Brokensword's bit of pond heaven [Deleted]

[brokensword]

This is an automatically generated discussion thread for the pond showcase "Brokensword's bit of pond heaven". Please add to the discussion here.

 

[brokensword]

2011 Original pond build

I don't have any starting from scratch; this one shows the patio just put in and the main hold dug. This view shows where the waterfall will eventually be. Originally, I had it at the top of the mini-stream, feeding into bog v1 (which changed).

reverse angle view

hard at work (or is that; hardly working!) on the berm

beginning to erect pondhouse walls

wall raising; had help with my stepdaughter who was visiting and my son (not pictured)

walls up; ready to create the lattice ceiling/pergola

pergola top done, rocks waiting to be placed

I didn't take any of putting in the liner so on to some finished portions; the mini-stream and bog v1 at it's head.

bog v1; basic design is 40" down, liner, 4" corrugated drain pipe/tile/tubing with slits cut 1/3 the way through every 6"
then large 8" round stone the first 12", 2" cobble stone the next 12", and 3/8" pea gravel for the final 12". I used the 4" drain tile on a downward slant to a DIY snorkel (made from a bunch of pails with bottoms cut out and stacked). One note, which I did not do on this first build, is to slant the bog walls to a point, like the letter V, so the water will all move toward this snorkel if ever needing to be cleaned out/backflushed. The bottom of the bog hole has a 4" trench dug so after laying in the liner, the 4" drain tile lays in this trench and is now the lowest point from one end of the bog (inlet) to the snorkel lowest point (outlet). I used the pails stacked because I could easily get a sump pump down into it.

initial waterfall; I didn't change it the first year, but from 2012 to 2019, I tweaked it at least 6 times.

Also, not the gray pvc bar cutting the pond in half; the original idea for this whole pond thing was so I had someplace to put my 2 painted turtles the kids and I raised from small versions to adult. Everything else just followed! This gray bar is actually the top of a plastic fence/grid to keep the turtles on one side and any fish, on the other. I didn't know much then so I thought the fish would end up turtle food and didn't want that to happen. At this time, I didn't know that a) turtles can climb! and b) fish are too fast, unless sick, for turtles to catch and eat! So I made the pond half for each.

showing first bit of iris, marsh marigold and water lilies

overview of August 2011 pond

closer view; the divider is more easily seen in this pic

initial bog plantings

from the doorway

the water lettuce were HUGE this year...

these were the original turtles and the reason for doing all this; Ruth and Ethel

waterfall v1

 

[brokensword]

part 2 of initial pond build 2011


our stow-away first frog for the pond; I put the two turtles in a kiddie pool on the driveway for the summer while I built the pond and figured maybe I'd put some cattails in there for them and must have had a tadpole hitchhike in. We named him Kermit, despite finding out later that 'he' was a 'she'. Worked for us!

first shubby and a comet

final build view from the outside

 

[brokensword]

pond pics 2012

 

[brokensword]

pond pics 2013

 

[brokensword]

pond pics 2014

 

[brokensword]

pond pics 2015

 

[brokensword]

pond pics 2016

 

[brokensword]

pond pics 2017

 

[brokensword]

pond pics 2018

 

[j.w]

Beautiful pix and build and love that you have that patio in there! Where are the rest of the years? Where's your little sword guy....................I keep forgettin! Love your turtles, frogs, fish and all the pretty blooms and plants!

Ok I see you are still adding the years as 2018 just popped up!


I remembered

 

[brokensword]

first part of summer, 2019 before the expansion in July

 

[brokensword]

pond expansion 2019

behind original pond and house, this is where we begin digging...

my son and I pretending to work really hard...

posts for frame

looking through pondhouse at the expansion dig

walls going up...

framing out the bog v2 wall with 4x4s

bog framed out

liner put into bog and pond expansion half

filling expansion side

sandstone facia for bog wall; I cut each into approx 4" width pieces

4" drain tile with slits cut 1/3 the way through every 6" laid in, then first layer of large 8" stone. The rubbermaid trashcan is to be my new snorkel; it's at the lowest bog point and has 4" holes cut out at the bottom.

second layer of stone (2" cobble)

last layer, 3/8" pea gravel

finished bog

plants from the other side + from bog v1 put into bog

view from the original side

floaters added to help cycle the water (all of which came from my well)

beginning to clear out the landscaping on the original side preparatory to digging the two ponds together; there's about 3' of soil between original and expansion parts.

wider view of same; rocks along perimeter have been stacked on the patio. It got quite tight for space trying to finish from here.

original waterfall taken down, fish caught and put in expansion side

 

[brokensword]

pond expansion 2019 part 2

expansion side with fish, showing water movement and depth of pond2 and half unrolled liner waiting

surveying what I wrought; don't look too happy but I'm just tired as I hadn't done any digging/pond building for 8 years and now, I'm in my 60s! Time to fix up all the first dig's mistakes, etc; at least the old liner is out!

laying down conc slabs to make the shelves flatter and more supportive

view of progress, showing expansion side and the bridge of dirt that still divides one pond from another

digging out the divider; shows how little width of wall is between

We could only dig halfway down WITH lowering the water in pond 2

beginning to fill; only did up to the divider berm, then the next couple of days, filled it up proper

begin working on the new waterfall area; first pic shows liner only

second pic shows the start of the build using conc slabs as my base

third pic shows completion of waterfall1 and half done with waterfall2 and working on patio re-edge

finished the falls

finished

 

[j.w]

Oh my aching back! How long did it take to recover old man?
Just kiddin, and it turned out great! It's huge now!