Bali Inspired, Backyard Retreat

Overview

This project turned out to be a somewhat formal goldfish pond, with a tiered fountain. I was looking for a timeless feel without being too stuffy. The pond itself has an interior dimension of approximately 7 x 8 ft, and is 3.5+ ft deep. There is a shelf built-in around 3 sides, for plant containers under water. The pond holds approximately 800 gallons, and AC powered. The pump is 800+ gallons per hour, and the water passes through a bio-filter with UV treatment, before re-entering the pond. I started out with 60 feeder goldfish.The population has been stable at 26 fish, 4-7" long, with an occasional baby for 3 years.

Also included in the backyard design, are two decks, one with a gazebo. I have since added athatch umbrella cover, on top of the gazebo for a more authentic look. The walkway is a sub-grade pebble walkway. To walk on the path, I have laid down left over resin/laminate decking scraps. The weight of the boards makes a pretty stable walkway in the pebbles.

Secondly, is an interior, screened patio, micro-pond. It is a simple 1/4 barrel liner, with a tiny pump. The Easter Island statue was $10 at a thrift shop. The bamboo runners on the wall, hide the sprinkler controls.

Planning and Construction

This project came about as a self assigned therapy. After several hard hits emotionally, the idea for this garden popped into my head after watching "Eat, Pray, Love".

I have lived in this house since I was 3, and we have always had a problem with the soil. It is clay, with gravel. It is a desert wasteland. Without thorough, constant watering, there simply was no way to keep a flower bed, much less a lawn, green. So I took the lawn out. My plan was to build a little micro-climate, so the garden plants would help to hold moisture in the ground, and help each other survive.

The yard is 22 ft deep, and 60 ft long. I used bricks and hoses to help layout the idea, and get an idea of how my dimensions developed on paper, really worked out. I had to make changes.

The dirt from the pond hole, and from taking the walkway to below grade, was used to raise the grade of planting beds. Raising mounds on either side of the pond, also eliminated the need to put rock on those two side walls. I did apply rock just along the top for continuity, but the side walls are hidden by plants.

Fish / Plant Stock

Plantings include Japanese maple, hydrangea, crepe myrtle, lavender, bamboo, wood sorrel, canna, pussy willow, iris, parrot's feather, blue bells, crocosmia, roses, miscellaneous tropicals, jasmine and an herb bed. Plantings of daffodil, grape hyacinth, freesia and hyacinth are abundant in the spring.

The pond is visited all day long by various birds. Visitors include song birds, nuthatches, hummingbirds, swallows, black birds, scrub jays, crows, rock doves, and a Great Blue Heron. Additional visitors, are garter snakes, orange dragon flies, butterflies, and squirrels.

Reactions: JBtheExplorer, j.w, Tula and 1 other person

Bali Inspired, Backyard Retreat

Overview

Planning and Construction

Fish / Plant Stock

Pond information

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