The little hole that could...

Overview

So like so many others I inherited a big ole hole in my yard when I bought my house.

3 feet deep with 2 feet of sand and muck and all kinds of crap in it. Build a pond someone said, (probably me but I don't want to point fingers).
So I started digging. Broke an ankle the first year pulling muck out. Tried using a little garden wagon then a rubbish can to haul the sand and dirt and muck out, that didn't work. Finally bought a wheelbarrow! Woohoo I was on my way.
Dug out the sides of the pond, had a near death experience with a snake showing me the huge gaping whole in my liner. Still the thrill of having a pond lingered with the thought of bubbling water and cold beer so I persevered.
Then came the day... I was almost done. Hole was dug, liner was in. Water was a flowin'.
I was ready for the cold bever.... Wait, s&@$ I have to edge the pond and I want a water feature, and how in the hell do I filter this mass of water.
Off to Lowe's for pallet after pallet of rock and edging and stone. Almost done!
Sh$&@ I need a big stack of rocks for my waterfall... Back to Lowe's for, you guessed it, rock. Concrete rock, pea gravel oh and don't forget the big waterfall rock I need... Which Lowe's doesn't carry
Sh$&& now I need plants.... Which Lowe's doesn't carry.
Found a pond store,
Got a lily and some plants planted. Oh until the
Lily decided to float and I was attacked by a vicious mutant frog.
Still no cold beverage but I've moved on to Valium and therapy.
Build a pond they said... I hate they.
And I still wish I had a cold beverage.
Truthfully this has been enjoyable giving up my sanity to this big ole hole in the ground.
I wish someone had said knit a sweater instead.
To all of you who have done this, hats off to you!

Planning and Construction

Planning.....hahahahahahaha, *gasp, *wheeze hahahahahaha. My planning stage included drinking a bunch of beer while bitching about the previous owners inability to keep the %$#^& pond clean. Then I joined this forum and got some rough idea of what my options were, (which basically means still no planning but it was a narrower path to wander down).

Construction went like this:
Dig, Cry, Dig, Swear, Sweat, Dig, Cry, Dig, Yell, Dig, Hit Bottom, (not the drunk, sell your kidney for another drink bottom, but the pond bottom),

Do the happy Dance,
Do the sad Dance since I still have this left

Dig, Throw in my liner, Fill it with water,

Moved rocks, Sweat, Move Rocks, Sweat, Move Rocks, Sweat, Cry, Move Rocks, Buy Rocks, Cry, Move Rocks

Move Rocks, Plant Plants, Move Rocks, Plant Plants, Sweat, Move Rocks, Sweat, Plant Plants

And this is where I'm at now, not done but I cry and swear less.

Bog Update:
My hubby and I built this for the bog this weekend:

I used 3/4 pipe, heavy duty hose, and now have a connection to be able to hook up a garden hose and water my plants out of the pond. Very happy with how it turned out.

I also brought the edging of liner up over the waterfall rock and put some smaller rock on top of it. No roofing glue used yet but I like the look of it.

I also made a filter box for my pump so it won't suck up any bottom plants.

And it is flowing:

Fish / Plant Stock

I have fishues so no fish.

Plants Thus far:
Blue Rush
Corkscrew Rush
Water Hyacinth
Water Lettuce
Parrot Feather
Creeping Jenny
Something tall and grassy
Two somethings shorter and spikier

Dragonflies

Reactions: PaulK, Lydia, rodsboys and 22 others

The little hole that could...

Overview

Planning and Construction

Fish / Plant Stock

Pond information

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