Koi and lilies and bubbles, oh, my!
The Sixth Annual Parade of Ponds had something for every pond lover to contemplate. Held Friday, the event featured seven ponds on the Old Mission Peninsula and drew more than 100 attendees, many who already had a pond in their yard. For them, the Parade of Ponds was as much about learning as enjoying.
"We probably have more questions than people who don't have a pond," said Doug Smith of Traverse City, who took in the seven ponds with his wife, Sue.
The Smiths, who have had a pond for three years, inquired about how to manage predators drawn to the pond, whether owners keep it going year round and what to do about ducks and the disease ick that they can spread to fish
"We had a blue heron come and spear all our fish, but only the end of July and August," noted Smith. "They fly over, hear the waterfall and say, 'Oh, lunch here!'"
Waterscapes Unlimited and the newly formed Northern Michigan Koi & Pond Club jointly hosted the Parade of Ponds. The club, which began last fall and is still organizing, plans to use proceeds from the event for future educational meetings for members or anyone interested in ponds. They also plan to continue hosting an annual Parade of Ponds, encouraged by this year's success.
"Waterscapes has been wonderful to help, they did this the prior five years," said Jenelle Derusha, a member of the newest club in the northwest Michigan region.
"For our first time, it went well and we've learned a lot," she added. "We had about 9-10 volunteers, they worked really hard and did a great job."
Volunteers staffed each of the seven stops to answer questions, enthuse about ponds in general and share tips and tricks to a successful endeavor.
"Our pond is pretty close to the house but if they're pretty far away you can have problems with predators," said Dan Purdo, whose pond is right outside his home's front porch.
Purdo and his wife, Karen, just expanded the pond a few years ago and it features statues, lilies, multi-colored koi and the requisite waterfall. Both retired, the pond is a hobby that keeps them busy.
"It's a tranquil, peaceful sound," said Purdo of the waterfall. "You come out here and it kind of mesmerizes you."
Charlie Doe had a pond put in about five years ago, transforming a sloped clay bank where nothing would grow into a multi-level waterfall and koi habitat. His backyard is now filled with birdfeeders, flowers, statues and a peaceful trickling sound.
One of the stops on the Parade of Ponds, he enjoyed sharing the pond's highlights with visitors.
"I can see it from my easy chair, hear it from my bedroom," said Doe, who runs the pond year round and currently has four koi. "I like the looks and it is peaceful."
Host Jim Wibby held court at the first stop on the Parade of Ponds, sitting in a peaceful setting sharing about some of his favorite topics: gardening and ponds. An enthusiast of Japanese style gardens, he is currently on his third pond, having first installed one 35 years ago at a former home.
"I have a pond right at the back of my house, where the living room, kitchen and dining room have a doorwall," said the Holiday Hills area resident. "So I open it right up and bring the garden in. No matter where I am in the living area, I can see the pond and the hill."
For more information on the Northern Michigan Koi & Pond Club, contact Vicki Schwartz at 922-3028 or Jenelle Derusha at 275-6040.