Fifteen years ago, a small rectangular rose garden existed within the brick-lined part of the area shown below. Inherited with the house, it was left in place a few years until the trees on the property grew too large and shady for roses. Removal of the rose bushes inspired further improvement on the small hillside, so in addition to planting some shade-loving annuals and perrenials, I dug out two small ponds, fitted them with liners and connected them with a waterfall, that was powered by a small pump. We enjoyed the natural look of the ponds and how they fit on the slope, the sound of water trickling down the stone waterfall, and the fish, frogs and other wildlife that often visited.
When the liners failed last year (after a long life), I was ready for a change. Still wanting a water feature but one with less maintenance, I decided on a single preformed liner. After emptying the water, the old cracked liners were removed. The lower hole was enlarged to fit the kidney-shaped liner and the upper hole was filled in with soil.
The new liner was, of course, more difficult to place as the excavation had to be shaped almost perfectly to accept the rigid form and stay level. I used a mix of sand and topsoil to backfill the small pockets that still remained after lowering the liner into place.
I still have a waterfall that fits naturally into the slope, powered by the same recycling pump, but the pond is now much easier to maintain. Since the stones, bricks and perrenials were simply recycled, the only expenses involved were the new liner, a weekend and a sore back.
Today, one year later, the plant material and grass have filled in nicely (the annuals and pepper seedlings were just placed and will grow quickly). Even the fish, who survived a bitter winter, seem happy.
