New bonsai garden, including koi pond!

[rockm]

I agree. Those bamboo fountains definitely do! And I don’t want a Buddha figurine, or one of those Asian face sculptures (I have no idea who/what they’re supposed to symbolize).

Maybe a fake frog or turtle...

Good for you. I've got friends who install Japanese gardens for a living. Alot of folks put in a pond and go ape-sh#$ with the Japanese/Chinese/Vietnamese "stuff" all in the same place, turning what would be a natural peaceful space into a bad theme park. My friends spend a lot of their time explaining to people that the Buddha head/deerscarer fountain/red tori they want Maaaaybe isn't going to be all that great...Less is more. Subtle can speak more loudly than shouting sometimes.

 

[Lorax7]

If you decide on getting a lantern, get a decent one--i.e. no cast stone, aggregate, cement, or God help us--resin.. Those are crap and will detract from this beautiful installation. Shop around for an actual granite, or basalt stone lantern.

I’m curious about what you see as the problems with cast stone. I recently bought a small Greco-Roman sculpture replica that was done in dry cast marble. I was pretty impressed with how much it looks like real stone. It even feels like stone to the touch (cold, dry, slightly rough - not plastic-y at all). I’m keeping it in the house right now, but was thinking I might eventually use it for a root-over-sculpture bonsai planting. Does cast stone discolor or break down or something when kept outside in the elements?

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Do not use feeder fish of any kind.
They are diseased with lots of nasty stuff.
If you can avoid pet store fish do it.
Order from a reputable koi dealer. This will save you heartbreak in the long term.
I can recommend some if needed but I know you have a connection already.

 

[rockm]

I’m curious about what you see as the problems with cast stone. I recently bought a small Greco-Roman sculpture replica that was done in dry cast marble. I was pretty impressed with how much it looks like real stone. It even feels like stone to the touch (cold, dry, slightly rough - not plastic-y at all). I’m keeping it in the house right now, but was thinking I might eventually use it for a root-over-sculpture bonsai planting. Does cast stone discolor or break down or something when kept outside in the elements?

Because it sucks over time. Don't know how long you've had your dry cast marble statue or if it is exposed to the elements. both time and weather age such aggregate rather quickly, and not in a good way. Cast stone also loses color in the elements. It is typically colored with dyes and not natural. Weathered granite or basalt actually looks better than just carved. I would be very cautious using such a thing in a bonsai composition, as your root over rock could look like root over air, or root over faded looking concrete in a few years...

 

[Adair M]

Where will the water slide be positioned?

Well, this is not deep enough for that! You can make a pond that could have a slide, they call them “recreation ponds”. You can swim with your fish.

Mike, I think you need to build one! You could then go ice fishing in your back yard!

 

[Adair M]

Do not use feeder fish of any kind.
They are diseased with lots of nasty stuff.
If you can avoid pet store fish do it.
Order from a reputable koi dealer. This will save you heartbreak in the long term.
I can recommend some if needed but I know you have a connection already.

Not planning on any feeder fish. They sell specialized koi food especially formulated to enhance the colors. I’ll probably use that.

Yeah, the guy I’m planning to buy my fish from is pretty meticulous about his fish. He goes to Japan and hand picks each and every one.

 

[Bolero]

Hand picked Japanese Koi...….that's gonna cost a couple bucks....

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Not planning on any feeder fish. They sell specialized koi food especially formulated to enhance the colors. I’ll probably use that.

Yeah, the guy I’m planning to buy my fish from is pretty meticulous about his fish. He goes to Japan and hand picks each and every one.

That sounds amazing. Your fish are going to be beautiful.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Hand picked Japanese Koi...….that's gonna cost a couple bucks....

It is worth it to get a good quality that has already been through a quarantine process.
Plus they have been groomed for color and confirmation.

 

[Adair M]

Hand picked Japanese Koi...….that's gonna cost a couple bucks....

Uh, not too bad. He had some at $30 if I remember correctly. I’ll start with 3 of those.

 

[Adair M]

It is worth it to get a good quality that has already been through a quarantine process.
Plus they have been groomed for color and confirmation.

He hand picks them. He doesn’t buy the poor ones.

He was a judge at the all-Japan Koi Show a couple years ago. He buys from Ogata.

 

[M. Frary]

Well, this is not deep enough for that! You can make a pond that could have a slide, they call them “recreation ponds”. You can swim with your fish.

Mike, I think you need to build one! You could then go ice fishing in your back yard!

Keep some pet Northern Pike in it.
Maybe use the koi for bait?
Just kidding.
Too expensive.
Your pond is just great Adair!
A ton of work too.
Excellent!

 

[Adair M]

Keep some pet Northern Pike in it.
Maybe use the koi for bait?
Just kidding.
Too expensive.
Your pond is just great Adair!
A ton of work too.
Excellent!

It’s a ton of work getting it set up. Once going, and planted, it’s easy-peasy.

 

[M. Frary]

It’s a ton of work getting it set up. Once going, and planted, it’s easy-peasy.

It sure looks like it will be a very relaxing and quiet place to just sit and enjoy life.
Good for you.

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Do not use feeder fish of any kind.
They are diseased with lots of nasty stuff.
If you can avoid pet store fish do it.
Order from a reputable koi dealer. This will save you heartbreak in the long term.
I can recommend some if needed but I know you have a connection already.

Got to agree with that. Order good quality Koi and they can survive anything. Below par or inbred fish are going to be money down the drain.

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Uh, not too bad. He had some at $30 if I remember correctly. I’ll start with 3 of those.

You do know that given the right conditions Koi are like rabbits? Buy 5 and you will have plenty in no time. Just make sure you have some submerged logs or terracotta pots fir the little ones to hide.

 

[Adair M]

You do know that given the right conditions Koi are like rabbits? Buy 5 and you will have plenty in no time. Just make sure you have some submerged logs or terracotta pots fir the little ones to hide.

There are lots of nooks and crannies in between all the rocks. As well as fish caves for the larger ones.

 

[Paul G]

You may end up with some unintended fish. After a recent polar vortex froze my pond solid down to the ground, I lost all of my koi and most of my interest in maintaining it. Its not big and I only go back there to soak my trees when repotting. Well today, as I was doing that very thing, I caught the flicker of a bluegill darting for the bottom. Now my pond is tiny, no larger than 10 feet at its longest point and its completely overgrown with iris and Lily. Also, I live on a city lot. Where the hell did the bluegill come from?

 

[Adair M]

It sure looks like it will be a very relaxing and quiet place to just sit and enjoy life.
Good for you.

The plan is to have a nice space to work with the trees.

 

[Underdog]

My Koi were splashing about today. Here are two of them. Grandkoi.
Enjoying your build Adair.