The pond.....

Several years ago, long before we moved to Tulsa, we lived in Joplin, Missouri. We had a great house with a fabulous backyard and a 3000 gallon Koi Pond. Time would be spent watching the fish and life in general around the pond, seeing changes daily in the fish personalities and growth of the plants. After being here in Tulsa for 13 years I decided to change our ski sloped backyard into something other than a pain to mow, landscape of nothing. I extended the patio from our "old deck" to the East eliminating the top part of the hill and also adding an area to use for portrait sessions. From that a deck was added with another just below it adding more portrait area and eliminating more of the downhill slide. That left the old deck to the west, with a wide gap between the old and the new decks. It was obvious......we needed a new Koi pond.

The digging started down the slope, size was generally determined by what looked appropriate for the area, and after a few revisions the pond was built with a 1000 gallons or more water. Seven fish were acquired and promptly named, then there was a population explosion...............we had 45 or more babies. They have grown from quarter inch fish into three to four inches long and are growing more everyday. The colors are fabulous, each one seems to have habits unique to themselves. Fiver rules the cave under the falls while Phantom, our oldest fish, darts through the depths showing himself occasionally. His tail is half of his length and coloring subtle but amazing in the sun. Peachy is basically white/silver but gaining orange pin striping on her fins. Cali swims through the whole pool just eating anything she can get following Goldas' lead. Golda is soon to be enrolled in weight watchers.......she is huge. Nancy is a bright orange and swims in unison with Peachy throughout the pond. Co, Cali's sibling is almost identical to her sister....both calico in appearance.

The pond supports several lilies and other assorted plants which are just starting to bloom. The habitat seems to be balanced in PH and the water

fall adds the necessary action to keep the water moving which eliminates the growth of mosquitoes. All in all it was a good move...I didn't realize how much we missed it.