Backyard Oasis: From Drab to Fab

This backyard oasis located just west of Chicago had a patchy lawn that was an eyesore for the homeowners when dining and relaxing on their cozy deck. The space was transformed into a beautiful water garden with a playful stream and lush plantings.

This before photo shows the patchy lawn that was simply wasted space.

The Magic of Kid-Friendly Ponds

Innocent eyes grow wide with wonder at the sight of a backyard pond. So much to explore as tiny fingers dip into the water in hopes of petting the golden fish gliding by. A nearby frog plops into the pond amidst squeals of delight. A water garden hypnotically draws a wee one to its shore for hours of exploration and fun. Truly, what child can resist the call of Mother Nature?

No one can resist the urge to feed a few hungry fish. Imagine this little boy's delight when the fish come up out of the water ... it's like a scene from Disney!

Nightscaping the Pond

Winter always seems to allow more time for sleeping and dreaming, and what I like to dream about most on wintry days ... is summery outdoor enjoyment! There's nothing quite as magical as being outside on a summer evening when the crickets are chirping, citronella candles are flickering, and the melodious sound of a waterfall is playing in the background. Rather than write about special summer evenings by the pond, I decided to share a few of my favorite photos that illustrate the beauty of landscape lighting. Energy efficient LED lights from Aquascape were used in these photos. Enjoy!

Landscape lighting is reflected in the pond.

Winterizing Your Pond

Putting your pond to bed for winter doesn’t need to be an arduous process. Sure, it’s sad to say goodbye to your finned friends for a few months, but following a few simple tips will ensure that your fish joyfully greet you again in the spring.

Remove leaves and debris
Putting a pond net over your water feature before leaves start falling from trees is the easiest way to contain and manage leaf control. Once all the leaves have fallen, simply roll up the net, discard the leaves, and put the net away until the next time it’s needed.

If you didn’t install netting, you’ll probably have a build up of leaves and debris that need to be removed. A long-handled pond net makes an easy job of scooping the debris from the bottom of the pond. If you leave the debris on the bottom of the pond, you’ll be creating a bigger mess to face in the spring.

It's Not Cool to Have a Hot Pond

Your pond doesn’t need to reach the boiling point or feel too hot to you in order to cause stress or irreparable harm to your pond life. In fact, the temperature might feel darn pleasurable to you as you dip your toes into it after a long day of work. Once the water temperature rises above 80 Fº, you may have problems. Your fish might appear stressed out, gasping for air close to the water’s surface or especially close to a fountain or waterfall.

Warm water has a low capacity for holding oxygen, while cooler water can hold gigantic amounts of oxygen. Warm water and increased activity go hand and hand, and that increased activity means the fish require more oxygen when less oxygen is available, thus creating a vicious cycle. Stressed fish often begin to develop diseases, and soon enough you’ll have a domino effect.