Water Gardening:Water Puppies At Play

Happenstance Northern California, CA Aug 22, 2003

Water Puppies At Play

Post #624256

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Badseed Hillsboro, OH(Zone 6a) Aug 22, 2003

Now that is a sight to behold!! Did you build that yourself? It looks way too natural! Two thumbs up!! :)

Post #624260

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Happenstance Northern California, CA Aug 22, 2003

The pond is NOT deep, because I have several very young grandchildren and I didn't want the worry of deep water. It goes against all the written material, but seems not to bother the fish at all. Deepest point is a mere 2 feet deep.

It is 22feet x 18feet.

There are about a dozen large koi (18-24")and about 50 goldfish from 8-12inches.

The "necklace" of rocks on the perimeter has all been removed as of last winter. They were to stabilize the edge and protect the liner from the sun until the plants could cover it. Only a couple of rocks remain to hide the pipes that enter the pond at the back righthand side and of course the waterfall.

It's come a long way in four years and we did fight the battle of green water for a year and upgraded the filtration system after a year and again the following summer. We have typical summer temps of 85 - 110 F and the filtration system does a great job of keeping the water looking like good vodka. :-) Crystal clear and free of algae by cleaning the skimmer daily and backwashing a couple of times a week. Winter temps are rarely below 40 F, so the fish are active all year round.

It didn't start out looking this way and that first year I threatened several times to fill it in and make it a rose garden.

This message was edited Feb 4, 2004 2:00 PM

Post #624274

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Badseed Hillsboro, OH(Zone 6a) Aug 22, 2003

WOW!!! When I grow up I want to be you!! Perfect climate too!! I have to say though, my hair looks awful in California. LOL Natural curl and lack of humidity just don't go together. :) That is truly awesome. You have a great selection of plants and the contrast of texture and color is amazing. Gorgeous fence too! What is the scenery on the other side of the fence? It makes your property look like a tropical forest in the middle of the dessert. I could live there happily.

Post #624289

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Happenstance Northern California, CA Aug 22, 2003

Those are the golden hills of California, which are only golden in the dry season (April - November), then they turn green when the winter rains come.

Post #624296

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Badseed Hillsboro, OH(Zone 6a) Aug 22, 2003

Absolutely gorgeous!! How do you get any sleep with a view like that?!

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Zanymuse Scotia, CA(Zone 9b) Aug 23, 2003

Your pond is truly a work of art. And I love your "puppies" !

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ButterflyGardnr Orlando, FL(Zone 9b) Aug 26, 2003

What a gorgeous pond! I can't imagine even thinking of filling something that pretty back in. Especially since I know what backbreaking work it is to dig it and haul rocks around, etc!

Post #627465

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Happenstance Northern California, CA Aug 26, 2003

Evening ButterflyGardnr -

It wouldn't have taken much to fill it in that first year....the green water was so thick the fish had to use oars to get around. :-)

And we did it the easy way as far as digging.....new house, bare ground, can you say Bob-Cat tractor? It took about an hour for my husband to carve it out. And the rocks became part of the "necklace" of rocks which have since been moved as the plantings grew over the liner's edge.