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and well placed – it looks as though it has always been there. The plants, too, appear to have sprung up naturally around the margins of the pond. The water is crystal clear, a testament to the skill Dennis has in populating his pond with the right mix of plants: the submerged plants that grow underwater serve as oxygenators, the floaters such as water lilies and water hyacinth, for shade to keep algae down and to protect fish, and the emergent plants such as Iris pseudacorus that are rooted underwater at the margins, providing food and shel- ter for the fish and helping to regulate water temperature. The pond is a joyful place for the koi


– there are underwater caves to explore and to escape to in case of a visit from a marauding bird or animal or to just slip away from the heat of the sun. The pond basin has been dug in a variety of depths to accommodate the various plants but also adding dimension that affects the perception of the viewer. Bits of driftwood on the shores assist


the illusion that this is a great body of water. The truth, though, is that this water wonder has been constructed over the past three years – Betty passed away in October of 2010. If she were still here, chances are the


Dennis worked with Betty’s brother to build a cedar gazebo for quiet contemplation.


pond would not have been built – the money Dennis spent on it might have been put to more practical use or for more of the travel they enjoyed together after Dennis retired, but if she did come


A granite memorial to Betty; the inspiration behind this garden. A well-weathered boulder features lichen and other native plants. 14 • Beautiful Gardens 2014 localgardener.net


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