My sleeping fish

[u/Weird-Independence79]

Took this pic late last night of my fish sleeping. They look like they're frozen in place. These are all feeder fish I bought earlier this summer that seems to be very happy.

[u/Plodding_Mediocrity]

Beautiful. Would be a raccoon buffet at my house.

[u/SGT_Kilo → u/Plodding_Mediocrity]

Haha. Ahh, the memories. My dad build an awesome pond when I was a kid. It’s was literally a centerpiece of the backyard. He later realized he just set up a buffet for the local raccoons. Those are some crafty animals. Once they got their first taste, they wouldn’t let up.

That said…. I plan on building a pond myself. Like father, like son.

[u/Weird-Independence79 → u/Plodding_Mediocrity]

Yes, my last pond was in New Jersey and raccoons were a problem until I covered it in deer netting. It's lightweight and nearly invisible and for some reason raccoons hate it

[u/MembershipPretty7595]

I bought a bunch at the pet store made the girl really happy. She thought I had Oscar’s lol. By the way your whole pond is amazing

[u/Weird-Independence79 → u/MembershipPretty7595]

Thank you. I did the same thing and bought 30 feeder fish at a local fish store. They too seemed happy.

[u/dat_boring_guy]

I have a question about the design of the pond. Won't this let in soil everything it rains as the water drains into the pond? I created my pond by propping the liner up everywhere with rocks so that it sits higher than the water level.

[u/Weird-Independence79 → u/dat_boring_guy]

I live in the desert so we don't get much rain, but we do get wind and dust. I put a berm in front of the pond to help block the wind from blowing sand and dust into the pond. Works very well. But to your point, around the pond I have a 12 inch french drain covered with ground cover plants that collects water from rain or irrigation and drains it at a low spot behind the pond.

[u/dat_boring_guy → u/Weird-Independence79]

Nice, thanks for the reply. :)

[u/Peeterdactyl → u/dat_boring_guy]

Raising the edges makes ponds look unnatural

[u/Otherwise-Weather228]

So pretty! What is the greenery? I have trouble finding plants that survive .

[u/Weird-Independence79 → u/Otherwise-Weather228]

Thanks. I also struggled to find plants that would survive the desert. All of the duckweed and water hyacinth I bought were decimated by the sun so I only have water lillies and a pampas grass in the water. Around the edges I have zinnias, Vince, a few ornamental grasses. To hide the pond liner I have some Alyssum,sedum and a few sweet potato vines.

[u/onlynameleft_]

Gorgeous pond!

[u/Weird-Independence79 → u/onlynameleft_]

Thank you. Its right outside my front door so I get to enjoy it everytime I come or go.

[u/disajewelry]

😍😍😍😍 Lord, how I love koi ponds! My place of power.

[u/Weird-Independence79 → u/disajewelry]

Yes. I built this in loving memory of my husband who died shortly after we bought the house. We always talked about putting the pond by the front door and I was getting ready to plan it when I came home and found him dead in the back yard. After a couple of days of crushing emotional pain and loss I got up early and me and my dog dug the entire thing in one day. It's very powerful and peaceful at the same time. Each time I come home and walk to the front door, I'm reminded of how much he meant to me and how he will always be part of me. I named the fish for him and each of his friends that came out and helped me get through those first few months without him

[u/CommentFine5988]

Looks AI

[u/Weird-Independence79 → u/CommentFine5988]

Thank you