A Spring pond is yawning and stretching (figuratively, of course) and getting ready to burst forth with life. The plants that were dormant and dull all winter start shooting out some new growth. This is when the old growth can be trimmed/thinned away to allow the new growth into the light. And algae is always the first weed in the garden, so there's some of that to deal with.

A Summer pond is growing aquatic plants like nobody's business! You have to stay on top of it, or your aquatic plants will eat the pond. It's an active time for water gardeners. And what better place to garden in 115 degree heat? Your Koi and goldfish are ravenously devouring food and constantly begging for more. This is the time of year you train them to eat out of your hand.

Aquatic plants are starting to slow their roll as the water temps begin to dip. You still need to tend to them, but not quite as often as during the summer. Koi and goldfish begin to go into their dormant season, as well, and you stop feeding them the commercial fish food.

During our "winter" months here in Phoenix, most of your aquatic plants are dormant, and your Koi and goldfish are generally hanging out at the bottom of the pond, clustered together for warmth. There are some cold-water loving plants, like Iris, that will give you some winter color. However, most of your plans will look a bit chlorotic during this season. Some areas of the Valley even have light freezes, so you might see some ice around the edges of your pond in the morning. 

​Water is Arizona wildlife’s most important resource, and it’s vital for more than just quenching thirst. Fish and frogs live in or near water their whole lives. Birds use water to keep their feathers clean and free of parasites, bees use water to cool their hives, and larger animals use water to cool down their bodies.
Arizona is in a cycle of long-term drought, which means there’s less available water for animals and a bigger fight for their survival. Urban sprawl has taken out many natural wetlands and catchment areas that our wildlife used to be able to depend on. As temperatures here rise, their search for water becomes even more crucial.

​Arizona Game & Fish Department and their partners use trucks and helicopters to haul water to remote sites and keep 3,000 catchments full. These partners are mostly individuals volunteering. You can help them out by donating at SendWater.org, or volunteering your time.

​As a pond or water feature owner, you are already helping! Keeping organic clean water in your yard invites our native feathered friends and the visiting migratory birds to quench their thirst and bathe. If you live in a neighborhood with a NAOS area, the wildlife living within counts on your water feature to survive alongside our human-built habitats. Bees count on your water feature to gather water to take back to cool the hive, ensuring their survival (and we all know how important they are!).
By having an ecosystem water feature, you are actually helping to replace our disappearing wetlands. You’re one of the good guys!

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​In today’s economic climate, especially, we’re all looking for ways to improve our quality of life, and to get the most value from our home improvements. Some people are even foregoing traveling and eating out in favor of cocooning.
A pond or water feature is a wonderful and valuable home improvement that provides hours of enjoyment while asking only minutes per week of maintenance. AND it’s environmentally friendly and responsible!

​Believe it or not, having the sight and sound of water in your yard makes it seem at least 10 degrees cooler than the actual outside ambient temperature. This is something that our clients report to us all the time. And in our Phoenix summers, that’s a big bonus! 

​A pond is great place to gather around – instead of the TV for a change. There’s no better way to bring the family together, whether that’s engaging the kids or just talking with your spouse.
When you have friends and family over, they will gravitate to the pond as the natural focal point in the yard. So much to see with moving water, lush plants, and graceful fish.
With underwater lighting, a pond is a whole new world, extending the viewing pleasure into nighttime – another bonus in Phoenix summers.

Plants in general add life to a landscape, and adding a pond or stream into the mix really makes the whole yard come alive with sight and sound! If you enjoy wildlife and cool native and migratory bird watching, there’s no better option – build it and they will come.

​After a techno-crazy day at work, come home and decompress to the sight and sound of water, lush plants, graceful fish, and just the general feeling of AAAAHHHHH! Leave the phone and computer in the house and let your mind rest.

​Meditation next to a pond will take you to a whole new level. By its very nature, water in the landscape is soothing to the senses. Watch out, tho – it can put you to sleep pretty easily! In fact, during the time of year when we can have our windows open, sleeping to the sound of a waterfall or babbling brook will aid in deep, restorative sleep. Living water is a big part of any healing garden.

​When considering different landscape and home improvement options, “green” is the language of the day. An ecosystem pond or stream does not require chemicals to maintain. It does not require the use of a lawn mower or blower, which items create noise pollution. It does not require fertilization, which poisons our groundwater. It is truly earth-friendly.
And wildlife digs it! It offers our native and migratory birds and wildlife a respite in the face of urban sprawl.

​And let’s not forget our beloved pets! All our pet-owning clients will tell you that they’ve ditched the smelly slimy outdoor water dish that they used to have to clean out constantly because their furry friends would much rather have the fresh organic water right out of the pond or stream. This creates a higher, healthier quality of life for them, as well.

​Check out what The Pond Gnome’s clients have to say about how their quality of life was improved. And we highly recommend that you experience the atmosphere in person by visiting one of our public displays, booking an appointment to visit our private showroom, or attending one of our open-to-the-public events.

​Many pond owners opt to locate their water garden in a shady location of the yard. This way, they can enjoy watching their fish while being protected from the heat of direct summer sun. While a shaded pond is ideal for cooling off in the summer, it can pose a problem for enjoying the beauty of waterlilies. Most waterlilies typically need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight in order to produce beautiful blooms. Fortunately, there are a few hardy varieties that will bloom their hearts out with as little as four hours of sunlight per day. Following is our list of favorite shade tolerant water lilies categorized by color, along with their sunlight requirements.

​James Brydon – 3 hours sun
Little Champion – 3 hours sun
Red Attraction – 3 hours sun
​

Comanche – 3 hours sun
Texas Dawn – 3 hours sun
Joey Tomocik – 3 hours sun
​

Somptuosa – 4 hours sun
Arc-en-ceil – 4 hours sun
​

Peaches n Cream – 4 hours sun
Sioux – 4 hours sun
​

Berit Strawn – 3 to 4 hours sun
Graziella – 3 to 4 hours sun
Helvola – 3 to 4 hours sun
Hermaine – 3 to 4 hours sun
​

​Toss aside the notion that you can’t enjoy water lilies if you have a partially shaded pond. The caveat here is that they may not all grow here in Phoenix. Here's a great resource for talking about and purchasing water lilies from a local supplier: Victoria Helton, Arizona Water Garden Oasis, (623) 239-8226.

​Being “plugged in” is a normal way of life these days. If you’re like most people, your smartphone alarm wakes you up in the morning. You get ready with the TV news on, and then scan your text messages. Some people even start the day with text messages or their social media feed before they get out of bed. Throughout the day, you check email, text-chat with friends, and scroll through your social media platforms. In the evening, you watch your favorite TV shows while online shopping, checking in on social media, and possibly playing a video game on your phone. And, at bedtime, you use smartphone apps for meditation or white noise, or just play games on your phone until you pass out.

​In fact, Americans spend an average of four hours watching TV, and about seven-and-a-half hours on digital devices. Every. Single. Day. Predictably, so much screen time is stressing many of us out – and we don’t even know why.
The solution may be a digital detox, which can provide relief from the pressure of constant connection to electronic devices. Research has found that doing a digital detox may even help improve your sleep, relationships, and mood.
​

The definition of a digital detox is to take a break from using electronic devices or certain media for a period of time. The specifics are different from person to person. Things people avoid during a digital detox may include:

• Checking email
• Playing video games
• Scrolling social media
• Text messaging
• Using smartphones or tablets
• Watching news or other TV programs

​Doing a digital detox is a great way to find out if technology is holding you back from living your best life. The results of unplugging can be far-reaching, from being more productive at work to deepening your relationships with family and friends. Benefits of taking a technology timeout include:
​

Sharper focus
With frequent beeps and pop-up notifications on electronics, it’s easy to be distracted from what’s going on around you. During a digital detox, you may find that you notice more in your immediate surroundings. Your brain can concentrate much better on your tasks. Remember, life is what happens around you while you’re staring at your phone.

Less stress
For some people, too much information can be stressful. For example, many people get really upset from watching hours of news. And then there’s the stress of feeling like you must look at that text that just came in, and feeling that you must reply right away. It can be overwhelming.

Better social interactions
Eliminating digital distractions creates more opportunities to pay attention to those around you. For example, without devices around at dinner, you naturally interact and connect more with your family. Or if your nose isn’t buried in your smartphone, you have the chance to meet someone new in the checkout line. And if texting is off-limits, you’re more likely to pick up the phone to chat with a friend – via your voices!

​More control of your time
Ever feel an overwhelming urge to check your smartphone or pop onto social media? You’re not alone. On average, Americans check their smartphones 96 times a day and spend more than two hours on social media. For many people, checking their phone or social media whenever there’s a few free minutes is a reflex action that isn’t based on any real need. Taking a break from digital devices or media helps you combat compulsive, habitual, or addictive use.

​Wondering if you need a digital detox? If using electronic media causes you to have any of the following experiences, it’s a sign that you may need to disconnect:

• Depressed mood
• Increased irritability, frustration, or anger
• Feeling insecure
• Loss of sleep or interrupted sleep
• Feeling obligated to consume, respond, react or check in

You also want to be wary of how your digital media use impacts other areas of your life. If you ignore responsibilities at home or work because of the amount of time you spend online, then consider a digital detox.

​You have to be intentional about the use of your time. Set aside time each day to unplug or decompress. Notice the benefits and barriers you experienced during this time. What happened when you stopped watching the news for three hours straight? How did you feel when you weren’t using Facebook or Instagram? Was it easier than you thought, or tough to do? Making it a household rule that no one uses digital media during family dinners is a great place to start! 

Spending time in nature has been documented time and again to have healing powers. Take a day hike, stroll along a nature path, walk barefoot in a park, or create your own respite in your very own back yard. Shameless plug here for adding a living ecosystem pond or water feature by The Pond Gnome to your outdoor living space. You’d be amazed at how spending just 30-60 minutes a day away from electronics can benefit your mind and body! You don’t have to go cold-turkey for hours, days, or weeks at a time to decompress and allow yourself some relief from the techno-crazy world we live in. A little time each day can be extremely beneficial. It allows your mind to rest, away from constant stimulation.

​Basically, a digital detox is about taking charge of how you spend your time and energy and what you give your attention to. It helps you realize what you want more and less of in your life so you can break unhelpful habits and create new, more meaningful ones.