My Koi Pond in the Backyard
Today is the last day of August and I realize I haven’t shared much of my koi pond this year. That’s probably because I’ve spent so much time enjoying it as opposed to photographing it. Plus I always feel like photos just don’t do it justice.
We’ve been going through a bit of drought here which means we’ve had to water the garden – a lot. Expect for the aquatic plants like the waterlilies and marginals. No watering needed so they’re much less maintenance than terrestrial plants. This purple hardy waterlily is called Violicious. It comes back every year.
And this large soft pink beauty is Madam Wilfred Gonere. She comes back every year, too.
There’s a saying in the pond community which goes, “If you build it, they will come.” And sure enough, the critters do come! Frogs, dragonflies …
I love the frogs in the spring when they start singing during mating season. It’s a wonderful melody although sometimes they get pretty loud.
Another visitor to our pond this summer was a baby snapping turtle. Actually, he’s a transplant. Hubby found him all alone on the cart path at the golf course. If he sticks around and gets bigger, I’ll take him to work. We have a “turtletopia” for rescue turtles.
Every koi pond needs koi, right? I have four of them. This guy – a shusui koi who loves to eat, the smaller orange one behind him, and two beautiful butterfly koi that I haven’t photographed yet. I also have two golden orfes that are bright orange and a couple of shubunkins. I can tell this koi is male because his body is torpedo shaped. Females are more rounded (go figure).
Another aquatic plant is water hyacinth that floats atop the water. Its roots dangle in the water soaking up nutrients in the koi pond while it produces beautiful light purple flowers. Water plants compete with algae for nutrients so it’s always good to have them in your pond to keep algae to a minimum.
You might have forget-me-nots in your garden, but did you know there’s an aquatic version of this old-fashioned charmer?
I can’t tell you how much of a stress-reliever my koi pond has been for me. The moment I step into the backyard I feel more relaxed and serene. Especially during our pandemic, it’s been a bright spot in a challenging time.
I love spending time at home out here, listening to the waterfall, watching the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, spotting new frogs on lilypads, and watching the golden orfes chase each other around the pond.
I hope you enjoyed seeing my pond again, but it really needs to be seen in person to get the full effect.
Pond installed by Aquascape Construction
Products and inspiration by Aquascape, Inc.
Find a Certified Aquascape Contractor in your area!
Here’s a short video of my koi pond at night with the underwater lights on!
See More of My Koi Pond:
My Backyard Transformation with a Garden Pond
Easy Outdoor Fall Decorating with Mums
The Beauty and Serenity of a Backyard Pond
Garden Pond Tour: My Favorite Outdoor Space
We love our Koi pond…getting a lot of love this season with being home so much…..lovely area!
It’s just the best, isn’t it? I always feel so blessed when I enjoy it. I’m glad you have a special place to relax and unwind!
Gorgeous .We love our koi pond too,but our koi’s rip the waterlilies apart.
And I love them especially the white ones.
I had water hyacinths in my pond in NC but they are illegal in Florida where I live now They were so beautiful and kept the algae away..
Hi Irma – water hyacinths can get pretty aggressive. I just keep thinning mine out. I put one in a Patio Pond on my deck and now it’s full of them. LOL. But still, the flowers are so pretty so I don’t mind.
Stunning! It’s like enjoying a mini vacation every time you step into this little spot of paradise! Enjoy!
Linda, you’re right! It’s totally like having your own vacation spot. It’s such a blessing.
Jennifer, that pond is gorgeous. The lilies are so beautiful they look artificial. You have a piece of heaven out your backdoor.
Thanks, Miche! The waterlilies amaze me every year. They always look happy and healthy!
Your pond looks so inviting! The pictures even made me feel calm I can’t imagine being there in person. Simply lovely! The pond flowers are stunning! I simple adore frogs and turtles such interesting little fellows. The beautiful colors of the koi truly magnificent. Thank you so much for sharing your pond.
Thanks Vicki! I always wonder what I’m going to see when I go out to the pond. A new bloom, a new critter, there’s always something!
Your pond is really filling out nicely since last year and i can just imagine how much you enjoy it. Thanks for sharing,
Hi Marlene! I looked at pics from the first year and now it feels like a jungle. LOL. I do need to move one of my fig plants that’s becoming like the plant from Little Shop of Horrors. I was skeptical of the figs coming back every year in our garden zone but they sure are healthy!
How beautiful! I would love the sound of the frogs. I grew up on a farm in Missouri and to the sound of tree frogs at night. I sometimes do vignettes and faux floral arrangements in the summer using lily pads and flowers so now I have some realistic images to consult and will keep this handy…also so I can view and listen to the video. Thanks!
Hi Teddee! Your floral arrangements sound so pretty! Have you ever included a lotus pod?
Love seeing your pond again! I’m sure you enjoy it so much after your long snowy winters.
Hi Pat! I sure do enjoy it after the winter and I dread having the snow and ice come and I won’t be able to see my fish for a couple of months. I do keep the waterfall running but it’s just not the same. 🙁
So beautiful! Love that baby turtle. So cute!
Thanks Lynda! He’s cute now but he could get really big pretty quickly! LOL. At least I have a future home for him when that happens.
Everything was so beautiful, I can understand wanting to just sit relax and enjoy all that it has to offer.
You’re so right, Kim Anne. I feel like everyone should have a pond so they can experience it first-hand. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your beautiful pond Jennifer. It’s lovely. What a blessing from God for you and your family.
What happens to the koi in the winter?
Christine
New Hampshire
Hi Christine! Good question. The koi go dormant in winter. The pond needs to be at least two-feet deep for them to survive. They hang out at the very bottom of the pond and almost appear lifeless. You need to keep a hole in the surface of the ice for the exchange of gas. I keep my waterfall running all winter to keep a hole in the ice but if it gets really cold, I can add an aerator or de-icer to keep a hole open. It’s so much fun to see the koi swimming in spring after months of not seeing them!
Your pond is so beautiful! I’ve been enjoying mine as well. We also have frogs but no turtles. We’ve always had a ton of dragonflies but I don’t think they liked it this year as we kept netting over the pond and pond grasses to keep the herons away as they kept coming by. The dragonflies used to spend a lot of time on and in the grasses so I think it deterred some or kept them from breeding more…not sure. Only saw a few though. Next year I must get some more plants as we only had one lily left and our koi ruined it during the several spawnings they did lol. I love your water lilies and hyacinth. So pretty. I will miss seeing my fish in a couple of months when they go deep to hibernate for the winter.