Saying goodbye for the winter

thekoimaiden

The temperatures are starting to dip down in the 40's at night here. The leaves are changing colors and falling. That means it's time to close up the Koi pond for the winter. Since today was a warm day I was outside starting that process. I trimmed back the plants and pulled up a lot of algae and thorns. The pond has lost its summer glory and is putting on a blanket for winter. I snapped these photos a few days ago when the light was just right. Time to say goodbye to the pond for the winter!








In order from left to right: Kurama, Byakko, and Umi catching morsels of food that fall down the waterfall. I find all kinds of things like snails and bugs when I'm cleaning the waterfall. It's a smorgasbord for them!



This was probably one of the last feedings they will get all summer. They no longer ravenously attack the food. Not only is the pond slowing down for the winter, but my Koi are, too.

Sqbear46

Beautiful!!

Do you bring the fish inside for the winter?

thekoimaiden

^-^ Thanks, Nicole! I don't overwinter my Koi inside. They're a really hardy bunch (plus they're all about 18" long). The pond is about 2.5 feet deep, and they just hang out at the bottom until the spring comes. If I lived in Canada, I might have to bring them inside, but we have pretty mild winters here.

Chesherca

Do you do anything other than a yearly pruning? Is it ever actually *closed* ? Do you cover it. . . or. . . ? *knows nothing about Koi ponds*

thekoimaiden

It's more like constant pruning in the summer! Things grow so fast!

As for the actually closing process, I do cover it. Those lovely trees that shade it in the summer love to drop pounds and pounds of leaves in the winter. I put a large net over it to keep the leaves out. This weekend is when we plan to cover it. Here are some pictures from last February of what it will look like:

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Sakura8

I really, really wish I had your pond. It's so gorgeous.

Jakiebabie

Looking at the winter picture and all the netting... now I need to ask the dimensions...It appears you have created something long.... like a river across the backyard?
I know someone who dug their pond 5 foot deep cause we're in Canada, then put in a second pond on the other side of the yard, then joined the 2 with a river across the back of the yard. They're fish are their whole world. Happy fish!!

Chesherca

That's so wild. . . the picture of the pond shut down for the winter is such a stark contrast from the lush paradise of the summertime. . . amazing that you CREATED this little slice of heaven in your own yard! I'm telling you. . . someday, I'm gonna do it! And I know JUST who I'm going to come to for advice when I do!!!

thekoimaiden

Thank you, Sakura! ^-^ If you're ever in the area, you're welcome to stop by.

Jackie, you're right! My pond is very long because it's basically built into the side of a hill that is my backyard. The physical pond about 14' long and 4' wide, but the lower stream adds about 6' onto the width. However, the Koi can't swim down it. Your friend's pond sounds simply amazing! I've even seen pictures of people who went a step further and made Koi ponds into moats around their houses! Ponds are so wonderful because no two are alike.

Ches, we've seen what you did with your tanks. I know we'll all be waiting impatiently when you start on your pond!

Chesherca

Haha, thank you - we'll both have a long wait, though. . . I know I'll need a deeper one if the fish are to overwinter - now's not the best time for that, unless I want my 2-year old and the other tots I watch swimming with the fishes - or the poor fishes swimming with pails and buckets and soccer balls and sand dumped on them constantly! ;) If MINE eventually ends up half as nice as yours. . . I will be a really happy lady! *dreams* For now? Fish in tanks with lids all the way!

Your pond is lovely and very inspiring. Thank you for sharing this amazing piece of your world with us!