As with other water features on the property, we worked first to find where rainwater will hit the ground. That sometimes meant working in and with the rain to adjust the scupper to direct the flow.
The 6’ diameter basin and its surrounding materials are in place. The character of the surroundings changes dramatically from dry to wet. The pond is 6’ deep — enough to remain wet and liquid all year long.
When the river rock is wet its deep gray color really pops. We studied a number of ideas for bamboo fountains, including a short-lived shishi-odoshi.
The full force of a summer storm was too much for delicately balanced ideas. Those storm surges also proved too much for turtles which had made the pond their home. They were swept away as water overwhelmed the overflow pipe below the river rock.
After loosing the turtles, frogs made themselves at home, giving the name to pond.