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Story of the pond construction with links to pics
The Original Site
http://the-freshwater-aquarium.googl...nt5s2d8g&hl=en When we first landscaped this part of the garden the plan was always to add a pond. However, we hit the soakaway concrete and as we were working to a dead-line (a party for my daughter’s 1st birthday) we decided to compromise and just add a water feature consisting of a waterfall going onto cobbles and into a reservoir. The whole thing was powered by a Hozelock Titan 3000 and worked pretty well. As for the pond, at this point I still had my pond at the top of the garden so although not entirely happy thought it wasn’t to be. After the first year or so the water feature developed a leak. This meant that if we ran it we also had to have a hose pipe going into the reservoir almost continuously which rather spoilt the effect. I tried a couple of times to fix it but with limited success. So I decided that I needed to tear it apart and have a serious go at finding the leak…..then I thought….if I’m pulling it apart maybe I should build a small pond…..5ft by 3ft perhaps…..hmmmmmm……I procrastinated and ran the idea past hubby, who agreed to it…..then I thought that the clay soil would get too hard to dig this year (serious digging normally stops as the clay becomes rock solid by around May)….then the rain came down…..the soil was still soft enough to dig…so the beginning of June we started. The size of the thing started to grow – it is now 3m at longest and 2.5m longest width…..then the rains came down again….and again….and again…..and again….so all work on the pond had to stop…..even when the weather was dry the ground was so sodden that the weight of the soil made it almost impossible to dig……We did hit the soakaway and had to get a pneumatic breaker to go through the concrete….we then had to repair the pipe work……Holidays then kicked in but when I got home I was determined that this darned thing was going to get finished…and then…..we got our summer at last and I have been working on it again for around a week (sorry no photos of the mud hole – too depressing at the time to take any)….. By this Sunday the pond was just about ready to be lined…..part of the problem was building up the sides as the garden slopes toward the house….we hit on the idea of creating a framework for part of it – hence the even rectangular shape of part of the pond……I’ve worked on it steadily all week and although it still has some way to go I thought I would post some pics of it as it is now. Rectangular bit of Pond http://the-freshwater-aquarium.googl...TueHy g&hl=en This is where we had to do the wooden framework…..part of the problem was building up the edges with soil around the bamboo clump…..the framework should also help with stopping any side shoots (not that I’ve had many in the 5 years since the stuff was planted). This is the deepest part of the pond at approx 2ft 6” deep. I’ve made an iris bog garden at the end to discourage anyone from wandering in at that end. The deck side will be dealt with by fencing – probably a clear, acrylic structure which allows a clear view of the water (and the panels can be removed for maintenance) but I need to research the cost of this. The liner will be fixed in place with another layer of decking board which will also protect the pond against any detergents etc. used to clean the windows of the house or the decking itself (sealed with a fish friendly sealant to prevent leaks). I haven’t taken the water up to it’s highest level yet…..mainly to allow for settling and also because we have heavy rain forecast for next Monday. http://the-freshwater-aquarium.googl...C4y1O_Xw&hl=en From this view the pond looks like a plain rectangle…..at each end there is a bog garden with Yellow irises – at the end closest to the shot I have also planted some blue flag irises (?) in dry soil donated by my neighbour who was splitting a large clump and didn’t want to throw them away. The bog gardens are mulched with pea gravel…..I’ve already tried this in the past and have not found it has restricted growth (the irises in both bog gardens come from 5 small plants I bought 5 years ago). The seat you can see is one of two…there is also a park bench in there…..this is one of my favourite places to sit (I have many depending on my mood and whether I want to look at the cottage garden or the more structured one)……now I have the pond in place I rather fancy it may become the real fave….the green cylinder thing is the patio heater…. The Fence end of the pond http://the-freshwater-aquarium.googl...T83IhPZA&hl=en The area that is still just plain liner is where the return pipe from the filter will be. We have some very large pieces of slate rock that we are going to build into a kind of waterfall (just a drop of around 6” or so). These will go there. To the right of the pic is the second bog iris planting. I’m still to finish off the rockwork on the curve – it will depend on how things work out with the large rocks or whether I decide to just cobble it…..the pond has a gradual slope up to the curve to allow for animals and children (or indeed any adults) an easy escape route if they fall in. Pic of the full width of the pond http://the-freshwater-aquarium.googl...i5EdEex4&hl=en In fact, this would have been the original size if it hadn’t grown like these things do……in fact it wasn’t supposed to go up to the edge of the deck at all. The rocks in the foreground are the rocks that will be used for the return area. Almost a full view but not quite http://the-freshwater-aquarium.googl...KHyRk Q&hl=en Speaks for itself really when taken in conjunction with the above pics…..BTW the cat picked on the planter with the grass as his favourite sunbathing spot this year hence one is dead and the other is flattened – lol Sorry for the length of the post……I will post more pics once finished…….I got the filter today (credit card groans)……I still am not certain of the volume but it is circa 2000L (around 500 IMP gall) but this is a low estimate……It’s a Laguna ClearFlo with integrated UV……man in LFS was a good salesman because I was going to go for the cheaper Hozelock filter….. Gill |
#2
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Story of the pond construction with links to pics
Duly impressive! Thanks for the pics. You have done a LOT of work.
Is that an hyacinth we see with the lily? Fish??? Jim and Phyllis |
#3
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Story of the pond construction with links to pics
Phyllis and Jim wrote:
Duly impressive! Thanks for the pics. You have done a LOT of work. Thanks....my back thinks that as well :-) Is that an hyacinth we see with the lily? I think so....I threw three of them in. Not sure if they will survive the winter. I guess I'll have to bring them in if we have any cold snaps forecast. Fish??? Not yet. Although extremely tempting I think it would be better for the fish if I wait until the spring. Mainly because of not putting them through the stress of being introduced to a new pond (and possible cycling) and then expecting them to survive the winter. The pond is too small for Koi so I'm going with Shubunkins - they have some very pretty ones on sale around here. Jim and Phyllis Gill |
#4
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Story of the pond construction with links to pics
Phyllis and Jim wrote:
Duly impressive! Thanks for the pics. You have done a LOT of work. I agree, and I love the clumping bamboo (I think you told us that was the plant you were working around?) It really adds a nice feel for it. Looking forward to more pics, hopefully bigger. ;-) ~ jan ------------ Zone 7a, SE Washington State Ponds: www.jjspond.us |
#5
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Story of the pond construction with links to pics
~ jan wrote:
Phyllis and Jim wrote: Duly impressive! Thanks for the pics. You have done a LOT of work. I agree, and I love the clumping bamboo (I think you told us that was the plant you were working around?) It really adds a nice feel for it. Looking forward to more pics, hopefully bigger. ;-) ~ jan ------------ Zone 7a, SE Washington State Ponds: www.jjspond.us Thanks :-) Yep, those are the two bamboo clumps I had to work around (there is a third but it didn't get in the way). The bamboo looks fantastic when it is reflected on the water. I've made a bit more progress and the pump/filter is now running - the movement seems to discourage the Mozzies (already got bites). Just got one more area of rockwork to complete and then it is ready and will have to sit until the spring when I can buy more plants and get some fish. Its raining again so I'm not sure when I can get outside next. Gill PS I've got larger versions of the pics which I can mail you if you are interested |
#6
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Story of the pond construction with links to pics
On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:12:01 CST, Gill Passman
wrote: PS I've got larger versions of the pics which I can mail you if you are interested Very interested, do send. ~ jan ------------ Zone 7a, SE Washington State Ponds: www.jjspond.us |
#7
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Story of the pond construction with links to pics
Gill,
Do you have access to gambusia (mosquito fish)? They would winter and would take care of the mosquitos. I don't remember seeing any when we were in Cambridge for my sabbatical. Alternately, Rosy Reds (Flathead minnows) would do the job. Over here, Rosy Reds are sold for aquaria. Their cousins, regular flathead minnows, are used in ponds. Jim |
#8
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Story of the pond construction with links to pics
Phyllis and Jim wrote:
Gill, Do you have access to gambusia (mosquito fish)? They would winter and would take care of the mosquitos. I don't remember seeing any when we were in Cambridge for my sabbatical. Alternately, Rosy Reds (Flathead minnows) would do the job. Over here, Rosy Reds are sold for aquaria. Their cousins, regular flathead minnows, are used in ponds. Jim I've never seen any on sale but I'll take a more careful look next time I'm fish shopping. Thanks Gill |
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