Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Waterfalls | Tags: Christmas Countdown, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Season, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Tree, Happy Holidays, Holiday Season, Seasonal changes, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Reflections, Sunday with Family, Sundays
I have been blessed with overall good health, so when I do get sick 😷 it’s awful… I’m finally getting over a case of the Flu with a Bronchitis kicker… Believe me when I tell you, it sucks! Cough, weakness, exhaustion, etc… But, thank the lord, I’m finally feeling better!
We are officially in December! I’ve been getting my strength back by tooling around the house a little trying to help get ready for the next big holiday 🎅🏼
Our Christmas tree 🎄 is up & quite a bit of decorating has been done as well. I’m actually starting to get that feeling of Christmas 🙏🏻

We’ve got Lots to do before years end! My biggest challenge is to keep a work/life balance through the holidays so I get to enjoy the season with my family too 😊
In any case, Christmas is coming! Be ready 🎅🏼
“May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love.”
~ Ada V. Hendricks
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Carters Nursery Pond & Patio, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Cool Season Koi Food, Cool Temp Koi Food, Cooling Down, Feeding Koi, Feeding my Koi, Fish Feeding, Healthy Koi, I Love Koi, Jackson Tennessee, Koi Food, Koi Health, Koi Health Tip, Koi Health Tips, Koi Pond, Koi Ponds, Koi Shack, Koi Supplies, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Shack, Pond Supplies, Pond Tip, Pond Tip Tuesday, Pond Tips, Seasonal changes, Seasonal Koi Feeding Temperatures, Seasonal Koi Feeding Times, Seasonal Water Garden, Tips For Pond People, Weekly Pond Tip, Winter Is Coming, Winter Pond Tips
Fall is in full swing! The sun is setting earlier every day & the temps are falling… We are past our first frost and more are coming by weeks end. Soon, the saddest part of the season will be paying us a visit… The time when we STOP feeding our Koi for the season
My Koi have eaten well this year & have put on a good bit of fat to get them through the Cool Season ahead. Now is the time that many of my clients and fellow Koi enthusiasts start asking a very important question…
– When do I stop feeding Cool Season Koi Food to my Pond Pets?
– My Answer- Remember the rule of 50!

When the water temperature stabilizes below 50 degrees Fahrenheit you should stop feeding your Koi… Even Cool Season Koi Food… We like to call it the ‘Rule Of 50’… | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
Switching to a Cool Temperature Koi Food is very important for the health of your Koi! So is knowing when to stop feeding!

Every Pond should have a floating Pond thermometer. Our finned friends are cold blooded & water temperature is very important when it comes to seasonal feeding times. Pick one up at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
So to wrap it up, keep a check on your water temp (via a Pond thermometer) & when your water temp stabilizes below 50 degrees, you should transition from Cool Season Koi Food to NO More feeding for this season. That’s the “Rule of 50”…
Viva La’ Fall!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
Ph.# 731-424-2206
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Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 60 degree Rule, Carters Nursery, Carters Nursery Pond & Patio, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Cool Season Koi Food, Cool Temp Koi Food, Cooler Weather is Coming, Cooling Down, Fall Pond Tips, Floating Pond Thermometer, Garden Supplies, Jackson Tennessee, Jackson Tennessee 38305, Koi, Koi Food, Koi Health, Koi Health Tip, Koi Health Tips, Koi Pond, Koi Ponds, Koi Shack, Koi Supplies, Maintenance Tips, Pond Cleaning Supplies, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Shack, Pond Supplies, Pond Thermometer, Pond Tip, Pond Tip Tuesday, Pond Tips, Rule of 60, Seasonal changes, Seasonal Feeding Times, Seasonal Interest, Seasonal Koi Feeding Temperatures, Seasonal Koi Feeding Times, Seasonal Water Garden, The Rule of 60, Tips, Tips For Pond People, Water garden supplies, Weekly Pond Tip, Winter Pond Tips
Fall is in full swing! The sun is setting earlier every day & the temps are falling… And soon, Jack Frost 🥶 will be paying us a visit… The Koi have eaten well this year & have put on a good bit of fat to get them through the Cool Season ahead. Now is the time that many of my clients and fellow Koi enthusiasts start asking a very important question…
– When do I stop feeding regular food and start feeding Cool Season Koi Food?
– My Answer- Remember the rule of 60!

Switching to a Cool Temperature Koi Food is very important for the health of your Koi!

So be sure to – check your water temp (via a floating thermometer) & when your water temp drops to 60 degrees, you should transition to Cool Season Koi Food. That’s the “Rule of 60”
Fall is NOW! Enjoy your Koi
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Boutique, Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Hummingbirds, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunday Reflections, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 101.5 FM, 731-277-5155, 731-423-8101, 731-424-2206, bucket list 101, Call in, Call of the wild, Call Us, Calling it in, Carters Nursery, Chuck Walker, Cold Pond, Cold Water, Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria, Cold Weather, Cool Season Koi Food, Cool Season Water Treatments, Cool Temp Koi Food, Cooler Weather is Coming, Fall Pond Netting, Feeding Koi, Feeding Time, Fish Feeding, Fishy Friday, Friday blog, Friday Radio Report, Friday Report, Friday’s, gardening 101, Gardening answers, gardening questions, Good Friends, It’s Finally Friday, Jackson Tennessee, Koi Supplies, Leaf Netting, Maintenance Tips, Mark Carter, On call, Pond Cleaning Supplies, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Netting, Pond Supplies, Pond Tips, Questions, Radio, Seabass, Seasonal changes, Seasonal Feeding Times, Seasonal Interest, Seasonal Koi Feeding Temperatures, Seasonal Koi Feeding Times, Seasonal Water Garden, Service Call, Talk Radio, Thank God It’s Fishy Friday, Tips, Tips For Pond People, Water garden supplies, Water Gardening Answers, Water Gardening Questions, WNWS FM
Good Morning! Here we are 1 week into Autumn and it feels so nice 😊 It’s a another BEAUTIFUL DAY! 🍁 I am walking into the studios of WNWS 101.5 FM, in downtown Jackson, TN! I’m going ‘LIVE’ from 9-11 am with Seabass and Chuck Walker on the best little show in Jackson – “Everybody Talks” 💥!

I’ll be here from 9-11am – So get your questions ready! We will be talking Outdoor Living, Koi Ponds, ‘Cool Season’ gardening, trimming, mulching, landscaping, pumpkin carving, football 🏈 and LOVING FALL ❤️🍁 Tune in! 📻
PS: Ask about our upcoming Fall Aquatic Workshop ! It’s FREE! And it’s tomorrow!
We will talk about just about anything that YOU want to talk about! Ask a question, send in a picture, share a story (but please, NO politics!) It’s Friday! Call in and join us – 731-423-8101

– HEY, You can listen, and you can call in and talk… the # is the same that it has been for over 20 years – 731-423-8101. But, did you know you can text your comments and questions? 731-277-5155

Also – Come by and see us at the Nursery! We are open today until 4pm and tomorrow 8-2! Fall is in the air!

Come on in to Carters Nursery and get what you need for your Garden and your Pond! We have Plants, Shrubs & Perennials! And all the cool season Pond treatments you need! Including cool season Koi Food! We’ve got stone by the pound and Sod by the piece! Plus cool hats, jeans, garden decor and gifts in our ’Unique Boutique’!


I’m looking forward to seeing ya’ on the air…
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Hummingbirds, Koi, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunday Reflections, Videos, Waterfalls | Tags: Autumn, Autumn Color, Autumn Leaves Falling on Water, Autumn Poem, Autumnal Equinox, Colorful Foliage, Cooler Weather is Coming, Crazy Weather, Fall Color, Fall Gardening, I Love My Family, If You Don’t Like The Weather, Love, Love and Meaning, Love Thy Neighbor, Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself, Predicting Weather, Seasonal changes, Seasonal Interest, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Tennessee Weather, Waterfall, Weather Lore, Weather Signs, Woolly Bear Caterpillars
Good Morning! ☀️ What a storm we had last night! ⛈ ⚡️ 💥 Here we are changing seasons… Bye bye Summer, Hello Fall 🍁🍂 We have literally been on a West TN weather seesaw… It was 100 degrees on the last day of summer, So Hot 🥵 Then the next day a 51 degree morning… Then back up close to 90 today, but guess what – down into the 40’s tonight😮

Oh well, again the old saying holds true, “If you don’t like the weather, just you wait”…
Now it’s on to breakfast and then a little work in the Garden! I Love ❤️ Fall!
“In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.
And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb color effects as from August to November.”
~ Rose G. Kingsley
Watch this short for the cutest puppy ever 👇🏻
Have a great Sunday!
~ Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Hummingbirds, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Pondless Waterfalls, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Autumn, Autumn Color, Autumn Leaves Falling on Water, Autumn Poem, Autumnal Equinox, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Changing Seasons, Do the seasons know it’s time?, Fall Gardening, Jackson Tennessee, Love, Poem, Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), Seasonal changes, Seasonal Interest, Seasonal Koi Feeding Temperatures, Seasonal Koi Seperation Anxiety, Seasonal Water Garden, Sound of the Season, Summer Season, The Seasons, Unseasonably Warm, Vernal Equinox, Waterfalls
The older I get, the quicker these seasonal changes seem to come… WOW! Are we already looking at the END of Summer?

Summer is going out on a HOT note! High 90’s today & we may very well see 100 degrees tomorrow! 🥵 But, then on the official 1st day of Fall (Thursday the 22nd) the high is only gonna be around 80 degrees… Do the seasons know it’s time?

“During the autumnal equinox, the sun shines directly on the equator, and the northern and southern hemispheres get the same amount of rays. The alignment officially occurs this year on Thursday, September 22”
So the 1st full day of Fall is on the 22nd. Are you ready for Fall?
“Lyric night of the lingering Indian summer, Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing, Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects, Ceaseless, insistent. The grasshopper’s horn, and far-off, high in the maples, The wheel of a locust leisurely grinding the silence Under a moon waning and worn, broken, Tired with summer. Let me remember you, voices of little insects, Weeds in the moonlight, fields that are tangled with asters, Let me remember, soon will the winter be on us, Snow-hushed and heavy. Over my soul murmur your mute benediction, While I gaze, O fields that rest after harvest, As those who part look long in the eyes they lean to, Lest they forget them.”
~ Sara Teasdale
Here’s to changing seasons… 🍾
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: camping, Changing Seasons, Cookout, Early Summer, Fishing, Freedom, Freedom isn’t Free, God Bless, God Bless America, Memorial Day, Memorial Weekend, Pontoon Boat, River Life, Seasonal changes, Summer Season, Summer Time
Yes its finally here! Memorial weekend is always the weekend that kicks off the Summer Season! Camping, Hiking, Cookouts, Vacations, Boating, etc…!

But, we can never forget who and why we are celebrating! Memorial Day is not a day to thank soldiers or saliors for their service – Thats Veterans Day!
Memorial Day honors and mourns our brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country! Its our duty to remember that all this happiness and freedom that we enjoy comes from the blood and sacrifice of soldiers who fought and died for all our freedoms! And its our duty to teach this to our children and grandchildren… Freedom isn’t Free!

“By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood
And fired the shot heard round the world.
The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.
On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set today a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.
Spirit, that made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
God Bless America 🇺🇸
Mark C.
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Best Local Nursery and Garden Center, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Changing Seasons, Cover Plants, Crazy Weather, Feeding the Soul, Frosty Morning, Gardening, If You Don’t Like The Weather, Life is Good, Love, Love and Meaning, Moment of Zen, Morning Zen, outdoor lifestyles, Outdoor Living, Place of Zen, Predicting Weather, Quality Of Life, Robert Frost, Seasonal changes, Seasonal Interest, Seasonal Water Garden, Spring, Spring Gardening, Tennessee Weather, Weather Signs, Zen, Zen state of mind, Zen Waterfall
If you are like many Gardeners and live by the ”Last Frost Date” given in the Almanac or in your local paper, you may be very disappointed this morning… I’m getting ready to go out and uncover the hundreds of plants that I have under blankets, sheets and in a big cold frame greenhouse.

Why does it ’sneak up’ on us so often?
With me its all about staying in tune with the particular season. Spring here in West TN fluctuates from sweaty 80’s weather to 60 mile an hour winds with frost and snow ❄️ BUT, that relationship you form with the seasons and the changes is where the Zen lies…
But, its tough to wait! As soon as the forsythia and the daffodil 🌼 blooms I’m already setting up my planters and pots 🪴 And, I try to be ready for people coming in to my Nursery early, which means we spend a month or more moving plants in and out of the greenhouse… 😊

Finding balance and Zen within ourselves is found within our own Gardens…
PS: The good news is, I think we are past Frost now for real!
“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.”
~ Henry Van Dyke
Have a great Tuesday!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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Filed under: Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 50 Degree Rule, 60 degree Rule, Color Enhancing Koi Food, Cool Season Koi Food, Cool Temp Koi Food, Fall Pond Tips, Feed Me, Feeding Koi, Feeding the Soul, Feeding Time, Fish Feeding, Fish Food, Fish Health, Food, Hand Feeding Koi, Healthy Koi, High Protein Koi Food, Koi Feeding, Koi Feeding Schedule, Koi Fix, Koi Food, Koi Health, Koi Health Tip, Koi Health Tips, Koi Pond, Koi Ponds, Koi Shack, Koi Supplies, Koi Whisperer, Maintenance Tips, Maxi Growth Koi Food, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Supplies, Pond Tip, Pond Tip Tuesday, Pond Tips, Rule of 60, Seasonal changes, Seasonal Feeding Times, Seasonal Interest, Seasonal Koi Feeding Temperatures, Seasonal Koi Feeding Times, Seasonal Water Garden, Spring Feeding, Spring Pond Tips, Summer Pond Tips, The Rule of 50, The Rule of 60, Tips, Water garden supplies, Weekly Pond Tip, Winter Pond Tips
Spring is in full swing! We are approaching our last frost date and the whole world is greening up, I LOVE it! ❤️ So do my Koi! They have been tearing up the Cool Season Koi Food and the veggies I have been feeding them. In fact, many of my customers and fellow Koi enthusiasts have been feeding their Koi Cool Season Food & have started asking me the all important question…
– When can I start feeding regular Koi Food and Color Enhancing Koi Food?
– My Answer- Remember the rule of 60!

We have covered The Rule of 50 in previous Blogs, when coming out of Winter into Spring, you must let the water temp stabilize for at least a week at 50+ degrees Fahrenheit before you start to feed your koi, AND, when you do start back to feeding, you should use a quality, Cool Season Koi Food! And don’t over feed! Gradually reintroduce food to them in small amounts.

Now, at least for me (check your thermometer) it’s time to make the transition to a regular Koi Food. In fact, I will start to feed both high protein and color enhancing feed, alternating weekly between the two.

So, lets wrap it up… check your water temp & when your above 60 degrees for several days in a row and climbing, you can transition to warm season Koi Food. That’s the “Rule of 60”…
Viva La’ Spring!
Happy Pondering!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
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