Ode to a Pond

Not a real duck!

Once upon a time, in a place called English Valley, there was a pond.  It was in a shady spot, just off the deck under a silver maple.  The water was clear and filled with goldfish...  (It was one of the reasons we fell in love with the house) Then, on the very first day at the house, a small boy went spear fishing for a goldfish and fell into the drink.  That is where my worries about the pond began.  That incident was over 20 years ago, but there was always some fear about the pond.

The pond was the focal point of a shade loving perennial garden, sheltered by a beautiful silver maple.  One day we woke up after a storm to find the silver maple split in half.  Half still standing, the other on the ground.

Just $900 later we had a full sun garden and no protection for the pond.

Every year I'd clear the muck out of the pond, (algae loves a sunny pond) and every few years change the liner.  It was a big job, requiring muscles and at least someone else to yell to if I ended up in the drink myself. Cleaning the pump, filling the pond after raccoons tipped over the fountain head and all the water ended up out of the pond was no fun.  It was hard work keeping it up. I'm not getting any younger and now we have a frequent little visitor who's safety is paramount.  So....

 This year the pond is no more.  After some thought and discussion with my dearest we decided to
drain the pond and fill it in.

 With my hubby's help we stacked the flagstone, pumped out the water, pulled the liner after dredging up 2 dozen rocks at the bottom... and the muck...

This is a time to be grateful that you cannot smell this photo, just awful!

Then to pull out the protective quilt batting that kept the liner from puncturing from rocks and roots.

Now all that's left is a deep hole needing to be filled.

My sons both sounded disappointed when I told them the news.  I know that Kris is relieved.  Still, it's going to be missed, the romantic notion of it.  Not the mucky reality.

We still have a water feature for the birds and for visiting children to fill their watering cans from.  After all, I do love the sound of running water in the garden, it is so soothing.  Now to get a load of topsoil, and some strong guys with a wheelbarrow!  I want to plant some Annabelle hydrangeas in this spot, since I have some that desperately need thinning.  We also need to use the flagstone somewhere in the garden, and a bunch of black river rocks.

I'll show you how it all turns out as things progress.  Thanks so much for stopping by and for all your kind comments.  Enjoy this beautiful day.