Every Deck Needs a Pond

If you're like most Americans, you probably have a deck, patio, or balcony where you can enjoy the great outdoors from the privacy of your own home. You kick your feet up in your Adirondack chair and enjoy the summer breeze blowing through your hair, but something's missing. All you see from your deck is an expanse of grass and a few trees, and what you hear are the neighbor's kids crying and their dog yapping. Your deck needs a view. And better yet, that view needs to replace irritating noises with melodic sounds. What I'm trying to say is ... your deck needs a pond!

The owners of this deck enjoy a view of a meandering stream that spills into a pond by their lower level patio. A wooden bridge invites you to sit a spell and dangle your toes in the water.

Aqua Terra: Home of The Pond Guy™

Aqua Terra is a private residence gracing the western fringe of the Chicago 'burbs, complete with a one-acre ecosystem pond . The proud and happy owner is Greg Wittstock (aka "The Pond Guy") founder and CEO of Aquascape, Inc. This amazing and expansive water feature showcases a variety of water gardening elements ... too many to post all at once. For now, enjoy the splendor of a just a few highlights of this captivating habitat.

An overhead view reveals the pathway encircling and dissecting the pond. The Pond Guy™ wants visitors to appreciate all views of his personal sanctuary (that's his dad getting ready to feed the fish from the deck).

Pink Waterlilies

Waterlilies are bursting from ponds across the country and today I'm honoring pink waterlilies in particular. July is National Water Gardening Month so if you've been tempted to grow some of these beauties but don't have a pond yet ... this month would be a great time to make your water garden wish come true.

So much beauty resides in this spectacular, aquatic plant. The emerging bud with its hint of pink surprise inside brings you back time and again to check on its bloom.

Pleasures of Pond Fish

Fish play an important role in the nitrogen cycle of an ecosystem pond. Not only do fish dine on algae, but they provide a beautiful flash of color as they glide in and out of waterlilies. Koi and other pond fish make great outdoor pets ... even learning to eat right out of your hand, if you're patient! When you have a water garden of your very own, you'll grow to love your fish as much as you love your cat or dog!

An Eskimo Kiss is shared over a trickle of fish food pellets. Fido might look like he's snarling, but he actually adores the fish and watches over them every chance he gets.

This beautiful butterfly koi is a prized possession named Marathon. Special thanks to its owner for the photo!

This ethereal, white koi is truly stunning against the cool, dark, watery backdrop.

This festive fellow shows off his feathery fins, dancing about in the cool waters, swishing his tail first one way, and then the other.

And this golden gal proudly flaunts the latest shade of lipstick.

Sometimes hard to spot in the water, Mr. Dark and Mysterious reveals intricate designs in his shimmering scales.

A window frames the perfect view of finned friends. This is a perfect indoor spot for a morning cup of coffee, delighting in the views of the backyard oasis.

You simply can't ignore this face! He may look like a Grumpus-Ala-Bumpus, but he's actually quite pleased in his pond.

Another black beauty skims the surface of the pond. They say not to name your fish, fearing you'll become too attached. But when you see their personality reflected in the water garden, how could you resist naming your finned friends?

How many koi do you have in your water garden, and have you named them?

White in the Water Garden

While everyone loves the pop of a pink lotus or violet waterlily, have you ever considered adding whimsical white to your water garden? White is actually the reflection of all colors and all wavelengths. If one of the colors is subtracted from white light, you see the complementary color. For example, if yellow is subtracted from white light, you see blue. Nature is so amazing ... and these white aquatic plants certainly prove that point!

A pair of white waterlilies rest atop a cool pond, one fully open and the other just awakening.