Relax and enjoy your water lilies as they create your very own Monet in the back yard. Some bloom with the afternoon sun, others by night.
We build our ponds to work with mother nature, not against her. By doing so, we have less maintenance, allowing us to enjoy the benefits of the pond instead of having to work on the pond. By constructing your water feature to perform as an ecosystem, nature is at the heart of the water cycle, not man. As a result, the root systems of plants filter the water, natural bacteria breaks down organic matter and fish eat the algae. No chemicals or other devices, just nature, doing what nature does best.
With the proper balance of fish, plants and healthy bacteria present, not only is maintenance reduced, but water quality is enhanced. In the end, we have a water feature that not only looks better, it is better, both for the natural habitat of fish and birds and other creatures that are drawn to water in nature, but for us as well, as we now will have more time to enjoy it, with family and friends.
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Consider coming home after work and instead of heading for the television, you head for the pond, your pond, with water lilies afloat, the splash of the waterfall muffling the city noise, and wildlife all around where you are welcomed by your pets, your water garden fish…a source of constant entertainment.
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An ecosystem is an ecological community together with its environment, functioning as a unit. Likewise, an ecosystem pond is a water garden that functions together with its surrounding environment … or as we like to boast … we work with Mother Nature and not against her.
The word ecology comes from the combination of two Greek words: oilcos, meaning house and logos, meaning the study of. Together it literally means “study of the home.”
Ponds are one of the most important ecosystems on the planet. They play host to a total interrelationship of all organisms in the environment such as birds, fish, frogs, plants, and many microscopic organisms. So, ponds not only create a natural ecosystem in their defined environment, but they also fit into the community or life cycle of the entire ecological region.
An ecological region is made up of thousands of elements. Water is the most basic of these. Each pond is a piece of the puzzle. As wild habitats are depleted due to commercial development and other factors, these pieces are eliminated. That is why it’s so important to restore and preserve as many of these “puzzle pieces” as possible. A backyard pond restores part of an ecosystem and is part of the big picture – the regional environment.
A regional ecosystem or a pond ecosystem is like a triangle. In a regional ecosystem, water (ponds, streams, and lakes) is the support, like the base of a triangle. In the pond ecosystem, the water is the base of the triangle. Everything found above the base (plants and animals) is completely dependent, either directly or indirectly, on the pond.
As you begin to understand how ponds work and what plants and animals live in them, you learn to appreciate nature instead of being afraid of it. Given time and proper plant selection in and around the pond, you can create a very diverse ecosystem in your yard. Just remember to keep it simple and with patience your pond will mature over the years into a beautiful part of nature.
One pond in one backyard may not seem very important, but when you have a thousand similar backyard ecosystems functioning simultaneously, there’s truly a positive impact being made on the environment. Large amounts of habitat are restored for frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. The population of each of these creatures has been declining sharply for many years now. Birds have also been driven from many of their natural wetland habitats, which they need so desperately to survive. Your pond will provide a safe haven for these creatures and add a welcome diversity to our stressed suburban environments.
