The large pond was constructed in the early 1970s and remained unplanted to serve as a mirror for the trees that surrounded it. Over time, plantings edged their way, creating a dense herbaceous thicket of summer and fall flowers and fruits. Additional ponds were added in the last seven years.

A considerable amount of planting has ensued and the pond area now constitutes a significant garden. There is more work to be done and we are contemplating putting a small pool between the existing ponds and the arbor. The planting is consciously coarse with ornamental grasses, daisies, iron weed, and black-eyed Susan.

Little Green Herons fish for frogs, and hummingbirds use the "cotton" of the bulrushes for nesting. Damsel flies hover and the occasional water snake slides over the water-lilies. The pond is buzzing with activity when the goldfinches descend from the trees to pick seeds. Wrens nest in the gourds strung from the arbor.
All images and text copyright The Chanticleer Foundation