I have been requested to submit photos of the process of building our pond.
My husband and my dad did all of the physical labor as you can see, with the help of a front end loader. We rented it for a half day. You can see in this pic how flat the grade is before we started the digging. All of the dirt removed was taken to the back of our lot to build up the area for the larger waterfall and the 30' long stream.
We started the digging on Easter weekend 2001.
Here you can see the basic layout for the main pond. Notice the ledge area for edge rocks to set upon. The guys are working on installing the skimmer box at the far end where the pump is situated in the bottom of the skimmer, with a filter above it. There is also an automatic refill system inside with a float to detect water level changes. The brand is an Aquascape pond system.
Here you will see the pond liner in place, but first there is a layer of a flexible medium between the rocks and the ground. It is a little tricky to fold the liner just right to fit the contours of the pond and its ledges. Some of the medium rocks are placed around to hold it down. This is the time to get the liner just right!
Next you can see the liner being set up for the larger main waterfall. This liner was really tricky, as the stream is not a straight shot to the pond.
Time for the big rocks to be delivered, and it was a big help to pay the guy to help put them into place! There were 3 very large rocks to be placed just right and make it look as natural as possible.
Wow! That's quite the project, TXMel. But it appears that DH and DD have things well in hand. You are a luck gal; it looks like it will be fabulous when it is completed.
Here you can see it finally taking some real shape! The rocks are being placed in the bottom, and around the edges. The liner has still not been trimmed, as there is no going back.
The second waterfall at the back of the pond is starting to take shape. I had requested a second one, but we decided to make our own basin for it. (This was a mistake, but it has turned out ok now.)
You can see the skimmer box in the foreground with the water lines running around to both waterfalls.
Water is starting to go in, as you can see the waterfalls are complete, as well as the final stones and pebbles in place. There is still a lot more water to go.
Placing the waterfall rocks just right, and trying to direct the water to go into the pond, and not back behind the rocks can take some doing, and redoing!
The water level looks full, and of course, the kids think it looks like a swimming pool... until we got the fish in it! How can you keep them out of it...?
Do notice this edge of the pond, and how the rocks are still lined up around the edge. This will change soon, as we learned that we and our guests were drawn to the waters edge, and it wanted to crumble. We solved it later with some nice thick stones that worked out just great!
It still needs some plants!
I guess I would call this complete. Of course, it is never done... so you can follow a few of the changes to come...
Here is the view of the smaller waterfall that you see when you walk in the arbor gate to the backyard. In the front is that large rock that the forklift was delivering earlier.
Only mulch surrounds the pond at this time.
Here is a better view of the larger main waterfall, stream and the other 2 larger rocks. There is also a rock bridge to cross the stream. The stream is just the liner, lined with river rock loosely placed.
Here is a maintenance issue to note... this is the waterline coming from the water meter near the street. The line splits off for the water going back to the pond with an inline water filter to extract chlorine and contaminates before it goes into the pond.
Skip a two years to show some changes... Notice the large flat stones at the near waters edge. The waterfall has been rebuilt, using a preformed bio box like the large one, and he also built a retaining wall of rock behind the falls too.
The plants are filling in, and the Waterlilies and koi are happy too.
Finally! This was October 2004. The pond changes with every season, and we could not be more pleased!
Thanks, and I hope that you enjoy, and are inspired to give it a try! We love having the pond and cannot imagine life without one!
Mel
Oh my goodness, it IS completed and looks fantastic. Congrats on a wonderful job. It looks like a park!
This is so impressive. I'm positive you have assisted many people who are making plans to build a pond. Not only was the pond a great undertaking but this thread was also.
Thank you so much.
Judy
Thank you. Yes, the pond was a big job, but the end result has been rewarding beyond our imagination. The pictues were not hard to load, as I had them organized from a winter project one year.... It was just waiting so late to put them online, I did not think about everything I would say, so if there is a step that is unclear, please let me know.
TxMel,
Wow! Beautiful job! I couldn't help admiring your soil in the the first few photos! So smooth....no huge rocks except where you want them... LOL:) In the photo you have of the water first being put in you show all these lovely river rocks lining the edge of the pond. I think you got those from my yard! :) Here's a photo of part of the garden, lined with rocks from the soil. Good thing we've got a fairly large property since we have rock piles in every possible hidden location! (hysterical laughter) Thanks for posting your inspiring pictures!
Wow, that is a real water wonderland you have created, I love the effect of the stream from the waterfall. What an accomplishment!
We have some issues to resolve this summer, but next summer we have plans to jump on board and build a big one... for now our little ponds will have to do. I'm certainly going to keep this thread as 'watched'.
Thanks again.
Judy
Pixy, you are so fortunate to have rocks at your disposal! We have to pay for rocks! A concept that my dad, who lives on what we always called "rocky acres" cannot understand.
Haighr, We do love our little oasis! I love watching the things in nature, and having running water just takes me away!
Judy, you will get it eventually, and I will have to leave mine, too, but we will build again!
Hi TxMel,
Yes, you are so right about the rocks! For the most part, I do appreciate them. But my back does not. And my hands do not. Believe it or not, people around here actually PAY for river rocks! Of course, then they get them all cleaned up and pretty, plus they're all around the same size. Still, if I didn't line the gardens with rocks, what would I do with them? Everyone who lives here has these rocks in the soil, dumped by the glaciers millions of years ago. The cool thing is, the close you get to Mt. Ranier, the bigger the rocks get.
Thanks, again for posting the pictures! Your pond is inspiring!
Pixydish
"Where did all the glaciers go??" " Back for more rocks."
Childhood joke when looking at river meadows full of LARGE rocks - the little-er ones we took for granite.?
TXMel, just took a tour to your pond. I must say it is simply terrific! Beautifully done!
Dinu
Thank you. We enjoy it every day!
mel
I love the quote I read yesterday...
Everybody needs a pond....................Some just don't know it yet!
TXMEL - Everybody needs a pond....................Some just don't know it yet!"
It isn't a quote, I just made it up ... you are welcome to use the words any way you like. You could use it as part of your signature i.e.
TXMEL and I believe "Everybody needs a pond, some just don't know it yet"
or is that too long??
Judy
OK, an update.... I realize that the pond has grown up a little.....!
Need to get up on the roof for a better view now... things have really grown!
melanie
these are truely impressive ponds but for most folks out of their price range or energy level. I have three ponds all approx 12'x18ft... one is more formal...I will send some pics if I get a chance. I hand dug them to about 40" in the deepest spots all two have small waterfalls the formal one has chinese spitting fish to recirculate the water. I used heavy duty rubber roofing material from a local roofer which is MUCH cheaper and stronger than what is sold most places for liners. I use a turbo twist uv sterilzer which after trying tetras for many years am really up on this product , I haghly recommend it ...it actually WORKS. My filter is an underwater system. I use to run a fountain all winter to protect my fish but have stopped ...also have used heaters but have stopped and have had NO fish kill even though long periods of froozen surfaces...so unless your pond is really shallow or you live in the tundra DON'T bother IMHO ...BTW also keep those edges almost staight up and down when digging ... my first pond had sloped sides and it is really dangerous getting in and out of so keep that in mind!!! ..David
Actually, our cost was about $2500. We did happen upon a great deal, and we are do it yourselfers... but there is a guy here that builds a great pond for $4500!
Straight sides are a must. I agree. No UV sterilizer here, only an external skimmer box, lava rock filtration and mother nature... all organic. To each his own.
Others, be careful of rubber roofing liner... not all are fish safe.
Everyone needs a pond....some just don't know it yet! =D
Oh and I might ad....DO NOT ever plant bamboo anywhere near your pond unless you have a 4' deep metal barier ( have loads of fun installing that!!!) ...we made that mistake and it penitrated right through our heavy duty rubber liner ...fortunatly toward the top of the main pond but it totally destroyed our waterfall and over time would have totally ruined our pond also ...It took over two seasons to completly irradicate it . YES it was beautiful ...really cool but the work to get it out before it desroyed the pond was HORRIFIC ... (clumping bamboo is ok )...I'm sure some have it but i will tell you you are tempting fate !!! BTW I NOW HATE BAMBOO...I WONDER WHY David
Melanie, I love your whole yard, getting to visit with you and seeing the pond in person was thrilling. Your DH really had vision and carried it through. Your plantings are so varied and natural, I hope to come back in the spring when other things will be in bloom. I promise you a tour of my pond and beds in the spring when the scars have healed where spirnklers went in. Thanks again!
Sheila
Thank you all! With all of the vegetation growing up, its so hard to get an overall view of it...
Sheila... I cannot wait to get to come see your pond! Please let me know when it is ready! I'll run right over!
Pixy, the trees are Texas Redbuds. We had hundreds of seedlings coming up our first year here, when we used mulch from a local tree trimmer guy...(all you can haul.... free). This was before we knew better....!
Anyway, we left a dozen or so of these seedlings grow to make a grove of trees, and have been very glad that we did it! They make a nice shady spot behind the waterfall to sit and enjoy the sound of water!
mel
