PIckerel Rush

PIckerel plants were plentiful in the Nature Wildlife Center's trail in Mandeville, LA last weekend.  It's another shoreline plant that loves to have its feet in a few inches of water. Not only is is pretty during it's spring blooming season, but fish love to hide in it and bees and other beneficial bugs love its nectar. Spreading by rhizomes, it stabilizes shorelines. 

If you don't keep it contained in a pot in your pond, it can be invasive as most aquatic plants are.

It is a soft plant, so when you are potting it up or putting the pot in your pond,   be careful not to break the leaves.  The soft blue flowers will put on a show for you in the spring.

I also feature pond plants in my pond how-to new book available here: http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Building-Caring-ebook/dp/B00785EXXA/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329153290&sr=1-2 It's dropped to number two on Amazon.com in Landscaping this morning. C'mon people. Buy the book and keep me in first place. It's only a buck. So join us at http://www.pondlady.com and share your pond stories with us. Thanks for dropping by for a visit this morning

Lizard's Tail, a Pond Plant

We took a walk along the Northshore Nature Center trail near Mandeville, La over the weekend.  I thought Louisiana irises would be in full bloom, but didn't see one.  I did see Lizard's Tail in bloom tho. 

Lizard's Tail grow in the water in the shallower parts of the swamp where the water is maybe 4" deep or less.  You will usually find it at the edges of ponds or marshes.

Of course, the Lizard's Tail rush gets its name from its bloom.  It grows from the end of a 6 inche stalk and droops into a tail about 3 inches long.  The leaf is heart shaped and about 5 inches long. 

It spreads using rhizomes that grow sideways under the water or the mud and pretty soon, you have Lizard's Tail everywhere. If you are going to have them in your pond, keep them in a pot.

I also feature pond plants in my new book available here: http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Building-Caring-ebook/dp/B00785EXXA/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329153290&sr=1-2 It's number one on Amazon.com in Landscaping this morning. Yippee. So join us at http://www.pondlady.com and share your pond stories with us. Thanks for dropping by for a visit this morning