pond build
summer 2002

Finally I convinced Michael to dig a big hole where the pond would go, and provided neither 1. further instruction nor 2. assistance. We didn't get far. It June it was a really exciting "pond to be" - By the end of August it was just a "big ugly hole" in the yard.

pond june 2002	michael was the first and only enterprising member of the family to actually put shovel to sod and get the thing started. he did so only under duress and after a lot of whining from laura about how hard it was to pull up the sod and how much time it was taking away from gardening - her new immersive hobby.
pond june 2002	thanks, michael! (ya gotta thank 'em or else they'll always remember you didn't appreciate their effort - are you with me, here girls?) all of this sod was the inspiration for our compost bin; it became the seed material for our first attempt at composting (which really did turn out great by the way).
pond bed june 2002	we didn't intend to start planting anything here, it just kind of happened when we ended up with many more plants than we anticipated and couldn't think of anywhere else to put them. they turned out pretty nice but most of them will have to be moved next season as this will be the "overflow" area for the pond (aka mini-"wetland") and most of the plants are not moisture-lovers.
pond bed june 2002	since the pond's existence is to handle the excess sump water, there will be overflow outside the pond into this area in most springs. it doesn't look like this spring will be any exception. next season this area will be filled with native moisture-lovers like cardinal flower and sneezeweed.
pond july 2002	in july we had a huge bald patch of earth. it stayed that way for about six weeks while michael worked on the walkway next to the house. he had decided that the earth from the excavation would make an excellent filler for the walkway so he waited to do anything more until he was ready for it.
pond july 2002	once the weeds and grass started growing in, it really looked hideous. fortunately laura was much too involved with the gardening in other areas of the yard to notice.
pond bed august 2002	these sunflowers were a surprise. we were convinced for the entire summer that they were some really big weeds but something made laura keep them alive and water them when they were dry. one day she noticed the huge buds about to open; then she realized that they were sunflowers. fun.
pond sept 2002	here is the pond in september. I was bored with the hole about four weeks before this picture was taken.
pond sept 2002	another view of the same ugly hole.

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