Pond Year One

The pond has come so far in one year!

It started with excavating years of mud and weeds and ivy:

The moss and ferns I added around the pond stayed nice and green all winter, but to survive the summer months I decided to install misters:

Later in March I went to the Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers with my friend Andie and was greatly inspired by the water gardens there. I love the planter boxes of “moss islands,” and the ferns and moss growing on the vertical walls of a pond.

I decided to disassemble the rock pile I’d created in the middle of my pond that supported some pond plants, and instead I used a raised planting beds on legs and some urn-shaped planters to create my own moss islands. I also added a vertical moss garden to the back wall of the pond.

Finally I felt ready to add a few fish! I have some minnows - rosy reds and “mosquito fish” and a handful of small to medium goldfish.

The goldfish mainly hide under the “islands”, but slowly they are becoming more brave.

Such a huge change from a year ago!