Been a bit preoccupied this week building a pond in my yard. I call it a synthetic pond because it really is after all a glorified aquarium without the full richness of a real pond. My pond is small, only about 4.5 foot by 6.0 foot and a maximum of 24" deep-enough depth for me to have water lilies. On Saturday, got the edging more or less done so yesterday was plant day. So I went down to the Water's Edge and spent about $100 on aquatic plants. I got some marginal plants including a pickerel "weed" and a dwarf lotus. I wanted one of the BIG lotus plants but they are are so big that one plant can fill my whole pond. Also I got a hardy water lilly and a couple of water hyacinth. Yes I know the latter will fill my pond in no time if I am not careful.Of course I needed some terrestrial plants and the next stop was Sunset Garden, where I got some sedums, and another porcupine grass. This is a nice yellow green grass with yellow horizontal striping, so the effect is similar to the pattern on a porcupine quill. That and some mint from my other garden is pretty much it. Oh I did buy a nice shrubby Willow with cool blue green foliage to soften things up a bit.
Having water even just a small pond as mine makes a big difference. The reflections in late afternoon are just magical. Already, I have found a diving beetle and have dragonflies mating. Probably next week I will add some fish, no Koi my pond is too small but perhaps I will go to the local bait shop and get some feeder goldfish just for looks and get some mosquito fish from the wetlands. Oh and maybe an otter and a manatee to keep the water hyacinth under control.
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6 comments:
Looks great, Paul. I used to have a butterfly shaped pond at a former home. It was beautiful and attracted frogs from the nearby woods (I added a waterfall and lights and they thought it was a singles bar!). I may do it again here some day after your dose of inspiration.
Paul,
I have visited your blog before by way of the KGB Carnival, but I'm actually commenting today because you were kind enough to weigh in on the ever-raging "pop vs. soda" controversy. My in-laws, who live in Topeka, have a large pond in their back yard: lots of koi and some catfish, some reeds, but no lillies. I get the sense from your post that they aren't hard to "plant." True?
Thanks again for visiting.
Paul,
First of all, thanks for coming by my blog and commenting on the ever-raging pop vs. soda controversy.
I assume lillies are easy to "plant"? My in-laws, I think, could use a few in their backyard pond in Topeka
Hi John,
Water lilies are easy to grow...at least the hardy ones are. If your in-laws get to Lawrence, have them check out Water's Edge. It's on 9th St and I think the link in my post has directions.
I imagine there is a pond plant store in Topeka as well but I have never looked.
Since they have a large pond from the sounds of it they might be tempted by the big lotus plants. :-)
Gorgeous work there. Yes, the manatee would feel right at home :)
Having grown up a "city girl," I am thrilled to be a short walk from a pond that right now is teeming with dragon- & damselflies, polliwogs (and the songs of adult amphibians by night), and various visiting birds. Enjoy your haven!
Thanks Elissa,
I am already plotting an expansion, I larger pond...maybe twice as large and deeper on average that could better hold some fish and serve as a base pond for a small stream connecting with my current pond.
But of course that necssitates power and a pump. For now I will stick with bait shop fish.
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