The weather is changing,
and when the word “frost” was mentioned in the forecast today, I decided to take the plunge and remove the pond. Thankfully, taking it out is always quicker and easier than putting it in, and the task was done in about an hour. During that time, I reset the thermostat on the heated baths to make sure they work before I put them in place. For that, I just put them in the freezer (we have a garage fridge with an empty one) for an hour and after that, plug them in. The middle should become slightly warm. I do this every year to avoid surprises.
The heated bath is easier to maintain and will not trigger the camera as much, so it is actually a nice and relaxing thing. I will miss the pond though, like every summer it has brought great joy, especially this year after the miserable April and May. I am excited to see who visits, the first ones were the Cardinal siblings. I am also adding a photo of the pond liner sitting in place empty because people have asked about it. I got it at a home improvement store, and it holds about 40 gallons. The pump is in the middle, in a special box that keeps debris away from it. (Photo is clickable for larger view.)
