Putting in a Pond

Here, a wading pond is the centerpiece of a front-yard garden. The flat coping stones were scavenged from an old stone wall. The pond was excavated with a backhoe, then back-filled with clay and sand to form shelves for potted irises, lotus, lilies and other plantings. Next came a fabric protective layer, then the flexible pond liner. Smooth river stones on top of the liner protect it from being punctured by the family dog, who uses the pond for cool dips on hot days.