Creating a Lake

EddieWalker · Apr 3, 2014

I like the idea, but wonder if it's doable? The run will be 400 feet and I'm not sure I know how to create all the moving parts. This is something that I'm building for the party after my wedding and I'm pretty sure there will be a few people who use it while drinking. Keeping it simple and making it reliable is my main goal. The trolleys that I've looked at all bolt together, so getting it off at the end of the run and walking it back to the platform has too much potential for parts to get lost. Then bolting it back together on the platform, which will be over water means something is going to fall in, probably the bolt, but I wouldn't be surprised if the trolley fell in too.

So far, this is the most complicated part of the plan.

Eddie

EddieWalker · Apr 3, 2014

I like the idea, but wonder if it's doable? The run will be 400 feet and I'm not sure I know how to create all the moving parts. This is something that I'm building for the party after my wedding and I'm pretty sure there will be a few people who use it while drinking. Keeping it simple and making it reliable is my main goal. The trolleys that I've looked at all bolt together, so getting it off at the end of the run and walking it back to the platform has too much potential for parts to get lost. Then bolting it back together on the platform, which will be over water means something is going to fall in, probably the bolt, but I wouldn't be surprised if the trolley fell in too.

So far, this is the most complicated part of the plan.

Eddie

jrepp44 · Apr 3, 2014

Google "auto return zip line"

One hit of many:

TROLLEY RETURN SPOOL

philbuilt · Apr 4, 2014

Hey Eddie,
here a link to that zip line that I mentioned earlier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXRm8j7hDnc&noredirect=1

philbuilt · Apr 4, 2014

Hey Eddie,
here a link to that zip line that I mentioned earlier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXRm8j7hDnc&noredirect=1

EddieWalker · Apr 5, 2014

jrepp44 said:
Google "auto return zip line"

One hit of many:

TROLLEY RETURN SPOOL

Thank you!!! I never thought to search for something like this and really appreciate the link. I bookmarked the page and plan on doing more research on what's out there.

Eddie.

EddieWalker · Apr 5, 2014

I finished off the last log today and bolted them all into place. Next step will be building the beams.

Eddie

EddieWalker · Apr 6, 2014

One of the things we are trying to figure out is what to plant in the concrete pipes surrounding the peninsula. There are 20 of them and when the water rises, they will be little islands full of flowers. The wedding is in August, which means hundred degree temps every day, which is why we are having the ceremony at 10AM, but having plants that flower then that we like is kind of a challenge.

Our ideal flower would be red roses of some kind. Online searches show that there are some rose bushes that are supposed to flower all summer long, but in reading the reviews, some do and some don't. So far the search continues. Next we are thinking of another plant that has red flowers, but nothing seems to bloom in August.

Then there is the thought that it doesn't have to be roses or even red, just colorful. Which means we can either find something and plant it now, or just wait until the week before the wedding and plant a bunch of annuals and hope they last long enough for the wedding.

Who knows their plants and what do you suggest?

Thanks,
Eddie

lostcreekranch · Apr 6, 2014

Eddie; Take a look at the knock out roses. They bloom all summer until you get a frost.

EddieWalker · Apr 6, 2014

Very impressive. Do you have any? Do they perform as advertised? They sound perfect, but a bit pricey. Since I need 20 of them, do you think one gallon pots will fill in my August?

Eddie

lostcreekranch · Apr 6, 2014

Yes, we had them on our front yard at house near Richmond. They grew very fast. Don't have any at the ranch yet as the deer think they are chocolate dessert. You have to plant with some deer resistant plant that repel deer.

The bigger garden centers (not box stores) will have numerous varieties and colors. They should also be able to give you growth information on different varieties.

Will you leave them in containers just sitting in your tubes? The garden centers will be able to tell which one do well in containers. You will still want to transplant them into larger containers than they come in.

Our were all planted in beds.

EddieWalker · Apr 6, 2014

Each one of those concrete pipes is over two feed wide on the inside and they are full of red clay, which is a great soil for roses. It's why Tyler is considered the Rose Capital of the USA. Our plan is to plant the roses directly into the soil in those pipes and water them from the lake when needed. With the water rising, I'm not sure if the deer will wade into the water to eat them, and if they do, will it be a bad thing? They might do a little pruning, which seems to be good for roses. I cant imagine they could do enough damage to kill the plants, especially off to the sides or behind the pipes.

Looking online at prices, Lowes seems to have the best deal at $13 each for one gallon plants. Everything I've found online is more plus shipping. From what I'm reading, they are the most popular roses sold, so now that we know about the, we'll start looking at every store we go to. I'm really hoping to find them for less because spending $260 on roses isn't very appealing.

Thanks,
Eddie

lostcreekranch · Apr 6, 2014

Eddie;

Think Lowe's has 3 gallon KO roses for $19.

Maybe try something else in every other tube. There are lots of sun loving, bloom all summer, annuals and perennials.

Once your lake is full, can water wick up into the tubes? Roses like lots of water but, cannot tolerate continuous wet soil.

EddieWalker · Apr 6, 2014

I saw the three gallon ones on their website and saw that the one gallon ones are $13 each. I'm wondering how fast they grow in 4 months?

I honestly don't know how the pipes are going to work as far as providing moisture for the plants. I don't expect the pond to stay full for very long once it fills up, but how long and what happens in the pipes is all guessing for right now.

Thanks,
Eddie

Western · Apr 7, 2014

Eddie, I have several kinds of roses and I think you wont like the maintenance with those, especially where they will be half the year. To bloom well here, they need pruning, and some serious "bug" control. We lost all blooms 2 years ago to thrips, and 50% last year. Not sure you want to use pesticides around your tank either??

You may want to look into "Rose moss", they will grow as a ground cover type crop and actually drape over the pipe and they are a perennial. For dramatics, you could put candles on each pier in the evening with a white wrap either a paper or plastic (as they do in Japan) on the wedding eve or wedding day evening if they arent established to your liking by then. They tolerate heat and dryness as well.

Lantana may also be an option for plants.

Arkaybee · Apr 7, 2014

Eddie,

I agree with the choice of KNOCK OUT roses. They do grow fast and to prune them just take a hedge trimmer and cut them back to 12-18 inches high when they are dormant just before spring growth starts. Then thin out some of the older, larger canes if you desire.

One caution: Knock Out roses cannot tolerate chemical fertilizers (organic only) nor can they tolerate petrochemical pesticides. Our roses did not have ANY pressure from pests since we have had them. We just bought a couple of yellow ones to go with the RED ones we already had.
We paid $15 for these.

I recommend buying the three-gallon plant size and plant every other tube with those for economy.
In the other tubes you could plant BRONZE-LEAFED BEGONIAS which have red blooms and do well in FULL SUN all summer long.

You will be happy with the red KNOCK OUT roses; they bloom continuously.

Good luck with the plants you choose and HAPPY WEDDING!

Every step in His presence,

Arkaybee

EddieWalker · Apr 12, 2014

We, and I mean Karen, went with the knockout roses. She bought 20 of them today and a friend came over and helper her plant them. They had fun and it's really looking good. I think I had one of those moments of greatness thinking of using those culverts for planters!!!! LOL

We talked about going with cedar beams, but the just don't work with the overall plan. Hopefully we made the right decision, because it's full speed ahead with dimensional lumber for beams and trusses. I have a bit of a surprise planned too!!

Eddie

breadtrk · Apr 12, 2014

I like it when my Lady makes up my mind for me, then I can move onto other things.

lostcreekranch · Apr 12, 2014

Eddie;

I bet the KO roses will look great!

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

EddieWalker · Apr 13, 2014

I'm excited about the roses. What amazes me is how I was trying to think of a use for those culverts while relaxing on a cruise ship in Honduras. I started out thinking they would look nice on top of the dam, spread out all around the pond. We'd paint them and make them look nice. Then I thought we could put tile on them and make it more permanent then paint. After awhile and a few beers, I got to wondering about putting them in the water. Now I'm dying to see what they look like in a few months of growing and the water level coming up!!

Eddie