Pond Life

I have a pond in my backyard that runs about 12 feet long by 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep.

I started off knowing absolutely nothing about ponds and between myself, my husband, my children and the internet, we managed to figure out, in a trial and lots of error kind of way, just about everything the pond needed to be healthy and balanced. 

It's amazing how much we've learned, and in the process, developed even more respect for the complexites of Mother Nature.

For example: I learned that if the pond is in full sun, the surface of the water should be covered up to 50% by plants.  After purchasing the plants above, I learned that raccoons love to eat the bulbous parts :(

The pond goes from looking sterile and bare in the spring, to covered in moss, and flowers which continue to change throughout the seasons.

Sometimes it's what's around the pond that brings out a colour or shape

that went unnoticed until now.

My number #1 wish was that the pond would be a place for dragonflies to lay their eggs.  Of course the chance of that happening was slim because you can't exactly tell dragonflies what to do...

This year my wish came true and we are the proud (adoptive) parents of several dragonfly nymphs :)  Dragonflies live 2-3 years as nymphs underwater before they crawl up onto a plant, shed their skin and become the dragonflies we all love.  They live above-ground for just one season, during which they lay their eggs and eventually die.

We also have a few baby goldfish swimming around, 10 points if you can spot one in the photo below!