Your pond is breathtaking, and so natural looking! The lower vantage point is beautiful indeed.
The pond looks really big. It's man made? How long have you had it?

Vanessa

Anna, your pond is absolutely breathtaking!! I'm sure 'HE' thought so too and was enjoying it just as much as you were. I would be there every day just taking in the view. It's definitely a feat to be proud of.

Ginny

Anna, your pond is just beautiful!!! definitely a tropical paradise. I would have squirmed in my shoes when I came across with that snake though. But I guess every living creatures have the right to enjoy life as we do.

Anna your pond looks like paradise! You have done such a wonderful job with it. I am just green with envy!!! Do you ever get gators in there? I would have a hard time keeping my dog out of a pond that size. Thanks for the tour!
~Betsy

Lovely little baby banded water snake, I believe. Anna, your pond is just magnificent! I don't know that I've ever seen one any lovelier! What a fantastic job you have done, and the presence of so many varieties of wildlife attest to that fact.

Thanks so much for sharing these photos (and for not whackin' this little guy over the head with your trowel!)

Just wonderful!
Marcia

Your pond looks like a picture postcard of a tropical paradise.
Barb

Magnificent pond! I wish I had more room.

beautiful looking pond.How old are your lilies?

wow...breathtaking. I had to stare at the pictures multiple times...

if you ever feel like diving your lilies...I would love to trade/buy a piece from you! Would you be interested in North American Lotus? Or Nymphaea ÂDirector George T. Moore - it is darker, blue color...

Oh, what a beautiful pond...
Olya

Thanks all.

Vanessa, our lined pond was finished approx. Feb. 1st 2006. It is still a work in progress,but it has made big strides this year. It is about 36 by 42 feet and almost 4feet at its deepest point.

Betsy, no gators yet, but we get lots of wildlife using it. The last two springs, two Florida mottled ducks (Lola and Carmelo), have nested nearby and taught their ducklings to swim in it. We've had 4 otters come to eat goldfish for breakfast, turtles, snakes, frogs, toads, bugs, raccoons, possums, beaucoup dragonflies, you name it. Probably lots of stuff we're not even aware of. Our dog drinks from it, but is afraid to go in (she's wimpy).

Marcia, thanks for the snake id. We are coexisting well, and today, even enjoyed each other's company, or am I being presumptious?

Goldenpond, I got two original waterlilies from Garyfl in trade, 3/06. Last late Feb. we divided and repotted. We will do so again next late Feb. or early March. They are 'Blue Goddess', and they bloom like this two weeks after repotting, daily, to the next repotting. A little less during cold weather.

Olya, and any others who may be interested: I will have some divisions available next Feb./March. Word of warning- they can get big.

Thank-you for the compliments. The rest of my yard is kind of tired, so I'm glad this creature gave me the opportunity to share my pond again.

Hello Anna:

That is a breathtaking pond! You have done a brilliant job. I have decided that we are somehow related and you must let me live with your snake. (Just kidding. Sort of.)

Seriously, thanks for sharing and I especially loved the lyric description you used.

Julie in WPB

Very nice !

You have a big advantage over having a retention pond that goes up and down with the water table.

You can have those lovely lilies !

Just beautiful. I have serious pond envy. You did a wonderful job at making it look so natural. Enjoy it in good health. :o)

What a lovely tropical paradise you have created. I love it from your perspective and from you reptilian friend's as well. I bet he loves hanging out there.

FlowerLady

Love your story of a different perspective. Truly you are at peace with these snakes...and that is awesome! What a great example of harmony here. I love your garden...the palms, bananas, the waterlily.

Although judging by how "bunched up" your waterlily is in the picture it looks like it needs to be repotted.

Just fyi

Great photos! Your coconut palm just looks so relaxing...sigh... :)

A feast for the eyes and some big time pond envy!

Brenda

Southpaw and guapo, I didn't intend for it to read like a story when I started posting, but it just went that way!

Guapo, I don't know if I am truly at peace with snakes. If he would have started my way, I would have high-tailed it to my house! We were both keeping a close eye on each other. I am glad you like my garden. I never get tired of it and it is a great source of joy that I know all of you understand.

Yes, those waterlilies probably have at least two crowns each, but they won't get repotted till early spring. It's a big job. They are monsters.

Anna

Anna,

WOW!!! You must love going out into your garden.
You have created such a beautiful and tranquil setting.
One day I will have a pond!

Anna,
Wow, that is so natural looking. A beautiful creation. Do you have other bodies of water nearby? I was wondering how otters would end up in your pond.
Did you get professionals to design the pond along with heavy equipment for digging ? It sure doe not look like a shovel job. I would like to know how this tropical paradise came to existence.
Please post more pictures and do enjoy and the snake too.
Felix

Anna
I figured in a larger pond Blue goddess would be spectacular!! All those are from the original two??
The edge of the pond is fantastic > Can i use the pix as an example of edge treatments?? You don't need a thousand tons of rocks to get a great transition. Everybody thinks you need a "necklace " of rocks to get a natural look.WRONG!!
One suggestion . There is a tropical cultivar called "King of Siam " that has very deep almost navy blue flowers that would really contrast with the pale blue. Or how about some gigantic white asian lotus around the edge??
Then there would be enough cover for your Anaconda or Reticulated python lol. or maybe that alligator you've been wanting ??? lol
Oh I wish I had the room !! gary

I love your pond! It's very natural looking and just begs to be admired. It must have taken a great deal of work and patience to put in. I have the room for a good sized pond but not the ambition or the money to put one in. Besides with as close as I live to the Withlacoochee State park I probably have too much wildlife visiting.

Felix, there is a much larger pond (small lake) across the street. I'm sure that's where the otter family came from. I think it was two parents teaching the offspring to fish. What better place than a small, confined pond with colorful, easy to find fish! Smart animals.

We designed the pond with a garden hose:

We had an acquaintance with a bobcat that dug it out for us and made berms in different areas of our yard (it was immediately after our house construction, so we were starting our landscaping from scratch. We were left with a rough hole, and then the shovels came out to define the edges:

A large shelf was created mostly for safety:

We hired professionals for placement of liner and purchasing, plumbing of the equipment we'd need:

Final product, a couple of weeks after sodding by some of the edge, and cleanup. Before the waterlilies:

You can see how much it has matured, and how I've obscured the edges now to make it look more natural.

Gary, I am happy with the waterlilies I have. I absolutely love them and am not going to add any others. I did not want rocks all the way around, so we got a metal edging, around which we wrapped the liner and secured it. It worked well for our purposes. Yes, you may use the photos. Thanks.

Anna

Anna, your pond is beautiful! I think I have enough room, but definitely don't have the money or the talent to make such a lovely pond. It does get me thinking, though...

Anna, Very well built. By making the pond deep enough the fish can hide when predators come, like blue heron. Get ready for gators. I'm sure they'll find their way from the nearby small lake. You must have a great view from your home.
Felix