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Natural swimming pond v 3

 
pollinator
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Had a lot of failure with naturally sealing the pond with bentonite. So I bought a pond liner. RPE. So far, so good. Enjoy the pictures.
IMG_20220727_084422.jpg
Baby drowning prevention fence, temporary
Baby drowning prevention fence, temporary
IMG_20220727_084450.jpg
Liner arrived
Liner arrived
IMG_20220727_084519.jpg
I always have help
I always have help
 
elle sagenev
pollinator
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More pics. Stretching the liner was HARD. Seriously damaged my hands but I couldn't grip it with gloves on.
IMG_20220727_100902.jpg
pond liner for natural swimming pool
IMG_20220727_100909.jpg
pond liner for natural swimming pool
 
elle sagenev
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Kids were dying to put water in it so while I anchored the liner they made a water slide.
IMG_20220727_103827.jpg
kids playing in natural swimming pool before filling with water
IMG_20220727_103829_1.jpg
kids playing in natural swimming pool before filling with water
 
elle sagenev
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I didn't get any good anchor trench pics but you can see it in the pics were I am putting edge rocks on.

Naturally harvested sandstone from our property and the wheat fields.
IMG_20220729_135457.jpg
sandstone edge rocks lining a natural swimming pool
 
elle sagenev
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Bermed the outside of the liner with regular dirt.
IMG_20220729_151002.jpg
natural swimming pool berm lined with rocks
 
elle sagenev
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Putting gravel at the entrance. Hoping to do sand.
IMG_20220729_135428.jpg
laying a gravel entrance to a natural swimming pool
 
elle sagenev
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As you can see a lot more water and it's filthy. We had one huge storm. Blew a bunch of dirt in and added a foot of water.  I'm not fully filling the pond until I have the waterfall filter done and the no drowning babies fence fully installed.
IMG_20220729_135406.jpg
natural swimming pool partially filled with storm water
 
master pollinator
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In dryland country, a reservoir of water is absolute gold. It's lifeblood, pure and simple.

It's not easy to seal a pond in some soil conditions. Sure, you could gley it if you had the time and livestock. Not everyone has this option.

I personally believe that any environmental cost of using a pond liner will be repaid 100x over in supporting the living landscape. In my experience, it's literally an oasis. Birds, bees, pollinators -- all of these will seek out your reliable source of water, set up shop, and thrive.

Well done!
 
elle sagenev
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Douglas Alpenstock wrote:In dryland country, a reservoir of water is absolute gold. It's lifeblood, pure and simple.

It's not easy to seal a pond in some soil conditions. Sure, you could gley it if you had the time and livestock. Not everyone has this option.

I personally believe that any environmental cost of using a pond liner will be repaid 100x over in supporting the living landscape. In my experience, it's literally an oasis. Birds, bees, pollinators -- all of these will seek out your reliable source of water, set up shop, and thrive.

Well done!



My kids already caught a truly massive water bug. We had barely turned the hose on and had dragonflies hovering, etc.

It is a wonderful thing. Water in our desert.
 
elle sagenev
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Lots happening still
IMG_20220805_105710.jpg
Everything wire hanger
Everything wire hanger
IMG_20220809_121933.jpg
Waterfall issues
Waterfall issues
IMG_20220809_122141.jpg
natural swimming pool
 
elle sagenev
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I ran over my phone with the tractor. Messed up my camera.
 
elle sagenev
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Plants are happening
received_780887426427115.jpeg
plants for swimming pond
 
elle sagenev
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Making our new fire pit near the pond.
IMG_20220809_191616.jpg
rock fire pit
 
elle sagenev
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Pond is almost full. Plants are planted.
IMG_20220810_080035.jpg
swimming pond filling with water
 
elle sagenev
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Plants are establishing themselves. I cut back all the dead parts.
IMG_20220822_103757.jpg
natural swimming pool with new plants
IMG_20220822_103805.jpg
water plants establishing themselves
IMG_20220822_103810.jpg
newly planted pond plant
 
elle sagenev
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Water was clearing up but we swam in it. Stirred up all the dirt that's gotten into it.  I have been using muck away bacteria though. Makes a huge difference.

Created a great wildlife habitat though. It hasn't rained in ages so I think I am solely responsible for keeping all the birds, etc alive. They are so thirsty they don't care if we are in the pond when they're drinking.

We also saw toad eggs in the pond. Hard to get a picture.
IMG_20220822_103504.jpg
water in natural swimming pool
IMG_20220821_115611.jpg
Kids playing in natural swimming pool
 
elle sagenev
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Need way more sand for the beach. 18 bags doesn't even cover it.
IMG_20220822_103413_1.jpg
beach for natural swimming pool
 
elle sagenev
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We picked this buoy up off the beach in Japan when we lived there. It currently marks where the pump is so the kids avoid jumping on it.
IMG_20220822_103436.jpg
buoy to mark underwater pump
 
elle sagenev
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My waterfall sucks. Complete overhaul next year. It also turns out the pump is so powerful it launches all my filter medium out into the pond. Needs alteration. Ideas welcome.
 
elle sagenev
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Boats for when it's too cold to swim
IMG_20220829_093715.jpg
little girl sitting on edge of pond
 
elle sagenev
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Lots of snow and ice over the winter. Spring is here so its back to the pond.

I've begun dismantling the waterfall and intend to fix about half the pond edge. Its too steep. Rock edging keeps falling in.

Still much enjoyed.
20230423_161725.jpg
small child running on bank of natural swimming pond
 
elle sagenev
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Unusual amounts of rain have made slow progress but the edging is fixed. Left crevices for planting this go round and love the look. We will see what survives.

Pond is empty and meeds power washed. Then new filter is going in and ready to be filled. Almost there.
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swimming pond drained for cleaning
20230627_203852.jpg
pond plants growing in the rocks
20230627_193648_HDR.jpg
pond plants growing in the rocks
 
elle sagenev
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Finally finished the pond filter and it's beautiful.
20230803_200138.jpg
pond filter
20230808_070042.jpg
pond filter
20230815_184521_HDR.jpg
pond filter
 
elle sagenev
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Seriously enjoying the pond and we aren't the only ones.
20230815_184244_HDR.jpg
pond float
20230815_183027.jpg
water snake
 
elle sagenev
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The filter is blowing out a lot. Every time it does the filter medium falls to the bottom and then it doesn't work like it should. I debated putting some rods in the top when I made it but hubs thought the straps were a better option. Not quite working.
20230827_162351_HDR.jpg
pond bottom blown out from water filter
 
elle sagenev
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Pond is now crystal clear. Looking at it today I thought we had a strange algae growth until I touched it and it turned out to be worms. Waterfall worms apparently. We blasted them down into the pond where the fish are happily Eating them.
20230919_182919.jpg
waterfall worms
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waterfall worms
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waterfall worm
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pond fish feeding on waterfall worms
 
elle sagenev
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Ice skating has been amazing this year.  The ice was so clear we could see a rock that had been thrown in earlier. Our youngest enjoys getting pulled behind us.
received_698305125766844.jpeg
The rock
The rock
received_2727238584097314.jpeg
kids playing on frozen pond
 
elle sagenev
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Enjoy a snowy pond pug
20240121_121110.jpg
Snowy pond pug
Snowy pond pug
 
elle sagenev
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Had to shovel to skate.
20240121_120236.jpg
shoveling snow on a frozen pond
 
elle sagenev
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Pugs not the only pond dog
20240121_121135.jpg
dog walking on frozen pond
 
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Are those worms or leeches?
 
elle sagenev
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Charles Wilder wrote:Are those worms or leeches?


Definitely worms
 
elle sagenev
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The Pond and surround are slowly establishing themselves. I've had problems over wintering cattails. Even though I acquired them locally. The reeds are doing well and the grasses I collected.

I did purchase some plants that won't survive the winter here with the intent of putting them in the basement over the winter.
20240729_194649.jpg
Bio filter side
Bio filter side
20240729_194631.jpg
Underwater grass
Underwater grass
20240729_194847.jpg
Reed from store
Reed from store
 
elle sagenev
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My lotus over wintered and I am going to get my first bloom
20240729_194624.jpg
potted lotus in pond
 
elle sagenev
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Bought some new plants at the end of the month and they just arrived. Excited to see how they do.
20240729_194819.jpg
Water iris
Water iris
20240729_194840.jpg
Pickerel rush
Pickerel rush
 
elle sagenev
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I have been trying to establish plants in the rock cracks but it's been a struggle with the heat. Some success though.
20240729_195130_HDR.jpg
rock garden bordering pond
20240729_195117_HDR.jpg
rock garden bordering pond
 
elle sagenev
pollinator
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We built a gazebo next to the pond and are working on making custom cement pavers for it.
20240729_195202.jpg
pond and gazebo
20240729_195224.jpg
custom made cement pavers
 
elle sagenev
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The filter system had some modifications this year. I added a hose and valve so I could drain pond water into the pond orchard. I have quince, peach, cherry and nectarine trees here. As well as an elderberry and loads of strawberries at the overflow point of the pond.

The pipe runs in my swales so each tree gets water and so do the flowers I planted for aesthetics.
20240729_195055.jpg
New pipe
New pipe
20240729_195025_HDR.jpg
Shown watering orchard
Shown watering orchard
20240729_194932.jpg
monardia pond edge planting
 
elle sagenev
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Few more pics of the new trees this year
20240729_194944_HDR.jpg
Strawberries
Quince
20240729_194953.jpg
Quince. New this year
Cherries
 
elle sagenev
pollinator
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We had a lot of visitors this year. We did chase off the geese and ducks. They can't live there. The crane came around every day for a month and ate all our goldfish.
20240514_063321.jpg
Sandhill crane
Sandhill crane
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Ducks
Ducks
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Geese
Geese
 
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