Once the Upper Pool was turned into a gravel garden, Mark could seriously begin work on deconstructing the big pond. It was a complex project that was made easier by the fact that Mark designed the pond himself and was an integral part of the construction team. Here is a brief description of how the pond was built, which will make it easier to understand how Mark took it apart this summer.
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Mark did numerous drawings for himself and also to explain to me how everything would work when we originally built the pond. The first two images picture the slope behind the pond with the rocks, pond wall and "shelves" for water plants. (Double click to enlarge images).
This is the view from above with the pond wall, boulders, the shallow pebble beach (at the bottom of the drawing) and the shelves where we set potted water plants like lilies.
In order for the John Deere trackhoe to make it into the back garden, Mark took down a 40-year-old Arborvitae tree. Its matching partner is still growing at the other end of our house. This was a huge project in itself and much more work than I think Mark anticipated.
The equipment just fit between our house and our neighbor's fence to the left.
Here we are at the end of the first day standing in the rough hole which will become the pond. We were so freaked at the mess and so nervous about the whole project we went out to dinner so we didn't have to look at this view. I told Mark if we decided we'd made a big mistake, it was only a hole in the ground and we could always fill it back up. Obviously that's exactly what we're doing — 24 years later!
Large boulders have been set on the hill and the retaining wall has been started. The cement blocks are being used to built the pond retaining wall. The big pile of them are at the foot of what will be the stream to the upper pool. The wheelbarrow is standing on the first "shelf" layer.
It was a very rainy summer which kept putting us behind schedule waiting for the pond to dry out.
We sodded the hills to control erosion during the rainstorms and put down wood chips on the path between them. At this point, the pond has been lined with two different colors of old carpet to protect the rubber liner from being punctured by tree roots.
The pond was double-lined with EPDM roofing rubber. Mark talked to an engineer at the production company to be sure it was fish safe. The roll of rubber weighed over 500 pounds and took 14 friends, relatives and neighbors to lift it and spread it in place.
Setting the big rocks inside the pond.
An early photo of the finished pond and early plantings.
A view from a year or two ago before I started replanting the hills with native Carex pennsylvanica to replace the weedy dying grass that had been shaded out over the years.
We eventually gave up on having fish as they drew raccoons to the pond and the raccoons, in turn, tended to mess with the potted water plants.
The real losers in our redesign project are Fred and Ethel. They — or their progeny — have come to the pond every spring since 1998. They usually were gone by the 4th of July, but they were an annual treat for us. We loved their antics in and out of the water. When they arrived on March 21st this year, we told them about our plans, but I don't think they believed we were serious.
We're very happy with our big change in the garden, but we will miss this duo.
ah, I was wondering about Fred and Ethel; perhaps they will visit the new water feature for old times sake.
ceci
Posted by: ceci | Friday, October 08, 2021 at 06:59 AM
CECI — We've seen Fred and Ethel land on an opening in the mostly frozen pond that was about the size of the new water feature. But somehow I don't think they'll chance it.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Friday, October 08, 2021 at 07:45 AM
This was so interesting and also quite awe inspiring - what a huge project to construct. The interesting thing is that your pond seemed much bigger to me over these many years that I have been following you. That's probably due to the variety of plantings that you have and the great over all design.
Posted by: Barbara H. | Friday, October 08, 2021 at 08:30 AM
On sunny fall days I sometimes think back to the fall we put in our patio, 2007. Just 14 years ago but in some ways it feels like a lifetime. Andrew likes to say he's glad he did it when he was young, as each paver weighs 90 pounds. Seeing that photo of your friends and neighbors with the pond liner had me thinking about that. Mark's drawings are works of art!
Posted by: danger garden | Friday, October 08, 2021 at 11:43 AM
What an incredible effort, Linda! Before the persistent drought here convinced me that adding a pond would be a mistake, I think this post would have made me wary of the effort involved by itself. It looks even more difficult than putting in a swimming pool. I'll miss Fred and Ethel and I hope they find another water source nearby that fits their needs.
Posted by: Kris P | Friday, October 08, 2021 at 12:52 PM
BARBARA — Compared to the size of ponds in most home gardens, it is big: 20' x 30' with 30' of stream connecting the big pond to the upper pool.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Saturday, October 09, 2021 at 09:50 AM
LORI — I am amazed at how much Mark accomplished on his own on the pond this summer; all without getting hurt. He never starts a project without rough drawings at the very least.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Saturday, October 09, 2021 at 09:53 AM
KRIS — Our house is midway between a local park and a golf course, both of which have water. So Fred and Ethel should do OK.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Saturday, October 09, 2021 at 09:57 AM
I don't know if I ever realized the scale of your pond. It looks immense with the reference of your helpers pulling out the liner! Also the hole... oh my gosh... I don't think I have the vision to think that big. My ponds shall forever be undersized pits.
The photos of your garden from the younger days are amazing. To see it all come together now and then shift for another big change really does remind you of what a transient art gardening is.
Posted by: Frank | Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 07:05 AM
FRANK — I will admit that none of this would ever have happened if my husband didn't have the design and visualization skills to figure this out. I can imagine and picture things in my mind's eye but I am no good at 3-d design except with plants.
The pond is 20' x 30' with 30' of stream between the upper and lower portions. It holds (held) 7,500 gal. of water.
We belonged to a pond group at the time we started the garden and almost everyone was on their 2nd or 3rd redo of their pond, making it bigger. We decided to make ours big and be the main feature of the garden as a result.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 07:43 AM
haha, I know what it's like to fall in with the wrong crowd and suddenly you're doing all kinds of crazy with the garden! Just think how many people are reconsidering their driveways and decks based on your most recent adventures. I know I did!
Posted by: Frank | Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 08:31 AM