any other type/colour of Flagstone. Option #1 - Install Flagstone around the total perimeter of the water feature, plus: 1. an additional 12" on the north and northeast side 2. an additional 24" on the south and southeast side 3. an additional 21 feet by 12" for both entrance pathways The additional square footage equates to 60 square feet of mortar flagstone. One to four inches of compacted road base (max.) will be needed to grade and compact the new flagstone. +$2,815.80 Client may decline this selection $0.00 L04. Water Feature Rebuild $1,824.00 ....... $1,824.00 The landscape crew rebuild existing Water Feature to the middle east side of the Water Feature. Construct the new Water Feature with new Flagstone so that the new Waterfall splashes into the pond. Base Price $7,427.99....... $10,243.79 Subtotal $7,427.99 GST:. $ 512.20 $371.40 Total Price:.. $10,755.99 $7,799.39 Payment Terms and Conditions : They are to be here to do the work January 6, 2025. 12/11/24 etransfer invoice #4066 $1,075.60 Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road Jay brought the hard copies to me on December 10, 2024 and I signed them, keeping my copy. ******************* Margaret Meehan 10 Dec 10:24 AM Good Morning Joel I would like to have the Option #1 at the cost of $2815.80 included in a new proposal. With the extra flagstone option included it would bring the total to approximately $10,650.00. Send me a new proposal with the inclusion added, in email; then make 2 copies of that proposal to bring to my house to sign. I would appreciate the old fashioned way of signing the proposal, if it is not too much trouble. After signing the proposal, send an email with your address to make an etransfer of the required immediate deposit. Then we can discuss a date to get it all finished. I understand that there would be a 10% of the total cost as the deposit on beginning the project and another 40% when necessary and the remaining 50% upon completion. All could be paid by etransfer of funds. Thanks for your consideration for an old senior who is losing her grip on technical procedures. Just as an aside, the house that sold up the block from us, sold for $1,250,000. My mistake in saying it was $2,500,000. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road Craig Goosen 10 Dec 11:13 AM Hi Margaret, I can certainly make that adjustment for you on Joels behalf and have it brought to you for review and a signature. Our office manager Josie will reach out to co-ordinate a convenient time for you. ****Journal Entry: Tuesday, December 10, 2024 Sent Joel a reply to his pond reno proposal. Jay brought the 2 copies of the new proposal over to sign and went back to the office with them. Not sure when they will be able to get it done as the people want time off for Christmas and they cannot work when its raining and too cold. Fine with me. There are no fish left to worry about. I told him about the Plumber needing time to fix the plastic plumbing and don't know when he will be here. Told him about the ramp to run the wheel barrows up the steps. Didn't discuss the over flow spot and its not mentioned in the proposal. ****Journal Entry: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 The pond level is still the same, and I do not see any fish. ****Journal Entry: Sunday, December 15, 2024 The pond is totally drained of water. Haven't been out to see if there is any dead fish in it. Will have time to do that stuff after Christmas. Moved 3 of the little blue slate to the cut garden. Have to move the big one that is on top of the spillway, yet. The pond is empty but muddy. Has the pump and all the plastic hoses, etc. and the plants still in it. The little solar fountain is at the bottom. ****Journal Entry: Monday, December 16, 2024 Did some Larix stuff (copied out the new proposal figures on the old one, that I had made a previous copy of the computer. So I have a note pad page with all the figures, that is easier to read. ( of both proposals). They did not send a computer copy of the signed one, just the hard copy that I get to keep, of course. NOTE of April 6, 2026: all proposals are archived and unavailable after completion. ****Journal Entry: Tuesday, December 17, 2024 The pond is filling up a bit as the mud on the bottom is not showing. I cannot tell if there are any dead or alive goldfish in it. ****Journal Entry: Thursday, December 19, 2024, Larix's masonry guy, Brian, stopped by just before 12:00 to see about what his job is going to be. Apparently when they get the pond stuff done he will come in and do the masonry. Told him about the plumbing plastic pipes being replaced. The plumbing guys are to come over tomorrow afternoon to see about getting their job done and when they could do it, I suppose. I guess the plumbing should take priority over the landscaping. Brian said that Joel is pretty good about rescheduling things.. hope he is right. Brian thought he was to come on the 10th, so I suppose Larix guys are still on for the 6th. We could probably get the plumbing guys to come after the 10th, or when Brian is finished. ****Journal Entry: Monday, December 23, 2024 I think Pat is going to arrange to have the plumbers to come to do their work sometime in the 3rd week of January. The Landscaping guys should certainly be finished by the 15th (depending on weather, of course). If they have to change the time, they will have to work around the Phil's time for the plumbing to be fixed... and so it goes. Josie V. 10 Dec 2:16 PM Hello Margaret, We wanted to thank you for your signature today. We have received the signed documents. We will be consulting our schedule and should have an answer by tomorrow morning, but right now, it is hopefully we can get the work finished before Christmas. -Josie Office Manager Joel Cuttiford 11 Dec 6:48 AM Thanks for all the confirmations, Margaret. I was going to say that if your neighbour received that much for their Real Estate, it may be time to sell! Joel Josie V. 11 Dec 1:39 PM Hello Margaret, We hope you are going well. We wanted to reach out to you regarding your project, now that we were able to consult the schedule more closely. Seems I was ambitious in my hopes of getting the project in before Christmas. I do apologize for this. Unfortunately, we will not be able to commence until January 6th. At this time we will be releasing the invoice for 10% of the project. You mentioned wanting to pay via e-transfer, that is no problem, it can be sent to Larixlands@gmail.com, and should you need to break the payments down into smaller amounts that is perfectly acceptable. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out via email or feel free to call our office at 250-590-9508 -Josie Office Manager Invoice #4066 1106 Loenholm Road Issued By: Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Rd. Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 1B9 Date: Wed, 11 Dec 2024 21:43:12 Subject: Invoice #4066 - 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation From: "Larix Landscape Ltd." To: mmmee@shaw.ca Reply-To: "Larix Landscape Ltd." You have a new invoice. Invoice #4066 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation Due Date: Dec 18 2024 Summary: 10% Deposit for 1106 Loenholm Rd Water Feature Renovation Issued By: Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Rd. Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 1B9 AR Landscape: 10% down payment to guarantee spot in our schedule: (Jan 6th, 2024) $1,024.38 Subtotal: $1,024.38 GST (5%): $51.22 Total: $1,075.60 Thank you for your business! We are currently accepting the following methods of payment; Cash, Cheque or Bank draft made out to Larix Landscape Ltd. eTransfer to Larixlands@gmail.com ***Please note, we are now accepting Credit Card payments online (Visa, Mastercard, Discover & Apple Pay). A 2.9% processing fee will be added to all clients wishing to pay via credit card. Kindly let us know if you wish to pay via credit card and we will send the email as soon as possible. Thank you and we hope to work with you again. Margaret Meehan 11 Dec 3:34 PM Hi Josie Question: Owner..Answer: Joel Invoice #4066 Let's hope it is not raining on January 6th. The etransfer has gone. Thanks for your attention to my pond. Have yourselves a wonderful Christmas and all the best for the new year. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road 250 727 6401 Hi margaret meehan, Your transfer to LARIX was successfully deposited. The $1,075.60 (CAD) you sent to LARIX has been successfully deposited. Transfer Details Date: Dec 11, 2024 Invoice #4066 1106 Loenholm Road Joel Cuttiford 11 Dec 3:36 PM Thanks, Margaret, Merry Christmas to you as well! You are giving yourself a great Christmas present that you can enjoy daily! Larix MGT Forwarded Message -------- Subject: 1106 Loenholm Road Date: Mon, 6 Jan 2025 15:44:04 -0800 From: Margaret Meehan To: laxlands@gmail.com Hello Joel In attempting to call your phone number on your webpage I get this message: This person's voice mail is disabled. You cannot leave a message. My reason for trying to contact you is that Jay, nor any other person has come to 1106 Loenholm to start the rebuild of my pond. Nor has anyone tried to phone me about it. My phone number is 250 727 6401. I hope nothing serious has happened at your office to cause this delay. Please let me know when your team expects to proceed with this work. Margaret Meehan larixlands@gmail.com Margaret Meehan 2024 - 12 - 11, 1:43 Regarding 1106 Lloenholm Good morning Margaret, My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. Things have been hectic with the holidays and seasonal illnesses. First of all, we wanted to offer our condolences. Our thoughts are with you. Unfortunately, we've had a lot of people come down with flus, and various other illnesses, it seems to be that time of year, so we are delayed. I have adjusted our schedule, and if everything goes according to plan going forward, we will be able to start on Monday, the 13th of January. Again, I do apologize for the tardiness of my response. I wish you a wonderful day. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. Respectfully, Josie Office Managr - Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com Margaret Meehan 2 Jan 11:03 AM Hello Joel We have had a death in the family and must be away from home January 10, 11, returning on January 12th. I hope the Masonary guy, Brian, will be able to finish his work, without me being at home. I won't be able to leave the side door open for him though. Happy New year to all. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road Joel Cuttiford 8 Jan 5:42 PM Hi Margaret, I express our sincere condolences regarding your family member. Thank you for your message with Jo this morning about our delayed schedule. We are looking perfect for commencing this coming Monday for your new Water Feature! Joel January 8, 8:42 a.m. Re: Regarding Loenholm Thank you for the condolences on our loss. The time of the year seems to have interfered with your company's personnel also. Hope everyone is fit and the weather co-operates on the 13th of January to proceed with the project. If the weather is not good or for any other reason, we can delay the project even further in the year. We have an inside job on the plumbing to be done, as soon as possible. Thanks for your consideration. All the best in 2025. Margaret Meehan Invoice #4084 dated 2025 - 01 - 10 ******************************* Larix Landscape Ltd. 2025 - 01 - 10 8:30 a.m. Invoice #4084 - 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation You have a new invoice. Invoice #4084 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation Issued By: Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Rd. Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 1B9 Due Date: Jan 13 2025 Summary: 50% Deposit for 1106 Loenholm Rd Water Feature Renovation Item Amount: AR Landscape: L01. Pond Preparation: $1,204.38 AR Landscape: L02. Pond Reline: $1,028.00 AR Landscape: L03. Masonry: $1,977.52 AR Landscape: L04. Water Feature Rebuild: $912.00 AR Landscape: 10% deposit already paid December 11th, total amount tax in $1075.60: -$1,024.38 Subtotal: $4,097.52 GST (5%) $204.88 Total: $4,302.40 Notes Thank you for your business! We are currently accepting the following methods of payment; Cash, Cheque or Bank draft made out to Larix Landscape Ltd. eTransfer to Larixlands@gmail.com Please include your Invoice# or Street name within the message/memo section. ***Please note, we are now accepting Credit Card payments online (Visa, Mastercard, Discover & Apple Pay). A 2.9% processing fee will be added to all clients wishing to pay via credit card. Kindly let us know if you wish to pay via credit card and we will send the email as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you and we hope to work with you again. Josie V. 13 Jan 1:27 PM Hello Margaret, We hope you are doing well today. We just wanted to thank you and acknowledge we have received your e-transfer. The payment has gone towards the deposit invoice. Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We wish you a wonderful rest of your day. Josie - Office Manager ____________________________________________ To clarify my etranfer misunderstanding from Invoice #4066 and #4084 Good morning Josie Thanks for the acknowledgement. My records for etransfers to Larix show: Dec. 11, 2024 Amount $1075.60 on Invoice #4066 at 1106 Loenholm Road. Jan. 13, 2025 Amount $2102.00 on Invoice #4084 at 1106 Loenholm Road. Jan. 14, 2025 Amount $2200.40 on Invoice #4084 at 1106 Loenholm Road. Due to the daily limit of $3,000.00 per day for my etransfers any etransfer over that limit will have to be done in 2 transfers on seperate days. I do not know where your recorded payment for Dec. 11, 2024 came from but it did not come out of my bank. (Note to self: It came invoice #4066) Thanks for your consideration in correcting this payment. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road 250 727 6401 On 2025-01-14 2:21 p.m. Good morning Josie My apologies for the email I just sent. I see that the actual amount of my Dec. 11, 2024 is recorded. The -1024.38 must have something to do with that wretched GST gimmicky thing. Please ignore my bleating. (Note to self: I no longer have any idea of where the 1024.38 came from, but it was on invoice #4066) Margaret Meehan **************************************** ****Journal Entry: Thursday, January 2, 2025 overcast, 6 degrees, raining lightly. Sent email to Joel at Larax about being away 10, 11, and back on 12th. I will be doing yet another new page for the Larix Landscaping waterfall, pond and pond surrounds, after the new pond is finished. Added a link to Larix Landscaping on the JE2024 page. ****Journal Entry: Sunday, January 5, 2025 Uploaded the new water2020, gardening, plantlists, links, je2023, Playlist pages that include Larix pages and new links, new links and menu on gardening. They all work. Was out in the garden at about 1:30 to 2:30 moving rocks off the pond surrounds. Did not get all of them, nor any of the plants. Will have to get up early tomorrow, as the Larix guys come to start the remake of the pond. ****Journal Entry: Monday, January 6, 2025 Waiting for Larix guys to get here. Somehow I thought they would be here at 8:00..NOT. I have been up since 6:30. Pat tells me they need to get their work order ready, and load all the supplies, etc. 1:00 and still have not heard from Larix. . Sent an email to the Larix gmail about the unable to telephone them. Later in the day I phoned the Larix phone number and since it was after work hours, I got to leave a message about when I might expect the Larix team to come to rebuild my pond. ****Journal Entry: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 email from Larix at 8:11 this morning, condolences and delay the project to Jan 13 due to illnesses etc. and my reply saying if we need to delay it again for any reason, we can put it off to later, as we have an inside job on the plumbing to do as soon as possible. ****Journal Entry: Monday, January 13, 2025 Matt and his assistant, Rick, from Larix arrived about 9:00 with their equipment, including a cement mixer. Talked to Matt about the switches on the pump, and saving the plants. They will move the flat pavers under the deck and put them down as a slanting path to the back of the deck where the sitting area is going to be. I would like the cord from the pump to run under the dry stream but said I would do that myself. The pond plants can be saved, especially the water hawthorn. They will have to dig out the willows, hope they can save some of the wulfenie. Hope they save the flat field rocks. Left the side door open for them. Told them about the ramp, they might be able to use it. Matt and his parents live in the area. Joel and Jay (?) manager, stopped by about 11:00. He meant to be here earlier but got too busy, so he talked to Matt and Rick about all the stuff, I guess. Said they were having a bit of trouble about something, but they would get it figured out. He will check back in the morning to see how they are getting along. Have to send the etransfer in 2 days, as the daily limit is $3,000.00. So, I sent this one at 1:47.. send tomorrow's at 2:00. The larix guys left about 4:30. It is starting to get dark at that time. They have taken the liner and the carpet stuff all out and have moved the waterfall over. It seems to have a waterfall steps to it. I don't know where the electrical cord to the pump is, but I sure hope it is from under all this nice even gravel stuff they have put down. There is stuff lying all over the place -- plants, old liner, pavers, stones.. I am sure they know what they are doing, though. ****Journal Entry: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Have a few photos of the work on the pond. Took them this morning before the guys started work. Paid the second half of the invoice 1084. The etransfer of December 11, 2024 is for $1075.60. More photos after the guys left, photos at 4:30 or so. They have taken out the old plum tree stump and have that all flattened out and I think they were hauling loads of stuff up the ramp and putting it all down and packing it with machine. They have this stuff covering all around the pond, and into both entry ways. My field stones are piled on the grass by the apple tree. The pond looks like it is going to be pretty deep. The ledges to hold plants do not look wide enough. Guess will have to wait and see, once they get the spillway done and the new liner in all over the pond and the plants back in place. The paving blocks are under the deck, I think. The pump seems to be lying on the dry stream. All their equipment is on the back patio area. The Lebanon cedar is still in place and the clipped mound cedar is still in place. There are plants piled near the little Japanese cedar and it is taking quite a beating. More stones on the corner of the cutting garden. More pavers and bricks on the cutting garden. ****Journal Entry: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Wasted half the night worrying over the etransfer amount shown on their email for the 1075.60 tranfer of Dec. 11, 2024, which is something to do with this wretched gst fiasco, I guess. Just realized this after I sent the email to Josie of this morning. ( NOTE: This is my mistake) So, I have recorded what the final amount to be paid upon completion as being exactly the amount I have paid so far. Sent Josie an apology for my mistake. The guys got here about 9:00. I haven't opened the side door, yet. The Larix guys finished about 4:30. They seem to have the liner in the pond and a lot of rocks around where the waterfall is to be. I don't see many shelves for the shallow water plants, but must wait to see the end product, I guess. ****Journal Entry: Thursday, January 16, 2025 Put plastic down in the suite that goes to the bathroom, just in case they might need it. Josie sent a note that the guys would be here in the afternoon, as the cement needed some time to set. Pictures before they got here. Shopping after lunch and their van was parked in the driveway where Pat had to drive in. Matt moved it. They also have a big truck parked the other side of the LTV. So, they must have got here some time after 1:30. The guys left about 4:30, I think. Took their tools, it seems. Looks like the waterfall is going to be the main feature of this water garden. I don't know how they are going to get ledges to plant the shallow water plants. The pond looks really deep. ****Journal Entry: Friday, January 17, 2025 email from Joel. Said Matt would be over midday. Their Mason is behind schedule and might be over to see my stuff sometime next week. They don't work week ends. 6 degrees at 4:00. Earlier we were to Lee Valley to get a new little flashlight, 4 button thermometers that can go in the oven, Shrub Flex Rake to replace the one I had stepped on and broke the handle, and a deep soil sieve. Pat fixed my old broken handled rake. It is going to be perfect. The handle is now longer. And I have a spare rake now. Matt was here about 3:30 when we got back from Lee Valley. I told him about bringing the electrically plug in out from under the cement stuff they have it under, so that I could make it accessible to change. He finally understood what I wanted and said he would do it later. After he digs it open I want the mason guy to cover it with some loose rocks so I can get it out if the pump fails. Then when the mason guy is finished I will dig out the dry stream, put down the electrical cord in its protecting stuff, and cover it with the new dry stream or maybe make it just beside the dry stream and cover it with moss stuff, so that I don't have to redo the whole dry stream every time the pump needs to be changed. The mason will be here sometime next week. I emailed Joel about this electrical connection to run under the dry stream and he emailed back that they would make a conduit for me where ever I wanted it. Matt did the opening for the conduit, crossing the cement to go just behind the round cedar. This should work very well to make the conduit run next to where the edges of the dry stream will begin. The dry stream will start right by the round cedar and go on down under the deck. The conduit path will exit this left side of the dry stream and go down across under the deck on an angle towards the plug in. I think I will still need it plugged into the blue electrical cord. It might be a slightly shorter path, but more of the cord will be taken up by the depth of the pond. I might have to remove some of the old stump to get the conduit past the placement of the lantern. ****Journal Entry: Saturday, January 18, 2025 Emailed Joel and told him I would be out some time next week to dig the trench where I wanted the conduit to go, he emailed back and he said they were going to be here Monday to complete the final tweaks on the Water Feature and commence the Flagstone shortly after. So, I should get out tomorrow and dig that trench. ****Journal Entry: Sunday, January 19, 2025 . Was out from 2:00 to 4:00 and made up the conduit trench. It still needs some work. Started to make the pavers path under the deck. The viewing platform is now a few steps to make it lower where we go under the deck. No room for a chair on it now. Moved rocks off the garden and rescued the marsh marigold. It is just in a gallon pot. There were 3 blue pots in the pond. I hope they can put some of the irises on a couple of the pots as there is no ledges on the waterfall side. I hope the water hawthorn survived. ****Journal Entry: Monday, January 20, 2025 Froze last night. Was -4 on the thermometer when I got up about 7:30. There was a Larix guy here about 8:00. Pat was out to turn on the water. The guy left a bit later. A Larix guy came at about 1:00. I think he is the Mason guy. Looks like I might have to revise my expectations for planting any of the plants around the pond. This guy today does not seem to have any concept of the conduit, either. He has cemented over the trench that Matt made for the conduit. He seems to have dragged the water hose from the front around to the back and replaced it in a big heap back on the front entry way. I need the blue pots replaced in the pond so I can add shallow water plants on top of them. There is no water in the pond, and the pump sits in pieces under the Lebanon Cedar. The little red Japanese tree is trashed. There are huge pieces of flat rock cemented in over the black epdm along the edges. It looks damn ugly to me so far. That waterfall does not look like it is going to work, to me, either. ****Journal Entry: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 -1 degrees at 10:00. It froze quite heavily last night. The Larix guy just got here at 10:00. Rain Tek truck and trailer here. More equipment and electrical wires and stuff piled around under the deck and on the moss garden. I wonder if this is in regard to making the conduit. 7 degrees at 2:00. There is a ladder in the pond, more concrete around the top of the pond over the liner. I see where the water line attachment to the waterfall is, it is cemented and when the water hose goes in it will need to be sealed off. All kinds of tools laying around and the truck is still here. I don't see the guy. The water is down in the pond, guess they must have pumped it out to be able to do this concrete on the liner under mason guys stones. Looks like Matt is doing this concrete stuff just now at 3:00. I think he was gone before 5:00. The ladder is out of the pond, but there are still a lot of tools and stuff laying around. I went to wash off the hose at the front, but it had been washed and rolled up. ****Journal Entry: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Turned the drier on at about 7:00 to finish drying the towels. It was -2 degrees. Larix guys arrived about 8:00. At 10:00 it is 4 degrees and some sun. There is still ice on the water table. About 11:00 Pat decided to check that the water was turned on out back. Well, guess what, boys and girls, it was not turned on. So that is why the Larix guy had to drag the front water hose around the back to use it. I could not connect the hoses to the back tap and will leave that to the Larix guy to sort out. At 12:45 spoke to Pat about getting the back step fixed because it was definitely not being held up and would fall down when anyone stepped on it. He completely ignored me about getting that Wade guy to come in to fix it. I think the Larix guy (Matt?) left about 4:45. He has been putting more cement under the big flat stones that leaves no spaces for plants, though. There are ladders and stuff all over the area. I do like how the flat stones meet the area that was the viewing platform, but really no room for any plants. Guess I might be able to move the willows into one of the rockeries.. maybe or next to the dry stream edges. Hope they put the blue tubs back in the pond to give me more room for the irises and the marsh marigold. The water hawthorn is a deep water plant. 10 cm (4 in) to 90 cm (35 in)! oh good! it will be put in one of the bottom blue pots. It is a bulb kind of thing. I like it, as it seems to be constantly in bloom. A few more photos just about sunset. ****Journal Entry: Thursday, January 23, 2025 It was a sunny, some cloud, with a high of 6 degrees. A lot happened today so I am writing this up on the 24. I signed up the addition and installation to the Larix Landscaping agreement of the Aquascape ultra pump of 1500 gallons per hour. The plumbers are going to be here on January 28, 29, and 30 to redo the plastic plumbing pipes. ****Journal Entry: Friday, January 24, 2025 It froze last night. Is 6 degrees at 11:00, and sunny. Still ice on the water table. Larix guys have been here since about 8:30, which is the time the plumbers will be here next week 28, 29, and 30 so we have to be up, showered, breakfast, etc. before then. I notified Joel of the time the plumbers are to be here and we could continue with my pond renovation after the 30th, as the water will be turned off. I hope they put the front water hose back in the front. We should probably turn the taps at the back off, of course. Joel emailed to say Matt was filling the pond today and what to do about the plants. While I was replying to what to do about the plants Matt came to the door to ask what to do about the plants. I sent the lengthy reply to Joel. Matt also asked for the use of a pliers. I asked Pat if he had a pliers that Matt could borrow, Pat got the right kind of pliers and thrust it at Matt, with out saying a word. Made Pat's lunch and went out to see about the plants. I find I have 3 big blue pots that I asked Matt to put back in the pond and asked him to move them around to create the shelf space I need instead creating these shelf things that I had told Joel about. I hope the water hawthorn is growing out of one of the pots. I said I would clean up the irises and water hawthorn and put them on the big pots that would do as 'shelves'. He is leaving a bit of space next to the Lebanon cedar as garden space with some new soil in it. At about 2:30 Matt came to the door to return the pliers and asked me to come and see what I thought of the plants. He has put the 3 big pots in the pond with irises on top of them. There is a nice pot that is growing bog beans. I will put the marsh marigold in that pot and get rid of that bog bean. There seems to still be bog beans. The waterfall is fantastic! Love it. He moved the mermaid onto its own special place on the waterfall. I can move rocks around to make the water flow in different ways. I can't wait to see where the water hawthorn grows. I may not have to clean up the irises right away. He has raised the blue pots up a bit and set irises on all of them, I think. They are perfectly shelf height. There is extra soil put around the edges of the masonry where I can grow foxgloves, etc. They will be finished today. I did not look at where the conduit went. Oh well. He said the stuff is all pretty new and to wait a while to let it all set. They left about 3:00. Put the front hose in place and the back hose connected. The pond is about half full with waterfall running. I suppose I unplug the pump to stop it, as usual. I can see where the water hose goes around the edge of the water fall. The electrical connection does not reach the plugin so it is sitting on top of the little pink table where it is plugged into the extension hose. They left the new pump empty box by the back door. I did not fill the pond, as things need to set all around, I think. I will need to get a long plastic to put around the electric cord before I bury it. Was out at 4:00 to get a few pictures. ****Journal Entry: Saturday, January 25, 2025 Froze last night. Still ice on the water table at 1:00. 7 degrees and sunny. Upon looking out at the pond in the light of morning, I see that I have lots of room for the plants along the edge of the masonry. I can get 20 ft. of plastic 1.5 in. tubing for about $55. at Rona. Was out to the garden at 2:00 and back in at 4:45. Dragged a huge pot off the big blue pot that I hope the water hawthorn is growing in. Put one of the trays along the edging by the Lebanon cedar. Shored up some of the flat masonry edges with bits of small stones and more soil. Covered the other side of the Lebanon Cedar with long stones that were built up with small stones of make them level with the edges and covering the black lining. Also adding bits of stone and more soil to build up the edges of the flat stones. Am using the black soil that they left along by what used to be the Japanese area. The little red maple is going to need some good pruning. I transplanted one of the willows, next to where the dry stream is going to be, and it will need pruning also because it is just across from the red maple. All the plants along this side of the masonry will need pruning. Transplanted the other silver willow closer to the corner of this bed that meets the Japanese area by the corner of this bed, shoring up the edges with little rocks and soil, packed in under the edges. Dumped a pot of ugly bog beans out of a nice pot for shallow water plants, and added the marsh marigold to the pot with some of the old soil with little rocks and moss on top. The moss is under water so it probably won't live, unless I raise this pot up a bit. Right now the pond is only about half full. Moved the round mossy rock and the flat mossy rock to where the moss garden needs to be re-established, next to where the conduit is going to go, crossing under the dry stream, maybe. Might plant the brown grass near the flat that is acting as a covering over the side of the pond masonry. ****Journal Entry: Monday, January 27, 2025 Josie emailed about a time for them to come do a walk around to see if everything was done. I told her that the plumbers would be here the rest of the week. But if Larix did not need the water on to do the walk about we could set up our time for tomorrow at 2:00 (28th). Told her that I needed about 20 feet of 1.5 inches of black flexible plastic to wrap the electrical cord in before I buried it in its trench, and start making the dry stream. No reply yet at 6:00. Dragged a mossy log and launched it next to the lantern for the sides of the dry stream up to that point. I see that the water hawthorn is growing out of one of the blue pots with some iris on top of it. Since it is a bulb sort of thing, I will be able to move it to the big blue tub under the Lebanon cedar. OR, get a water lily to plant in that big blue pot. ****Journal Entry: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 Email from Josie at Larix, she will try to get Joel and Craig around this afternoon to see about the things I mentioned: plastic pipe for the 'conduit' electrical cord, the masonry to cover the edge of the lining under the Lebanon cedar. Joel left a message on the answering machine that he had been around to have a look and that he had to find out if he had the materials that I wanted on hand and would call back about it. No call back from him by 4:30, so I called back to their phone and left the message. The hoses are unplugged and our brass splitter is sitting on the chair. I must go out and attach it. The plastic yellow control ones are gone. OR attach it only when I need to fill the pond, maybe? OR attach it and turn the sprinkler hose shut at its other end when I need to fill the pond. Then detach the splitter when finished filling the pond. Might be the best work around. Have to keep this splitter in the locked garage in a special place. Detaching the splitter makes only one hose like the one for the sprinklers working. Attaching the splitter and shutting off the end of the sprinkler hose makes the water run into the pond filling hose or I suppose I could have a sprinkler and the pond filler run at the same time? NOT a good idea. ****Journal Entry: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 email from Joel. The conduit is not included. Said I would look after it. and yes I do a lot of work under the deck, asked what he thought of the way I covered the pond liner under the Lebanon cedar, as he had not mentioned it in his email. Told him where the lifting stone was, etc.. see the emails. Going to just use one hose to fill the pond or use the sprinklers. Will save the brass splitter in a visible place in the garage. Actually, I will keep both hoses, one that feeds into the pond and the other that is used regularly. Instead of dragging it around to fill the pond, I will just replace the hose I am using on the twist on/off outlet at the tap. ****Journal Entry: Thursday, January 30, 2025 Emailed Joel or Josie with regard to getting on my digital banking now and able to pay by etransfer. Was out for about an hour, moving rocks around on the waterfall, etc. I replaced a big piece of the paving that was on top of the waterfall with the blue slate and a couple of smaller rocks. Filling in around the water line that goes from out of the pond, around the side of the waterfall; with some loose stones, to where it goes behind the waterfall. Hopefully the cedars and foxgloves will cover the rest of the line. We can use the liberated piece of their paving to cover about half of the exposed pond liner by the Lebanon cedar. We can take the slightly loosen masonry from the entry way to the strawberry patch, out and make it cover the other half of the exposed liner under the Labanon cedar. We can fill the space left by the loose piece with some of the flat field stones I have. They do not have to be cemented in. I think the blue slate on the waterfall looks better than that masonry piece on the waterfall. Did another reply to Joel's email about this. Pictures of the new version of the waterfall, and a nuthatch hopping around on it. email back from Joel about the corners, and when would be a good time to see him. I said tomorrow anytime after 10:00. Made a note about turning on the water and taps out back and downstairs under the sink. It is in gardening under WATER. ****Journal Entry: Friday, January 31, 2025 Emptied .5 inches of rain out of the rain gauge. Sure looked like there should have been more rain. overcast, light rain, 7 degrees at 10:00. Email from Joel, can't work in the rain - didn't know he was expected today. Guess it was not a problem when the motorhome was not in the way. Replied to email saying the weather forecast was for 60% snow flurries, and can we wait for warmer weather in a week or two. And Pat would need notice to move the van, since I don't drive. Taps work and can be turned on when needed. Emailed the electrician David Motherwell about fixing the plugin for the water pump. Josie V. 16 Jan 8:51 AM Good morning Margaret, We hope you are doing well on this sunny Thursday morning. We just wanted to let you know that we will not be there in the morning today, the concrete needs more time to set, but we will be back this afternoon. As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out. Have a lovely day. Josie - Office Manager Joel Cuttiford 17 Jan 6:55 AM Good morning Margaret, Matt will be by midday today to touch up the water feature. Our Mason is currently working on a couple of our sites, but I will ask him if he can visit your pond this coming week and keep you posted. He is a bit behind schedule. How do you like everything that the guys have done? Joel Margaret Meehan 17 Jan 11:43 AM Hello Joel That is a fantastic waterfall they have built! The pond seems a lot deeper than it was, too. And I would like to thank them for moving the paver stones under the deck. I am sure they know what they are doing, but I have one concern about moving the electric cord of the pump from its present position to be under the 'dry stream' that I will be creating. Should this pump fail I would like to be able to just lift it all out and install the new pump and its electrical cord back in the pond. I guess the masonary guy would be able to arrange the placement of the electrical cord directly towards the 'dry stream' area that I will rebuild. I should be able to lift the pump and the cord directly out of the pond. Then it will be hidden by the 'drystream' that is made of rocks that are free to be dug up. Since it might freeze over night on the week end, and your team will not be here then; we are going to turn the water off so that nothing freezes. But we will be here if you need it turned back on. I see you are hiring more people for your family. I sure hope the masonary guy gets some helpers. We will see him when he is able to get here. Thanks for all the help. Have a relaxing week end. Margaret Meehan 250 727 6401 1106 Loenholm Road On 2025-01-17 2:27 p.m., Joel Cuttiford wrote: Joel Cuttiford 17 Jan 2:27 PM Hi Margaret, Thanks for the feedback, and I'm glad you like the Waterfall. The pond was much deeper than it looked, for sure. There is no problem with the pump wire; we will install a conduit under the flagstone at any location you need. Joel Margaret Meehan Larix Landscape Ltd. 25 - 01 - 18, 4:08 pm subject: 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation Hello Joel Thanks so much. I will try and get out next week and dig a trench where I hope to route the conduit. Matt has dug out the trench through the cement so it is ready to continue the trench past the round clipped cedar and so down to the left of where I had the drystream and past the lantern, and then directly over to where it will be plugged in on the blue extension cord. Its all looking really good. Enjoy your week end. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road 250 727 6401 Joel Cuttiford 18 Jan 4:12 PM Thanks, Margaret, that all sounds excellent. We will be by again on Monday to complete the final tweaks on the Water Feature and commence the Flagstone shortly after. Joel Cuttiford 23 Jan 7:31 AM Good morning Margaret, We are almost there! We did notice that your pump is not working the best. I have included an option for installing a 1500-gallon per hour aquascape pump. This series is called the Ultra Pump series from Aquascape, the leading distributor of pump components across the continent. Please let us know your thoughts. We can try to bandage the existing pump and get it working correctly, but this new pump will last you years. Margaret Meehan 23 Jan 9:59 AM Hello Joel The new pump sounds like a good idea, thanks. The pump I have now is only the second pump I have had since I first built the pond. And it has been running 24/7 all year around, except when we would be away on trips. So, I am not surprised that is not working so well. I think that pump would need the extra power to do the higher lift to the waterfall, perhaps. I would expect the added cost might appear on your bookkeeping on the day I make the final payment, if that works for you? Your email is very timely. We have been waiting for the plumbers to get time to change our old plastic plumbing to the new stuff, since we had a flood sometime before Christmas. At the time of the flood, the plumbers patched up the old plastic and gave us a contract for the cost of this repair to be done. They, too, have been very busy, and have just now found a time to do the job. I am anxious to get it done before the next flood. So, the plumbers will be here on Tuesday, January 28. Of course the water will be turned off. I don't know how long the plumbers will here, but I will let you know as soon as possible. I hope your team can have a day or two to work on any other places you need them, as I think you will need the water turned on to do the work at 1106 Loenholm. Margaret Meehan 250 727 6401. Margaret Meehan 23 Jan 11:28 AM hope this works Margaret Meehan 23 Jan 11:34 AM I see from the acquascape site that this 1500 gph pump has a 25 foot electrical cord. I hope that will be long enough to reach the plug in, without the extension plug in addition. ****************************** New pump CO1. New Pump Status: Approved - Not billed Document Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025 Contract Date: 1/23/2025 Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Rd. Victoria, British Co V8Z 1B9 1-250-590-9508 Project: 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation 1106 Loenholm Road Victoria, BC V8Z 2Z6 Price (incl. adj. tax) Allowance Difference (incl. tax) 5000 Change Order C01. New Pump Install new Aquascape Pump $863.10 Total: $863.10 Effect on Contract Total Base Price $7,799.39 Total from this change order $863.10 Total Price* $8,662.49 * May not include other change orders that have been approved since this change order was created Approvals Client: Margaret Meehan Date: 1/23/2025 Team Member: Joel Cuttiford Date: 1/23/2025 NOTE: Will have a copy of the signature in the Photo Album and hard copies in the file. It is billed out in February. ********************************************** Joel Cuttiford 23 Jan 12:38 PM Hi Margaret, Thanks for signing off on the pump, as we believe this is the right decision. We'll check if the chord is long enough to connect to your plug, and we'll update you soon. Joel Margaret Meehan 23 Jan 3:03 PM Hello Joel Ok thanks. Do not let anyone go up the back steps. We need to fix the steps because the board that holds the steps up has come undone. Margaret Meehan Joel Cuttiford 23 Jan 3:20 PM Hi Margaret, Thank you for the heads up. Could this be a consequence of my crew accessing the backyard, I assume? Margaret Meehan 23 Jan 4:05 PM oh no, it has been broken down for quite a while now. When we got home from doing some chores, I went out to talk to them about it. Well, Matt had been up the stairs to view the pond from that advantage. He did not notice any shifting the steps. Thank heavens. I was telling Pat not to use those stairs until we fixed it. He didn't see it as a problem and when I told him that Matt had gone up them, safely; Pat said, 'see I told you.' :) Having to add the extension cord, is not a big deal, but would sure be nice if the conduit could go right to the plugin. Have a good week end. Margaret Meehan Margaret Meehan 24 Jan 10:47 AM Hello The Plumbers expect to be at our home for the 28, 29 and 30 of January. If we are not finished the renovation on my pond, we will have to continue on or after the 31st. All the best of weather for your projects. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road 250 727 6401. Joel Cuttiford 24 Jan 11:02 AM Hi Margaret, No worries, Matt will fill the pond today. Please let us know what you would like us to do with the current plants. Joel Margaret Meehan 24 Jan 12:10 PM I hope he can put the big blue pot back in the pond. I hope the water thorn is growing out of that pot as it is a deep water plant. I will leave the smaller blue pot out for now, to set on top of that big blue one and put some shallow water plants (being the water irises) in it after I have cleaned up the water irises. The marsh marigold is in a smaller black pot that I have saved over on the garden. I want to repot it and hopefully it will sit on the shelves opposite the waterfall. The 2 little willows that were hanging over the edge of the pond, I will find a place for them to hang over the drystream when I get it rebuilt. This should save any need to dig holes through all the masonary to plant them. I hope to clean up more of the water irises to put in the smaller blue pot on top of the big blue pot. Unless you can establish some sort of shelf -- perhaps a taller black plastic tub with a few rocks to weigh it down, and a few big holes in the sides, and then a cover on it to create a shelf size place to put the water irises next to the waterfall side of the pond. If the holes are big enough it will give the fish a place to hide, if they feel the need. If the shelf opposite the waterfall is not wide enough for marsh marigold, I hope you could build another one of the plastic pots with the holes and the top and set it on the side of the pond opposite the waterfall. I had some plastic pipe with about a 4 or 5 inch diameter and about a foot long put in the bottom of the pond for a hiding place for the fish, but I think it may have gone out with the old liner. So, I would like to have 2 or 3 of them back in the pond. I will try to find the water hawthorn bulb and see that it is in the big blue pot that is to go into the pond. Thanks Josie V. 27 Jan 8:49 AM Good morning Margaret, We hope you are doing well and had a lovely weekend. It was brought to my attention that the work on the water feature at 1106 Loenholm is wrapping up. At this time we would like to propose a walkthrough to go over everything that was done and ensure no details were missed. If you could kindly let us know what days and times this week might work for you, we would greatly appreciate it. Josie - Office Manager Margaret Meehan 27 Jan 11:41 AM hello Josie the plumbers will be here on the 28th, 29th, and 30th so the water will be turned off most of the day for those days and so that leaves Friday the 31. But I think I would like to give the plumbers a bit more time if they need it, so would leave this week open for them. Perhaps, you could let me know what day next week would work for you? OR maybe, if it does not matter to your inspection if the water is turned off? I have not added any more water to the pond, yet. If you do not need the water turned on I could be here at about 2:00 on the 28th, if that is all right with you. I need about 20 feet of 1.5 in diameter plastic flexible tubing to wrap the electrical cord in to protect it. Then I will be able to dig the trench and bury the electric cord and get on with building the dry stream. I am in the process of placing the plants around the edges, but I might be moving some of them around a bit to make it look right. And all of them will need pruning. So don't be alarmed at how awful they might look now. I have tried to add some edging stones to cover the black plastic liner below the Lebanon cedar, where Matt has left a little bit of space for plants. I think I would rather have the liner covered with a bit of masonary. I think one of the big stones near the entry to the strawberry patch has come loose and will need to be redone. That's all I can think of for now. Hope it is not too terrible. Be well and happy, Margaret 250 727 6401 Josie V. 28 Jan 9:28 AM Good morning Margaret, My apologies for only just getting back to you. I will see if I can get Joel and Craig out this afternoon since you will be around to have a look at the items you mentioned below. Josie - Office Manager Margaret Meehan 28 Jan 9:52 AM Hi Josie Yes that will be fine, but please don't block the driveway on the entry side, as we need that side to get our car in and out of the garage. The plumbers are here and are taking up the other side of the driveway, so you may need to park in the front on the grassy boulevard. Also, the plumbers will be removing the hoses on the back tap. I think they are frozen and I will need to unthaw them before they work to fill the pond or wash off the debris I have on that nice masonary. The doors are open and there is a lot of noise going on, so if I do not hear the door bell Joel and Craig can come in and let me know they are here. No apologies needed. Margaret 1106 Loenholm Road. Joel Cuttiford 29 Jan 7:10 AM Hi Margaret, I stopped by and looked at the water feature yesterday as we were far ahead of time. I did not see the dislodged flagstone. Please let me know what part of the area the loose flagstone is in. I checked the power cord for the pump. Could you possibly run it along the hedge to the back corner of the house? Perhaps the electrician might have better suggestions. You won't need a conduit for the electrical chord unless you plan excavation under your deck. However, please consult your electrician about this detail, as it was not included in your proposal. The water will eventually clear itself, but you should watch the pump, as it will filter the dirty water for the next few days. This is unavoidable when installing pond plants. Please let me know your thoughts, and I will always meet with you in the near future. Margaret Meehan 29 Jan 8:54 AM Good morning Joel thanks for stopping by. There is no plugin at that corner of the house where the cedar hedge is. At any rate, the short answer to 'am I planning excavation under the deck', is yes. First of all the dry stream, and then the pavers are going down to what will become the a sitting area down there, and otherwise I spend quite a lot time caring for the ferns and other plants under there. So, yes, again. I will deal with the conduit. I will find the name of the electrician who did the work for the installation of the heat pump. He is very good and reliable. The slightly loose stepping stone is a big one next to the entry to the strawberry patch. It might be the last big stone before the start of my old field stones. Just a touch of cement should tie it down. It only moves up if you step on one end of it. Did you think my attempt to cover the black pond liner under the Lebanon cedar with the addition of the tray of plants and of a few stones to help cover the liner is suitable? I truly hate this phone tag stuff. We will be out for a few hours today at lunch time, so don't try to reach me by phone then. And on a note to the future payment on your account, since my bank is mucking about with their digital website, I would find it most convenient to pay the invoice with a cheque, that you could pick up while delivering a copy of your invoice? I hope this works for you. On a happy note, I believe my water hawthorn plant that is a deep water plant survived the move in one of the blue pots that Matt put back in the pond. I hope to find a good skimmer to help take care of the floating debris. Yes, I know about the water clearing, but I don't exactly know what you mean by 'watching the pump'. When my old pump would get clogged up, I would turn it off and drag it to the surface and clean it up. I wonder if the pump is set a bit higher off the bottom of the pond? With, maybe an extra cage around it to help keep out some of the under water plants that tend to get caught on it? All the best Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road Margaret Meehan 30 Jan 8:12 AM Good morning Joel or Josie Further to my last reply of yesterday. I am now able to get onto my digital banking and will be able to pay by etransfer. It is going to get colder and icey. I don't want anyone to be driving around, unless absolutely necessary. stay warm Margaret Meehan 250 727 6401 1106 Loenholm Road Margaret Meehan 30 Jan 10:12 AM Hi Joel this is my 3rd reply to your last of the 29th. I have just been out to look at the paving under the Lebanon cedar where the pond liner shows. Well I have liberated the big piece of paving that was on top of the waterfall and replaced it with some blue slate pieces that I have. I hope I haven't ruined Matt's waterfall. The liberated piece from the waterfall can be made to fit on one side of that Lebanon cedar to cover about half of the distance of the pond liner that is exposed. If we could liberate the slightly loose piece of your masonary by the edge of entry to the strawberry patch; we could use it to cover the rest of the exposed pond liner. We could fill the space where we liberated this loose piece with some of the flat field stones I have lying around, or with a cement paver. No rush to see this, as it is going to get cold and I won't be doing any more out there. See you when ever you can get here. Margaret Meehan 250 727 6401 Joel Cuttiford 30 Jan 2:13 PM Hi Margaret, I am confident that the Flagstone appears splendid; however, I will refrain from informing Matt, just as a precaution. Please let me know a convenient time to catch up with you and I will concur. Joel Margaret Meehan 30 Jan 2:26 PM We won't tell Matt, but I think he took photos. :) There was a nuthatch bird hopping around the slate version, we'll blame it on the bird. I will be home tomorrow. Any time after 10:00, would be fine. Margaret Joel Cuttiford 31 Jan 7:25 AM Hi Margaret, Today is a write-off because we can't glue the stone in the rain. How does your Monday look? Margaret Meehan 31 Jan 9:16 AM Yeah, it was just bucketing down over night. My Monday looks like there is going to be 60% chance of snow flurries. The rest of that week and onward, there will be freezing temperatures, and very cold. If we get the snow promised in the forecasts, you will not be able to work with all that ice and snow lying around. I am not in a big hurry to get this done. Can we wait until this cold snap has passed? Perhaps on into the second or third week of February? Another problem is that Pat has put the motor home back in that driveway. I do not drive, so he will need some notice to get it out of the way. The water will be turned off down there during this freezing weather, but can be turned on again when you need it. You will need to bring your own hose so that you would know there is no ice blockage. The plumbers fixed the tap, so I know that would work. Oh well, consider the bright side. Perhaps you can get a break for a week or two. stay warm and happy. Margaret ****Journal Entry: Monday, February 3, 2025 Email from Larix about them trying to use all Canadian Products. Acquascape is American.. How difficult can it be to reverse engineer these pond pumps and any pond liners, plastics of all kinds, etc. ****Journal Entry: Saturday, February 8, 2025 Was awake half the night worrying about this plug in to the extension cord. So, I was out earlier and unplugged the extension cord. Measured diagonally across the corner of the Deck. It approximately came to 15 or 16 feet. Then I read the specs. on the box from the pump and found that it's cord is 25 feet. So, if we make the cord in its protective pvc pipe we might just make it directly to the outdoor plug in with no addition to the pump cord. (which I originally thought was 15 feet). Alas, checking the old pump, the cord on it was also 25 feet. So, it looks like we will need to add a few feet to the pond pump. I want Larix to raise the pump off the bottom onto the big blue pot that sits there. Perhaps setting the pump on a level paver. This is to the keep pump off the bottom, so that it is not disturbing the bottom soil and under water plants. It should then still have about 2 feet to a full pond. And perhaps another cage; like the pot that the marsh marigold is in now, over the pump, and fastened beneath the paver; to give the pump more protection against clogging up. And this might give us a foot or two more of electrical cord. We might even make it to the plug in without having to add anything to the pump cord. Sure hope so. When I went out to measure this, the top of the pond no longer had snow on it. I swept some of the snow off the place where pump cord comes up and exits near the clipped little cedar. This area is covered with the masonry. but can be dug up again if necessary. There were raccoon tracks going past the patio area over to the edge of the waterfall. Not sure where they exited. So, I suppose they are still a hazard to the fish. David Motherwell: Getting a weatherproof splice would be more expensive than just replacing the cord with a longer one. It would be feasible to insert the cord into a pvc conduit that is then left on the surface to give it mechanical protection, from digging and such, while negating the need to bury it 2 feet underground. ****Journal Entry: Sunday, February 9, 2025 This morning I looked up Rain Tek. Larix bought the company in 2021. The have their own company, and act as a branch of Larix Landscaping. I shall let Joel know about Motherwell electric. They want to lengthen the electrical 25 foot cord right on the pump. Then I would be free to encase it in pvc and plug it in. He says to put it on the surface, but I am sure to have it buried slightly next to the dry stream would be ok to do. I would like Joel or Matt to be here when he does this, so they can help unplug the pump from the waterfall. With a view to having fish and under water plants, I would like Matt to raise the pump off the bottom of the pond so the fish can over-winter (hibernate) at the deepest end of the pond. I wonder if he could move one of the pavers on top of the big blue pot that is under the Lebanon cedar and set the pump on it. Also wonder if he could further protect the pump from clogging up by adding a cage around the pump. I have in mind to use that water garden plant pot that the marsh marigold is now in. The marsh marigold needs to be in a taller, less porous pot, that will make it act as a bog. I also have to move the willows out of the way, again so that they do not get trampled. I must move my 2 mossy rocks also. They and the marsh marigold can all go onto the strawberry patch. After the pump cord is lengthened, Larix can finish the masonry over the exposed lining. I shall do an email to Joel about this, maybe tomorrow. ****Journal Entry: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Email to Joel about the pump cord, etc. 3 degrees at 1:00. NOTE: not using any more of the electrical information in here, as Larix does not do the electrical stuff. ****Journal Entry: Monday, February 17, 2025 I have found a leaf skimmer at Rona, and they also have the pvc 20 ft of 1.5 in flexible tube. So I will get that too and then I can start rebuilding the drystream and repairing the trampled plants along beside the masonry. Today is family day so I don't expect any action from Larix. I see the blue tubs at the deep end are set up on 3 pavers. So, I hope I can sink a fairly large piece of pvc with about a 4 inch diameter into the space to make the cave at the deep end. I won't need the cave on the other end where I was going to raise the pump. I don't much like those sharp edges on the pavers. I wonder if we could add some foam or something to the sharp edges to protect the fish and the pond liner. Perhaps add some spare pond liner pieces to those edges with foam. We could just add a flexible plastic over the whole stack of sharp edges and secure it under the paver edges. low-density polyethylene (LDPE) sheeting. ****Journal Entry: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 7 degrees at 4:00. Email to Joel about when he can come to have a look, after I asked him to come and finish the masonry, and we could do the rest of the stuff I mentioned, later, as I would not be getting fish or plants until it warmed up. ***** extension cord is what I am using with the pump cord plugged into it.. It is the same extension I have always used. Pump cord runs under the dry stream and out the other side. ****Journal Entry: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 9 degrees at 10:00. Was up at the crack of dawn before 8:30 to answer Joel's email about can he bring anything. Suggested the 1.5 diameter tubing - 50 feet, that I will eventually need to encase the lengthened electrical cord, if not today, eventually. I suppose my willows are going to get trampled again and the moss ripped off my special rocks, but I do not feel like going out there to rescue them. Its windy, but the wind should die down by 12:00. Got Pat to turn on the water down there and move the LTV out of the way. Was out for about half an hour, moved the mossy rocks, the board from the steps, dug out the willow that was too close to the masonry and dry stream area, and put it back on the strawberry patch. I hope they can get this pump stuff done today and get on with finishing the masonry. I need to get the steps fixed and the down spout by the cedars properly fixed so that the rain water runs back over the cedars, instead of loosing it just down the sewer or where ever it goes. The wind has died down and there is no rain at 12:00. It has started to rain at 1:30. Joel was buy to see what he had to do. He is going to cover the edges of the pond under the Lebanon cedar with masonry that he is going to leave loose. He seemed to think that the fish would not need protection from the pointy pavers. Joel wants to add more pavers to bring the plants on the blue tubs higher, yeah I think so. I will need to add some pavers under the marsh marigold plant pot. Joel did not even want to hear about the dry stream, but wanted to build the steps down to under the deck out of wood. I think I can continue with the way I am doing it. Joel said he has more pieces of masonry that he can use and will set the loose piece in. Windy and rainy again at 3:00 and 8 degrees. The crocuses in the boulevard garden strip are up and open. The ones in the crocus field part of the boulevard garden are starting to show, but they are behind the ones rest of that garden room. For Joel to add a few more pavers under the blue pots is a yes and a couple under the pump also. I will need a couple under the marsh marigold also. I can always get more pavers if I need them to build the steps down to under the deck. I don't want Joel to build this out of wood, as it will just rot away. So, I will ask him to add the pavers, fix the Loose paver and then lay the extra paver under the Lebanon cedar and be done of it for now, and bill it out. ****Journal Entry: Friday, February 21, 2025 7 degrees at 9:00. Lightly raining. Got the skimmer from Canadian Tire. $20.15. ****Journal Entry: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 9 degrees at 9:30. Some sun, some clouds. The water level in the pond is getting quite a bit higher with all the rain we have had lately. I have one topping for the water irises ready to add, if I do not see any coming up in the pond ones. I will want to make the 'viewing platform' at least 8 inches below the paving. It can be as low as possible to get below the deck board. Taller people than me can use the other entry or duck their head. When the pond is full I think the spill stone that Matt has made below the mermaid is going to be at water level or lower. I will need at least one more paver below each of the 3 blue bins, 2 more pavers for each would bring it to 6 or 12 pavers..not sure how many they need under each pot. Anyway, I can always get more pavers. ****Journal Entry: Wednesday, February 26, 2025 11 degrees at 11:00. Was out from 2:00 to 4:30. Was 11 degrees when I got back in. Cleaned leaves off the patio area. Sorted out the plants on the garden. Moved 6 pavers over to the pond side to raise the blue pots up a bit. Started digging out the 'viewing platform'. I have 4 square pavers set down. But have them too deep. I will raise them back up about 2 inches. This space will give me room to stand and watch the pond, hopefully. The next step down under the deck might just be deep enough for me to miss the deck. I have broken pavers to set in beside the pavers to hold back the soil. Was wearing 2 pairs of pants and plastic gloves inside my outer gardening gloves. My nails are amazingly clean. I have the marsh marigold in a taller pot. I don't see it growing though. I might have to get a new one. There are lots of roots in the irises. They will need repotting. They are in gallon pots. The roots spread over the edges of the pots and are covered in moss and so there are many of them coming up in each pot. Too many bog beans. I will need new oxygenating plants. My muscles should be ok to do more work tomorrow. ****Journal Entry: Thursday, February 27, 2025 Joel emailed me at 7:00 about Matt being over this morning. He got here at 8:30, did not need the LTV moved. He fixed the stones under the Lebanon Cedar, added the pavers I had left out, under the plants. Ran the waterfall and tweaked it a bit. The spill rock by the mermaid is going to be underwater when the pond is full. There is water running down the other opening, also. Matt cemented down the loose stone. I should stay off it for a week. He was finished before 12:00. I can go in the other entry under the deck. 10 degrees at 1:30. Was out from 1:30 to 4:30. Matt left the waterfall running. I skimmed the pond, there are plants coming up in the iris pots. So maybe they will be good without repotting. There is nothing coming up in the marsh marigold pot. I have the first level of the viewing platform done. Still have to duck to get to the second level of the stairs. Oh well. It is an amazing 14 degrees at 4:30. I have one more day, I think, until I finish the steps down to the sitting area. ****Journal Entry: Friday, February 28, 2025 etransfer to Larix and have 2 more to do. Moved all the Larix stuff out of the inbox and into its folder. Over all paid $11,618.56 recorded on the Plantlists page, to be uploaded. Put the marsh marigold into a taller pot and put it on top of the blue bin (added pea gravel to the top); where I had removed a pot with Irises in it. Put the Irises pot onto the shelf by the Lebanon cider. Made one more step under the deck. It has 3 pavers down and 2 pavers across (the 8 x 16 pavers.) Dragged the hose out of the ground and will be using it under the deck to fill the pond, and water under the deck. Use the other hose to water the rest of the garden. Moved a primula next to the top of the first step of the 'viewing platform. Starting setting the stones for the dry stream. Note: Most of this rebuilding the dry stream, the paths under the deck, the electrical connection, the placement of plants will be repeated under the Restoration list page with the Restoration photo album Joel Cuttiford 12 Feb 6:50 AM Hi Margaret, With all this cold weather, have you been running your pump? Or have the Plumbers removed your Pump We can get by today and repair the one loose piece of Flagstone. We will not need the water turned on for this task Joel Margaret Meehan 12 Feb 9:40 AM The pump was running fine, I just unplugged it myself in consideration of the safety of the present connections to the extension cord. These present connections were not a big problem, but I thought it would be better safe than sorry, in case it was a problem to all the workers we have had around there. I mentioned that I wondered if you could raise the pump up a bit higher, using the pink table thing as described. And then adding that water plant pot over top of the pump to act as a bit of a barrier to the under water plants, to stop them from plugging up the pump. You can add any cost of this feature, if it is feasible, to our running costs, as you did with the addition of the new pump. I would need your expertise on how much higher the pump could be raised off the bottom. I think it is still much too cold to be out there today, as next week looks much warmer, in the forecast. Margaret Meehan. On 2025-02-12 11:14 a.m., Joel Cuttiford 12 Feb 11:14 AM Thanks for the heads up, Margaret. Let's shoot for next week when it warms up a bit! Joel Margaret Meehan 12 Feb 11:44 AM Yes, next week will be fine. I had started to move the willows into the gardening area and will have time to dig them out again as they will get trampled where they are now. And I will want to remove the marsh marigold plant that is on the shelf, also before you are working in that area. Perhaps we can discuss the raising of the pump feature, after all the present work is completed. Margaret Joel Cuttiford 12 Feb 11:51 AM Sure, let's get in touch next week. Joel Margaret Meehan 14 Feb 2:59 PM Hello Joel Further to getting in touch next week, I was just out to remove my willows, etc. Everything is frozen over, including the pond, and it is very icey on the patio area by the heat pump. We have a the week end when it might melt things away, I hope. But as long as it is this icey, I don't think you need to risk an accident on the ice. Have a good week end. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road 250 727 6401 Margaret Meehan 18 Feb 9:25 a.m. Joel I see how the big blue tubs in the pond have been raised up to a suitable level. How very clever. I am a bit worried about the sharp edges of the pavers damaging the fish. Do you think we could cover the pavers with a pvc type of covering over the pavers? I have found a sheet of LDPE at Rona to use by cutting it into the size necessary to cover each of the stacks of pavers. This sheet of guard polythene film heavey Gauge is 100 ft length by 10 feet wide. I wonder if that would be enough to cover all the pavers? I could then build the fish 'cave' between the two stacks of pavers at this deep end of the pond. The fish like to hibernate there in the winter too. So this would work out perfectly, I think. I wonder if you could add the cost of this application to our ongoing construction of my pond? The construction of the 'cave' was another product available at Rona, being an expandable drain pipe with 4 in. diameter, 2 feet to 8 feet. I would also get the tubing to cover the electrical cord, that David Motherwell, the electrician, said I could use. I could purchase these products at Rona and you could use what you might like to improve the protection of the fish. I wouldn't mind having the pump raised a bit above the floor of the pond, perhaps with another paver or two and covered with the planting pot that I will have on hand when I remove the marsh marigold that is in it now. The planting pot on top could be tied down to the pavers. When I ran my old pump it would tend to get clogged up with the under water plants and it would stop running. I had to unplug the pump, clean off the plants, and do the reset buttons, plug the pump in again. Margaret Meehan 1106 loenholm road mmmee@shaw.ca 250 727 6401 On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 12:22 p.m. Margaret Meehan wrote: Joel, it's me again. Since I won't be getting any fish or new plants until it is warmer outside; could we proceed with the completion of the present agreement and I will pay you by etransfer for the balance owing. We can start a new agreement if you care to, later. Thursday the 20th of February looks like it will be a good day to complete the landscaping, if you are not already booked. We can move the motorhome and turn on the water. Thanks Margaret On 2025-02-18 2:45 p.m., Larix Landscape Ltd. wrote: Hi Margaret, We better swing over and have a look at everything first. Please let me know your schedule over the next couple of days. Respectfully, Joel Cuttiford B. Ap. Sc. Landscape MGT On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 3:27 p.m. Margaret Meehan wrote: Good afternoon Joel nothing on the calendar for the rest of the week. We have drywalling guys coming maybe the next week. Not sure when they will be here, though. Margaret On 2025-02-18 4:04 p.m., Larix Landscape Ltd. Hi Margaret, Please let me know if tomorrow at 12:00 noon works for meeting up. Respectfully, Joel Cuttiford B. Ap. Sc. Landscape MGT Owner/Manager Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com 2025 - 02-18 4:04 pm Margaret Meehan hello Joel tomorrow at noon will be fine. See you then. Margaret On Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 5:44 p.m. Margaret Meehan Hello Joel This is what the electrician, David Motherwell, is going to do to the pump "A larger gauge outdoor cord is certainly the way to go. Done to code, the conduit would need to be 2'/60cm below grade. If there is a way to run the cord on the surface, in an unobtrusive way, would be the most cost effective. For cords I would recommend a #12 gauge cord with a black jacket (UV protection) and have it plugged into a GFCI outlet." NOTE: This is what David Motherwell suggested and is what I have done. It is just as I had it before. The this pump cord (protected on the surface) is plugged into an extension cord that connects to the GFCI outlet. The same kind of arrangement that people use for their Christmas lighting. see you tomorrow at noon. On 2025-02-19 - 7:13 p.m. Larix Landscape Ltd. Hi Margaret, Did you want me to pick anything up for the meeting today? Respectfully, Joel Cuttiford B. Ap. Sc. Landscape MGT Owner/Manager Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com Joel Cuttiford 27 Feb 7:09 AM Hi Margaret, We can have Matt swing by this morning and readjust that stone. We also have some extra stone at our shop that we can bring that may fit into the garden a bit better. Margaret Meehan 27 Feb 7:51 AM Good morning Joel would be good to have the stone fitted under the Lebanon cedar. I understood that this stone was not going to be cemented down. But that the stone closest to the entrance was going to be cemented down again. We also spoke of getting a few more pavers under each of the blue bins in the pond to raise them up a bit higher. In that regard I have moved some pavers out along by the bins, just above the bins. I am not sure where you might need this extra stone, but if you think you need that, of course, you will use it. It might just be too early in the morning for my mind to be working. :) Cheers Margaret Josie V. 28 Feb 10:29 AM Good morning Margaret, It was passed on to me that Matthew was by yesterday to take care of the outstanding items. Please let us know if you would like to book another walkthrough with Joel and/or Craig to ensure no little details were missed. Also, we just wanted to let you know the final invoice will be released shortly, of course, there is no rush. Please let us know if you have any questions and if you would like to meet, please let us know what days and times work best for you. Josie Office Manager Margaret Meehan 28 Feb 11:06 AM hello Josie all's well with the pond and plants. It's good to know that I can call on you should I have any problems. Thanks. Of course anyone is welcome to stop by for a look, if they wish. Margaret Meehan You have a new invoice. Invoice Number: 4099 Issued: 28 Feb 2025 Due Date: 7 Mar 2025 Summary: 100% Completion for 1106 Loenhom Rd water Feature Renovation Issued By: Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Rd. Victoria, British Columbia V8Z 1B9 1-250-590-9508 Project: 1106 Loenholm Road Water Feature Renovation 1106 Loenholm Road Victoria, BC V8Z 2Z6 Issued To: Margaret Meehan Item Amount: AR Landscape - L01. Pond Preparation $1,204.37 AR Landscape - L02. Pond Reline $1,028.00 AR Landscape - L03. Masonry $1,977.52 AR Landscape - L04. Water Feature Rebuild $912.00 AR Landscape - C01. New Pump $822.00 Subtotal: $5,943.89 GST (5%) $297.19 Total: $6,241.08 Payments: $6,241.08 Amount Due: $0.00 Notes Thank you for your business! We are currently accepting the following methods of payment; Cash Cheque or Bank draft made out to Larix Landscape Ltd. eTransfer to Larixlands@gmail.com Please include your Invoice# or Street name within the message/memo section. ***Please note, we are now accepting Credit Card payments online (Visa, Mastercard, Discover & Apple Pay). A 2.9% processing fee will be added to all clients wishing to pay via credit card. Kindly let us know if you wish to pay via credit card and we will send the email as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you and we hope to work with you again. Invoice No. 4099 25 - 02 -28 10:30 A.M. this invoice has been paid. Margaret Meehan 28 Feb 11:16 AM I will be paying this invoice by etransfer. My etransfer limit is $3000.00 per day. So, I will be paying the invoice over the next 3 days. Thanks for your attention to my pond rebuild. Margaret Josie V. 28 Feb 11:51 AM Hello Margaret, That is absolutely no problem. And you are very welcome, do not hesitate to reach out if there is anything at all. Have a most lovely day! Josie Office Manager Josie V. 28 Feb 1:21 PM Hello Margaret, We just wanted to confirm we have received the first e-transfer. Thank you. Take Care! Josie Office Manager MARCH 2025 - 03 -03 9:49 am Good morning, Margaret, We hope you are doing well. We wanted to thank you and acknowledge that we received the two e-transfers this weekend. The project is paid in full. If there is anything, do not hesitate to contact us. Again, we thank you and wish you all the best. Respectfully, Josie Office Manager, Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com Copies of all documents, e transfers, etc. in hard copies in Larix folder *************************** Leak in pond problem: On Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 8:08 p.m. Margaret Meehan wrote: Hello Joel You have said to contact you with any questions, so here is my plea for fixing this pond that will not hold the water above the level of the plants in the pond: I have been sorting out the garden hoses, proceeding with the rebuilding of the dry stream, and the steps leading down to under the deck. On March 18 at about 1:00 I finished putting the surviving water plants into the pots. Then I filled the pond to just below the level where the mermaid sits and covering the edges of the plant pots that should be where the water comes up to. By 3:30 the water level was way down to a few inches above the tops of big blue pots. That seems to make the pond about half full. That was the level it was at before I attempted to fill the pond. We seem to have a leak somewhere above that level that it had been sitting at before I attempted to fill the pond. You said that the project had been finished and of course I took your word for it and proceeded with getting the plants in order before I filled the pond. I wonder if there is a way to find out why this leak is happening and to patch it? I once read something about putting a dye into the water to see where it ran out. I wonder if that would work? I hope we can also test the water fall to see if it causes the pond to go dry after we get the pond patched. Its a mystery. And a dismaying disappointment. We currently have the repair to our plumbing pipes proceeding and are to the stage where the wall board is all installed and will be ready for the painters to finish their job. I really do not want you to visit my pond until the other workers are finished their job. One thing at a time, as this is all getting to be quite stressful. Hope we can get the pond repaired some time in April. Truly Margaret Meehan 1106 Loeholm Road Phone: 250 727 6401 On 2025-03-19 6:44 a.m., Larix Landscape Ltd. wrote: Hi Margaret, I'm sorry to hear about the leak in your pond. I can revise the text concerning the identification and rectification of leaks in ponds, as most leaks are indeed resolvable. There is certainly a process to narrow it down. Kindly inform us of your preferred timing for a site visit so that we may address this matter. Respectfully, Joel Cuttiford, B. Ap. Sc. Landscape MGT Owner/Manager, Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 9:37 a.m. Margaret Meehan wrote hello Joel It would indeed be nice to find that this situation can be resolvable. I think sometime on April 8, 2025, would put me in a more relaxed state of mind and availability of time to see if the identification and rectification of this leak in my pond proves it to be resolvable. truly, Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road 250 727 6401 On 2025-03-19 11:26 a.m., Larix Landscape Ltd. wrote: Hi Margaret, That is no problem; please call me that week, and I will swing over it right away. Respectfully, Joel Cuttiford - B. Ap. Sc. Landscape MGT Owner/Manager, Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com On 2025 - 04 - 07 at 4:15 p.m. Margaret Meehan wrote hello Joel Pat broke his shoulder blade on his right arm. So, I have been busy trying to keep up with all the stuff to do. I have not been able to get any gardening done at all. I will have to leave this problem until Pat is better and able to drive, etc. again. So, we will have to leave it for sometime in May. With all the rain over the last while the pond has filled up a bit again. But I have not added more water, or tried to run the waterfall. Running the waterfall last time seemed to drain the water out... but I am not sure about this. So we will look at it in May sometime, I hope. thanks for your concern. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road email: mmmee@shaw.ca Phone: 250 727 6401 Reply from Joel: Hi Margaret, I express my condolences regarding Pat's shoulder injury; such matters can indeed be quite distressing. Several tests can be conducted to ascertain the location of water loss, beginning with the waterfall examination. I am assured that we can accurately identify the points of water loss, as it can only occur at a limited number of locations. Feel free to call me anytime, and we can sort this out for you. Respectfully, Joel Cuttiford - B. Ap. Sc. Landscape MGT Owner/Manager, Larix Landscape Ltd. 460 Dupplin Road, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 1B9 Telephone: (250)-590-9508 Email: larixlands@gmail.com Website: www.larixlandscape.com May 30, 2025 at 11:36 a.m. Margaret Meehan wrote: Hello Joel Since my last contact with you about the leak in my pond, the problem seems to be fixed. What was happening was: that when I ran the waterfall for a few hours and then shut the water fall off, the level of the water in the pond was reduced to about half of its usual level. Now, as I have run the waterfall a few times, the level of the water in the pond, NO LONGER is reduced when I shut off the water fall. It seems this was some sort of necessary step in getting the waterfall to run. I have the hoses sorted out and repaired. I will be getting the protective covering for the electrical cable soon, and continue with reconstructing the dry stream and the steps under the deck to the sitting area. I have moved the willows to another area of the garden, and will replace some of the other plants along the edges of the paving and along the new dry stream. Also getting the moss to grow around the waterfall to soften the appearance of it all. The birds are enjoying the waterfall and the rest of the pond, too. There is a piece of equipment here that seems to belong to some of the equipment that Matt was using in his work. Of course you are welcome to come see it all whenever you wish. I am getting caught up with the gardening. Pat's shoulder is mending, slowly, and so he is a big help in getting stuff done inside and out of our home. Hope all is well with you and all in your company. Margaret Meehan 1106 Loenholm Road Phone: 250 727 6401 email: mmmee@shaw.ca Larix Landscape Ltd. Fri, May 30, 2025, 12:24 PM to Margaret Great news Margaret, Thank you for letting us know. See the Larix photo album page and the update page for ongoing updates to the water garden. To complete this water garden and surrounds, I will be creating a page Renovation list page with the Photo album for the Renovation ******************************************************* In Conclusion In early December 2024 my pond sprang a leak. Later in December the pond level went even lower and I lost the fish that I had saved out of the pond. I revised my contract with Larix Landscaping and they are to be here January 6, 2025 to begin the rebuild of the pond, pond surrounds, and the waterfall. There is a new pump that is in the spillway at the top of waterfall. On March 3, 2025, I finished paying Larix Landscaping $11,618.56 to complete the project. The pond is about 3 feet deep, and there is an artistic waterfall that is about 3 feet high. The mermaid sits in the waterfall. The blue tubs have been raised a bit by adding pavers beneath them, and the shallow water plant pots sit on top of the blue tubs. There is a lot of masonary around the pond that has replaced all of the pond surround plants except the Lebanon cedar and the round mounding cedar, both of which I keep clipped. As at March 10, 2026 the water hawthorn grows out of the big blue pots, the marsh marigold grows out of a pot on top of a blue tub next to the edge of the water garden. There is pot of water irisis growing in a pot on top of another blue pot by the edge of the pond by the boxwood hedging and another water iris grows out of another pot on top of a big blue pot by the edge of the pond across the masonry from the clematis and the viewing platform. There are under water oxegenating plants from the old water garden growing in the bottom of the pond. One of the pots I had on a ledge next to the Lebanon cedar has fallen into the pond. It contained a water iris. I am leaving it in there for now. I restocked the fish, from Petsmart in on Millstream Road on June 24, 2025 with 10 fish. Lost the 2 that were in the tub on the deck by June 29, 2025, despite having it covered with a screen. I was feeding them over the summer and the water was quite murky. By December 5, 2025 I was no longer seeing any fish in the pond. On Feb. 12, 2026 I saw 2 of the gold fish. But by April 9, 2026 there were no more fish to be seen. There had been a heron to visit I believe. The water fall has been running and the water is quite clear. See Up date page for all the new additions to the pond. As at March 3, 2026, I have finished revising the entry to the sitting area under the deck. It runs from the stepping stones by the rhodos to meet the dry stream by the dry box. I need to complete this path to the sitting area. Also as at March 3, 2026 I have finished recreating the viewing platform and steps leading under the deck to the seating area. The electrical cord from the pump is in a plastic flexible pipe that runs under the masonry and is hidden under the dry stream, where it then goes to the dry box beside the house that holds the connection to the extension cord that goes to the plug in. Also rebuilt the dry stream. I am trying to grow the moss back onto the stones lining the edges of the dry stream. I have a pruned back the damaged little Japanese maple and the mountain laurel and other plants by the masonry of the pond surrounds. I have a few new plants growing along the edge of the masonry. One of them is a piece of the cherished Wulfenie that seems to be surviving. An oxsalis bulb has sent up a pink bulb. I believe the astilbes and the pink lily of the valley, and the plants along the outer edge of the dry stream, as well as the ferns under the deck are starting to come up. I have added new astibles, by the old ones and one across the dry stream by the deck post. Wintertime is not the best time to rebuild a water garden. See the for the list page for the new pond and surrounds by LARIX; and the photo album page for the LARIX landscaping pond rebuild; also see Renovation list page and the Photo album for the Renovation. Also see the plant list page and the the page the continues updates to the water garden. SAVE this The Front Entry Garden Room The photo album for The Front Entry Garden Room The Magnolia Tree Garden Room where the Trilliums grow. The photo album The Magnolia Tree Garden Room where the Trilliums grow. The Inner Garden Room, including The Sun Dial Circle, Thyme Circle and Center Garden The photo album for The Inner Garden Room, including The Sun Dial Circle, Thyme Circle and Center Garden The Smoke Tree Garden Room that is part of the Inner Garden Room The photo album for the The Smoke Tree Garden Room that is part of the Inner Garden Room The Front Garden Rock and Alpines The photo album for The Front Garden Rock and Alpines The Boulevard Garden The photo album for The Boulevard Garden The Strip between the Driveways The photo album for The Strip between the Driveways The Woodland Garden Room The photo album for The Woodland Garden The Fig Tree Bed, including the bed next to the old sidewalk, in the back garden The photo album for The Fig Tree Bed, including the bed next to the old sidewalk, in the back garden The Japanese and Moss Garden Room The Japanese and Moss Garden photo album The pond and surrounds Garden Room The photo album of the The pond and surrounds Garden Room The plants in the pond Room (note: This is a list page for the plants in the pond) The photo album for The plants in the pond Room Water gardening Photo Album page for the Larix Landscaping pond. (note: I had Larix Landscaping rebuild the waterfall, pond and surrounds after the pond sprang a leak in November and December of 2024. This newly lined pond includes a new Aquascape Ultra 1500 Water pump. The List Page for the Larix Landscaping rebuild of the waterfall, pond surrounds and the pond in January 2025. list page for the RENOVATION of the viewing platform, the drystream, etc. (note: I had Larix Landscaping rebuild the waterfall, pond and surrounds after the pond sprang a leak in November and December of 2024. So the surrounding area needed renovation.) The photo album for the RENOVATIONS to viewing platform, drystream and surrounding area of the new water garden. the new page about the creation of the new water garden built by Larix Landscaping. It is a continuation of the Old Water Garden page information. This page incorporations the above pages about the recreation of the pond and surrounds. It will continue as the DAILY additions to the pond, to the plants and to the fish. It may duplicate some of the information on the Water 2020 page, the Fish Pond page, and the Larix landscaping pages. The Back Garden Rock and Alpines The photo album for The Back Garden Rock and Alpines The Cutting Garden including vegetables, herbs The Cutting Garden Room photo album The deck and patio plants, including some of the plants also listed in the Moss and Water Garden Room The photo album for The deck and patio plants, including some of the plants also listed in the Moss and Water Garden Room The Fish Pond Note: this is a new water page, not a list page. see PREDATORs on this page. The new Water Garden Page Note: this is a new water page. Pond Plants Note: this is the list page for the Plants in the Pond and the deck tub. The photo album for the Pond Plants The Light garden and Orchids The photo album for The Light garden and Orchids The LAST water garden page where I keep track of any additions to the new water garden. continue update page where I keep track of any changes to the pond, plants, and fish, with the help of blog posts. B. C. INVASIVE PLANTS list. PURCHASES Starting May 9, 2024 Garden purchases in 2024 May 9, 2024 Country Grocery Cosmos (white) 6 pack $3.99 6 pkg lettuce 3.99 Delosperma Jewel of desert 3.67 Dill 2.97 Marigolds 6 pkg 3.99 PST .82 GST .93 Total_______________________$20.36 Wildwood Outdoor Living (Cannor) Perennial 4 at $4.49 $20.12 Verbena bonariensis Saxifraga x andrewsii (shade) English Lavender Heliotrope charged as perennial GST .90 PST 1.26 Total_______________________$20.12 Buckerfield's 1970 Keating Xroad Roundup Weed and Grass 1 Litre $24.99 Gilmore Brass 2 way Shutoff 11.97 4" Herb Parsley 3.99 3.5" veggie garlic chives 1.99 GST 2.15 PST 2.59 Total ________________________$47.68 Canadian Tire - June 23 Trowel $ 9.99 42" tomatoe cages (2) 15.99 Rhodo food 10.99 2 pairs cotton gloves 4.99 GST 2.10 PST 2.17 TOTAL ___________________ $46.22 (br> August 8, 2024 Country Grocer 6 pkg of lettuce: apx. $4.00 August 10, 2024 HCP plant sale Phlox paniculata 'laura' pink $12.00 plus apx Tax 1.37 TOTAL: $13.37 Creatures - The stinky plant place 2 medium gold fish (no shubunkins) $6.25 outrageous price. I'll not be back. August 20, 2024 Cannor (Wildwood) 3 tomato cages (6.29 each) TOTAL: 21.13 August 20, 2024 Canadian Tire 2 Cool White 40 watts 48 in.Flourescent tubes $14.99 TOTAL:$34.47 September 20, 2024 Hort center of the Pacific Membership: $45.00 Asclepia Curassavica and Achilles millefolium 'Red Velvet' $21.15 TOTAL: $66.15 Garden purchases in 2025 January 17, 2025 Lee Valley Shrub Flex Rake______________________$26.90 Deep soil seive________________________$32.50 GST PST apx._________________________$ 9.00 Total:___________________________________$68.40 Larix Landscaping Dec. 11, 2024 etransfer___________$1075.60 Jan. 13, 2025 etransfer___________$2102.00 Jan. 14, 2025 etransfer___________$2200.40 Feb. 28, 2025 etransfer___________$3000.00 March 1, 2025 etransfer___________$3000.00 March 2, 2025 etransfer___________$ 241.08 ________Total:_______________________$11,618.56 Jan. 21, 2025 Canadian Tire - Pond Skimmer ______________________________$20.15 March 7, 2025 Lee Valley - Dri Box__________$45.50 - Water Gun with Brass Nozzle $22.90 __________Tax:________________$ 8.21 __________Total:______________________$76.61 May 18, 2025 Canadian Tire: 5/8 in. hose end & washers $14.54 May 18, 2025 MR.Grocer: 2 pots of thyme: $7.00 May 20, 2025 Mr. Grocer: 6 pkg. Lettuce $5.00 1 big pot basil: $7.00 Total: $12.00 May 30, 2025 Rona Hardware: Hose drain flexible pvc 1.25in.-1.5in. diameter by 20ft $18.24 Rona Nursery Gravel Base Navvy Jack 20 kg $ 9.29 Watering can - plastic 2 gal $ 9.29 1 Maidenhair spleenwort (fern) $ 6.99 2 soil enriched 3in1 $ 8.18 Total: $33.75 tax:PST $2.36 GST $1.65 TOTAL: $37.79 June 1, 2025 Mitchell Farms nursery 4 perennials: Phlox Spring Splash, pink Achillea, new vintage violet - 26 - 28" Aubretia axcent, Deep Purple, 6" Oxalis Adenophylla (Silver Shamrock) garlic chives and dill all included with tax: TOTAL: $31.80 June 1, 2025, Cannor Water Hyacinths $5.99 each, plus Tax: TOTAL: $13.42 June 3, 2025, Canadian Tire Brass Splitter, plus tax $16.79 June 6, 2025, All Battery, Adam for Chris Rebuild battery for hedge trimmer: $86.20 June 23, 2025, Petsmart, 2401 Millstream Road, Unit A, Phone: 250-391-9212. Also a Petsmart at Blanshard (calling it Bay Street) .99 per fish calling it large size: but they range in size from tiny to large and all gold, partial gold and all black. Total for 10 fish: $11.09. August 8, 2025 Canadian Tire 2 Replacement filters, 10 x 5 x 1 inches 24.99 type A mesh laundry bag 9.99 Pond Boss water clarifier 16 oz 19.99 sub total: 54.97 GST. 5% - 2.75, PST. 7% 6.60 Total: 61.57 August 8. 2025, Dollar Store Small box with holes in the side 12 L x 9W x 6 D. 8.00 tax .30. .42 .72 Total: 8.72 October 6, 2025, Cannor (Wildwood Outdoor Living) Sera Koi Royal Mini 1000ml Fish Food............$25.95 Iris Dutch Tiger Mix (22 Inch) 10 bulbs................9.99 Oxalis Adenophy (Pink Shamrock) 4in. 5 bulbs...9.99 GST and PST........................................................5.52 TOTAL.............................................................. $51.49 Nursery at Matticks Farm December 12, 2025 Oxalis Adenophylla - wood sorrel 5 bulbs...... $6.14 Garden purchases in 2026 February 8, 2026 - Thrifties: 1 mini iris - 5 bulbs in the pot, dark blue, red cyclamen, burgundy primula Total cost with tax aproximate: $10.00. March 6, 2026 - Canadian Tire 3 cones at $20.00 each, 1 pair garden gloves $11.00 Continue on to Journal Entries for 2025 Back to Journal Entries for 2024 Continue with Annual Journal Entries as below: Annual Gardening pages January - we occasionally get snow. February - more rain, and some bulbs up March - first spring bulbs blooming April - rock plants blooming, grass needs mowing, fruit trees blooming May - the garden is in full swing June - lovely warm days of medium temperatures and roses in bloom July - we need to water a lot in the summer as we do not often get rain. August - the Fall perennials starting to bloom and fruit is ripening September - harvest time in the vegetable garden and time to plant the winter garden October - glorious fall colors and sunsets, fruit ripening and rains begin again November - sometimes a lovely month with the Fall colors and warm rains December - more rain, the garden is mostly greens and browns, very peaceful. Water and Japanese Gardening - I built my pond with its 8 - 9 foot diameter Fruit and Vegetables - grapes, figs, pears, apples, plums, and vegtables Garden paths and Garden art - I have converted most of the lawn to gardens and paths Rock and Alpines - I have a few small alpines in various spots around the garden Woodland garden - I am trying to establish a few indigenous plants in this area. Indoor gardening - orchids, cacti, African violets Bugs - butterflies, birds, animals From the Market - photos of bought produce or flowers At the Show - there are a number of gardeing shows I attend annually Mushrooms, lichens Boquets - Creating flower arrangements for the house and for show is an added benefit for creatativity as well as visual satisfaction. Miscellaneous - in case I cannot decide where something belongs Annual Journal Notes - This is the first page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2012 when I began to keep my garden notes on my computer. See the bottom of this first page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2013 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2013 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2014 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2014 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2015 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2015 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2016 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2016 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2017 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2017 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2018 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2018 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2019 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2019 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2020 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2020 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2021 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2021 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2022 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2022 from my garden journal . See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2023 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2023 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2024 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2024 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2025 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2025 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2026 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2026 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2027 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2027 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Annual Journal Notes 2028 - This is the page of the annual Journal Notes excerpts beginning in 2028 from my garden journal. See the bottom of this page to go to the Journal Notes for the next year. Outline of the garden changes - This is the first page of a series of three giving a tour of the my garden. A description of the garden rooms - This is the second page of a series of three giving a tour of the my garden, and showing the creation of the garden rooms as well as some of the renovations over the years. Annual Garden changes photo albums The third page of the series will be annual photo albums of the changes in the garden for the year, beginning in 2009. Annual Photo Albums Garden 2026 - Put in 2026 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2025 - Put in 2025 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2024 - Put in 2024 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2023 - Put in 2023 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2022 - Put in 2022 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2021 - Put in 2021 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2020 - Put in 2020 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2019 - Put in 2019 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2018 - Put in 2018 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2017 - Put in 2017 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2016 - Put in 2016 stuff here. magnolia bed reno. Garden 2015 - drought, pond edges renovations, Garden 2014 - Put in 2014 stuff here milkweed, pond reno....Finished. Garden 2013 - Put in 2013 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2012 - Put in 2012 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2011 - Put in 2011 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2010 - Put in 2010 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2009 - Put in 2009 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2008 - Put in 2008 stuff here....Finished. Garden 2007 - Put in 2007 stuff here. Garden 2006 - Put in 2006 stuff here. Garden 2005 - Put in 2005 stuff here. Garden 2004 - Put in 2004 stuff here. Garden 2003 - Put in 2003 stuff here. Garden 2002 - Put in 2002 stuff here. Garden 2001 - Put in 2001 stuff here. Links: (VHS) Victoria Horticultural Society: http://vichortsociety.org/ (HCP) Horticultural Center of the Pacific: http://www.hcp.ca (VIRAGS) - Vancouver Island Rock & Alpine: http://www.virags.ca/ Alpine Garden Club of British Columbia http://www.agc-bc.ca/home Victoria Orchid Society: http://www.victoriaorchidsociety.ca Native plants: - http://russellnursery.com/natives/ Harry Jans informative site about growing alpines. His travels, and smug mug photo albums. https://www.jansalpines.com/ David Badke collection of mosses, lichens, mushrooms https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidbadke/albums/72157673563005916 This is a fine reference source of information on the lichens, mosses, and mushrooms found in my location. MOSSES CO2 and NITROGEN FIXING Fawn Lilies(erythronium) Swan Lake Sanctuary https://www.swanlake.bc.ca/"> Phlox http://www.butterflywebsite.com/articles/phlox-for-butterflies.cfm CRD natural gardening https://www.crd.bc.ca/education/natural-gardening Saanich Native Plants - https://satinflower.ca/ Growing Primroses https://www.barnhaven.com/primroses/ LARIX LANDSCAPING https://www.larixlandscape.com// Plant photos by common name: - http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/browse_imgs/plant_com_1.html Back to Top All rights reserved. No part of this website, including graphics, text and design may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the author. Created: September 1, 2026 Last revised: September 1, 2026