Poll: Why Do You Own a Pond?

[koikeepr]

You can select multiple answers on this one or give us you own response.

[koikeepr]

For me, the first reason is really the only reason. I consider it a personal oasis that I don't necessarily need to share it with anyone in my circle. In fact, I prefer to sit there alone and when folks are around me when I'm at the pond, I don't find it relaxing. I think it does make the yard look nice, but I bet it will be a liability whenever it comes to selling the house, as most folks probably don't want to care for a 5000g fish bowl. I care and worry about my fish as they were a beloved family dog or cat, which most folks can't seem to understand. I go to the window every morning to look at 'em to make sure they are all all right and that nothing is amiss. I got out to the pond several times a day to ensure they are all okay. I don't think I check on my kids that much.:giggle:

It's also my most favorite place to have a glass of wine every night after dinner as the sun is going down. Who needs to escape somewhere else--I've got a magical place right here at home. :wine:

[addy1]

I used to work 1 full time job and 1 almost full time job and was on call for years, to support husband. I love being outside, love the exercise, enjoy the challenge. Now decided to convert whatever grass remains to plants on the inside area of our first fence!, next year.

[ponderpaul]

:iagree:dido to koikeeper!
Just you and God and the fish for a few moments every morning and every evening - makes the whole day a little easier. You will have to find God for yourself, but I will share my fish with you. (just don't take them out of the pond)

<a href="http://s744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/ponderpaul/?action=view&current=feedingtime2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/ponderpaul/feedingtime2.jpg" border="0" alt="feeding time"></a>

Is there a better reason for a pond?

[koikeepr]

Gorgeous PPaul! That's exactly right. It's amazing the effort we go through for those few minutes....but there is something so calming and serene that it is worth the effort.

[Meganne]

I had a friend who would come over, sit and visit while I dug dirt, hauled rocks, mixed mortor ect.
One day she casually mentioned that therapy would be easier.

yes, but it wouldn't be as satisfying :big smile:

[koikeepr]

It's so true. That hard work certainly does make one sleep very deeply that night.

[Meganne]

and of course there are the perks....
http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz59/Meganne_photos/lily%20pond/IMG_7758-1.jpg

[Kntry]

I don't even know where to start. I've had fish since I was in diapers. I didn't realize you could have a pond until I went with a friend to take care of a customer's pets. I went home and started digging that day. LOL I haven't stopped since and that was 21 years ago.

I would rather share the evening with DH at the pond but he's not that interested. He'll come out once in a while but not often.

I love every aspect of having a pond. I love sitting down for months with graph paper and drawing out a new pond to build, building the filtration, caring for the water, caring for the fish, learning everything I can about the water chemistry and fish, helping friends and strangers, landscaping, trying to improve the design of the pond and filtration, picking fish that have a long way to go before finishing just to see if I can get them "there", but most of all I love the dearest friends that I've made through this hobby. Some of my fish friends are closer than my real life friends.

I always have to have a major project going so if I FINALLY get something finished the way I want it (I'm a perfectionist so it's never totally right!), I find something else that has to be tweaked which naturally becomes a major project!

I'm happiest when I'm covered in fish poop and sweat after working on the pond/landscape for 10 hours in the 90F Louisiana humidity!

And yes, my friends and family think I'm totally nuts. My oldest son says I'm "Eat up with it". But "IT" is the best therapy I could ever have.

[Peppy]

All of the above and...

...I've always loved fish. I never dreamed in my wildest dreams as a child that I could and would have a large (to me) body of water in my yard full of large, colorful and beautiful fish. It really is incredible when you think about it. Yes, magical is the perfect word. The colors! In our own yards! And the size of the fish! I'm still blown away by it.

I too look at them all day. Every dang time I go upstairs or come downstairs, I walk into my son's bedroom and look out the window at the pond. If he's in there sleeping or something, I can't look out the window! :hissyfit:

I've wondered lately why I seem to be busier now than when the kids were growing up. I just realized it's the amount of time I spend admiring the fish that's consuming my days. Man, I really lose track of time down there. It's obscene.

[Meganne]

we couldn't afford to live on the water so I had it piped in .... least that is what I say when company gets that glassy eyed look of disbelief when they first see the ponds.

[3qtkidz]

I have a pond because we had an area that was a weed bed and I always had my eye on a little black pond at home depot. So, Mother's Day was around the corner and I made that my gift. But, got a 2000 gallon pond instead.
I love sitting out there in the evening by the pool and listen to the waterfall of the pond. I still have some kinks to work out but I still enjoy watching the fish grow and play around. I do love animals so I can just add this too my other "babies".

[Will]

I use it as advertising for my landscape design service. At least, that's what the IRS thinks. Know how great it is to have a tax deductible dream? Doesn't hurt business either, I'd have to say. Mostly, though, the money I dump into my obsession all the time comes back to me. Best idea I've had in a while.

[cliffandjoann]

I don't think we own a pond, but rather the pond owns us, really. :yes:

"We have discovered that a pond is never completed. It is blanketed in its own aura,

thrives on a life force of its own, and amazingly it continually surprises you with

its constant changes, however subtle or impressive they may be." Joann 5/2001

[Carolinagirl]

My first pond was a 1200 gallon water garden. We had just finished building our second house and there was a spot in the front flower bed that needed a dump truck load of dirt. I decided rather than to fill it, I'd stick a liner in there and make a gold fish pond. It was very pretty! I went to a flower show at a farmers market one spring and there was this guy there selling these pretty things he called koi. So I bought a few. When we moved to the new house, the fish went with me and lived in a swimming pool until I could get something built for them. I still really didn't know what koi were capable of becoming until I went to the charlotte koi show in November 2004. I went home and started planning a pond for them.

I love every aspect of keeping koi. I love the pond design part, the construction, keeping the water balanced, watching the fish mature and change, searching for the perfect (and affordable) fish, all of it. I love sitting by the pond just watching them swim and beg for food. And my grandson (he is 3) loves to feed the fish too, which makes me really happy.

[NancyM]

Ever since I got my first goldfish at the age of 8, I've been fascinated by the aquatic world. As my tastes in fish changed, going from the original comets in a bowl to tropical fish in a larger aquarium, then to Oranda goldfish, and then back to tropicals again, I eventually started noticing those black preforms at the garden center and thinking how wonderful it would be to have one of those with some goldfish in it. So I started saving my money, a little here a little there, but by the time I had saved enough for a preform, I had discovered those beautiful swimming jewels called koi. So I had to save some more to buy a liner and all the equipment necessary to create an environment large enough for them. Took me years to save enough, but here I am with a pond full of fish and an enjoyable eco system.

For me, the answer to the poll was multiple answers. The pond gives me so much enjoyment, but mainly its the fish that my eyes are drawn to each and every time I go out. I love how they see me come out of the house and swim over to greet me, following me along the edge hoping for a handout, and when I'm working along the edge, resetting edging stones or thinning out plants, they're right there under me, watching, sometimes nibbling at my hands. They're wonderful pets.