My Raised Landscape Timber Pond!

[equinecpa]

I had an ugly area between my above ground pool, a fence and my deck that I didn't know how to landscape. Then a light bulb went on - a raised pond.

I didn't have room to make it very large -the width of the area is at its narrowest only 3 feet and I needed room to walk by...but I measured and thought and thought...and following is what happened:

First: The ugly site before pond:



Then the idea came and construction began:



Progress:



Then construction halted...yikes I need a liner. I ordered a 45ml 8x10 liner and anxiously awaited for it in the mail.

[equinecpa]

The liner came in the mail and then progress resumed. I took a lot of pictures as I couldn't find much information on actually putting in the liner on the internet. How do you make an 8x10 square fit an odd shaped box? All I could find was "wrap it like a present". So I ventured on.

First of all I decided to put in a bit of a sub liner. Our soil is sandy loam and I had already removed all the vegetation in that area but I decided I should put something in. I didn't want to buy anything as I wanted to get that liner in without delay...so I rummaged around. I found a cardboard box that some landscape edging came in..I thought this might be good for the "dug out" part in the bottom of the pond. Then I found some packing material -the foamy kind that electronics are often wrapped in. I stapled this all around the inside of the pond. It looks rather redneck but I think it will do the job:



Now came time to tackle the liner. I pulled it out over the frame and then pushed it down into the pond. I had all sorts of folds and excess and wow...how was this ever going to fit???



I proceeded to tackle one edge-the back edge. I got that straight and in position, and then worked from one end to the other. I started at the deck edge and pulled, pushed and folder until I had the liner nicely formed along that edge. And then worked my way along the edged to the other end. Much to my delight it started to take shape!



I started adding water as I worked as this definitely helps pull the liner down into the frame. I pushed, pulled, folded, and this is what I settled on:



Here is a picture with some of the shelf edges cut and waiting to be screwed into place:

[equinecpa]

I had to work quickly as the evening before I decided to tackle installing the liner I had visited a local ponder and came home with this bucket full of plants:



Here is the pond after these plants were put in. I still need to stain the board s but it is too hot for that outside.



I had my first pond visitor:



The fish that my daughter insist we bring home (this was before there was water in the pond -they spent a few nights in the horses water trough before they were moved to their new home. They look huge but in reality are only just babes- maybe 1" long at the MOST! Yes and that is a hitchhiker snail in the picture...

[equinecpa]

And lastly here are the crowning pieces -the tropical waterlilies. There were well budded but not blooming when I picked them up. Two days after putting it in the pond...I had my first flower.

Rhonda Kay Lily:



And a couple of days later I have this one blooming:

[equinecpa]

Now I just have to figure out how to get my marginals in the water. I want to plant them along the back edge of the pond but am not sure how to position them. I don't want to use up valuable water space by putting upside down pots in the pond...I may try fabric pots and tie them to the bottom of the back board? That or I'll put in a pvc frame and put pots on it...or if anyone has a better idea I'd love to hear it!

I need to find a fountain for circulation. I'd like to find a solar one so I don't have an unsightly cord snaking across my deck.

[cah925]

Congrats on the build. It looks great! The lilies are obviously happy in their new home.

[seds]

Looks loverly, but the images are very small.

That ugly site is now a beautiful home to many goldfishes

Is there a plan for submerged plants? I think mare's tail would be good for you. It sticks out of the water when it is mature.

[lauraleellbp]

Originally Posted by equinecpa

I need to find a fountain for circulation. I'd like to find a solar one so I don't have an unsightly cord snaking across my deck.

I've seen quite a few of those on Ebay. Some seem pretty reasonably priced.

[Tex Gal]

So pretty! Great idea! Wish the pxs were bigger.

[kid creole]

This is awesome. The pictures are so small. Get some bigger pictures on here. Stat!

[equinecpa]

Hmmm..I thought I posted thumbnails with links...I guess they were just thumbnails.

Here is a link to the photos on webshots that can be viewed in larger format!

[kameia]

Much easier to see with the link.

The baby goldfish are cute! They look like they're hungry for that snail. What kind are they?

And that is a whole lotta garlic.

[hydrophyte]

hey that's really nice. i followed the link to your album.

i really wanted to set up something like this, but ran out of time this summer for it. i hope to pull it together next year. have you ever been to guitarfish.org? he has a really cool raisedpond that he made with brick & mortar:

http://www.guitarfish.org/2009/07/04...-of-the-flower

i might try something like that, or just use a galvanized stock tank.