my Zen Water Garden and Koi Pond

[Lance]

I hope you don't have the fish-stealing critters out there that we have here. I've lost dozens of fish to herons and Kingfishers. I've even had an osprey dive bomb the pond before. Not to mention the racoons playing havoc with the fountain and flagstones. Little bastards flip the heavy flagstones into the pond and have punctured the liner on more than one occasion. I used to keep koi but the losses were killing me so I just go with goldfish now. Can't put a cover over the pond to keep the bird's out as the coons wreck it. I planted lots of lily pads which give the fish cover from the predators in the summer months, but as soon as the lilies die back in the fall, the herons are back. Anyone want to lend me their shotgun?

[kien]

So far so good.. I did chase a crane from the yard the other morning tho. Did a head count and everyone was accounted for so I think the fish hid well. I have lots of lilies too. Thankfully because of our short summers those large birds are few. I don't see too many of them around here.

I know that coons must be around but I honestly have never spotted one in all the years that I've lived here. I wonder if the coyotes keep them in check. The depth of my pond might be helping too. I know others with shallower ponds that lose fish all the time.

Koi are quite hardy and I find them very easy to keep and care for. They also have great personalities. All the fish will come up and feed from my hand.

[lastlight]

Get a Buddha Lance =)

[kien]

I do rub the buddha belly everyday so maybe that does help?

[Doug]

Very nice. Kool winter advice also. Something I may try once out in Kamloops. Think itds to cold here in Manitoba.

[kien]

Doug, there was a time when I thought the same thing about Calgary. We had a couple of weeks last winter where the temp was down below 40 for quite some time over night and never got above minus 30 during the day!

Here are some older pics of the koi pond from a couple of years back, pretty much when the pond first came online. I like these photos because the weeds haven't taken over yet LOL.

[kien]

And here is the hoop-house that I built for it the first year. Although I did manage the overwinter the pond successfully without the hoop house last year I do plan on re-using it this year and into the future. It is a bit more work to set up and take down every year but has quite a few advantages. One of the most important being the ability to feed the fish for longer. It effectively lengthens their feed/growing season (spring-fall) and shortens their dormant season (winter).





As I mentioned before, with the hoop house the ice rarely froze at all, it gets quite warm under there when the sun comes out and that's one great thing about Calgary. Even if it is minus 30 degrees outside the sun could be out in full force. If you google it you'll see lots of people using these hoop houses for their ponds and/or gardens.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by kien

I do rub the buddha belly everyday so maybe that does help?

I do have a Buddha. The coons even knocked it over once and it weighs the better part of 25 lbs.
I hate those "Little Bastards"!

[Doug]

I like the weeds. Makes it look more fishy. Nice winter shelter. Good idea.

[lastlight]

Nice yard... even stepped! Did you do all the work back there with the deck, patio etc too?