New Kid in the Backyard!

You want to build a water garden in your backyard.  You've been looking online, and in ponding magazines, and it just seems a bit more difficult than you'd like.  Not to mention expensive!  Those UV filters, bio-filters, pumps, drains, valves, backup systems...  Not to mention the maintenance work involved!  Draining out the pond every year and scrubbing out all the muck, doing partial water changes every few weeks during the summer, testing the ammonia and the pH....  I know, your back hurts already, right?  Well, the first thing I have to say here is that there is more than one way to skin a cat.  And this blog is about MY way.  I will never say my way is better than any other way.  But I will say that my way does work, and it's cheap.  Disclaimer said...

All you need to build a pond in your backyard is a shovel to dig the hole, plastic lining to keep the water from draining out, and... well, that's it really.  For a start at least.  (Although you know you're gonna want to add some fish and plants!)  So to start, you need to find a place.  Things to consider might be:  is it a spot where you can dig and not hit tree roots, utilities or too many rocks?  Is it a spot where all the autumn leaves and pinecones will 'drop in'?  Is it sunny?  Is it in a spot that you'd like to sit?  Flat? Hilly?  Yeah, lots of things to consider.  Let's examine a few...

Utilities.  Check.  No give and take there!  Call your company to do a survey prior to digging anything!  Tree roots?  Can't do much about that either.  If you have tree roots in the area you want, you're pretty much relegated to an above ground pond.  Leaves, acorns and pinecones will make quite a mess in the fall, which you will have to get out of the water.  Shady area?  Not an issue unless you are set on having flowering plants; most of these require a lot of sun to bloom.  Flat vs sloped area:  flat is much easier to work with, a slope is required if you want to add a stream.  Is it in a spot where you'd like to be?  Ah, now THAT's the key question!  If you don't 'like' the area, then it's the wrong area.  You really do have to be able to enjoy your location.  And only you can balance all these considerations, to determine your best location.  Most anything else can be dealt with. 

Next question is:  how big should it be?  As ANY ponder and they WILL tell you, make it as big as you possibly can!  Because when that ponding bug sinks in, you will wish you'd made it larger!  This is a scientifically proven fact,  sorry.  So pick your place, sit there a while and 'pond'er.  Once you've decided, start the digging.  Then when you need a break, come back to see what's next!

Happy pondering!!

Fairy Garden

A while back I decided that my next water garden would be done with a mythical magical theme.  Last year I bought a really neat dragon head, that will fit perfectly with this theme.  And just recently, I've been seeing some awesomely cute fairy garden pics on Pinterest.  And I've always wanted a fairy door, that you put against the base of a tree.  Today, looking up fairy gardens and seeing all the miniature items available, it hit me.  I'll do this fairy garden that I want, in the water garden!  I'll tuck a small teeny door somewhere amongst the rocks.  I'll even get a teeny rowboat and anchor it to a rock.  Then there's things like tea tables and chairs, all sorts of things!  I'll make a few fairy areas, but tuck them away so they aren't immediately visible.  After all, what self respecting fairy wants to be on display?  And in case you don't realize, these items are teeny - the door I want is only 3" tall!  I'm pretty excited about this, and this pond WILL materialize this year!  Besides the fairy theme going on underneath everything, I'd love to have dragons and wizards and such, just not sure how.  And I'd love to have a pond fogger to set the mood!  I guess we'll just have to see how it goes!  Stay tuned!!

You never forget your first....

This is a view of my very first pond.  I planned for a long time, then one day just went outside with a shovel and started digging that hard Missouri clay!  Took me about 2 weeks, early morning till late most nights.  I made many mistakes, most of them I realized ahead of time, and went forward anyway.  All in all, I loved the pond.  Spent many many hours out there, just relaxing on the lawn swing and watching all the life in and around the garden.  You never forget your first...