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" Garden Profile Location: Northwest Connecticut Hardiness Zone: 5\u20136 Site Specifics: Mostly sunny with amended soil Age: 2 years For a New York City\u2013based couple, their charming house in the country is a restful retreat. Located in the sweeping hills of Litchfield County, Connecticut, about two hours north of the city, the property is the perfect escape from the hectic work week.They drive up on weekends to enjoy the countryside and unwind. &amp;quot;The big front lawn is so green and expansive,&amp;quot;one of the homeowners says.&amp;quot;I love pulling up and seeing the roses climbing on the fence out front.&amp;quot; But it&amp;#039;s when they look out from the breakfast room in the rear of the house that the property reveals its focal point. A three-level, flora-filled pond with waterfall and surrounding gardens, designed by Jeannie Combs, owner of Thistle Down Garden Designs in nearby South Kent, is built into the hillside in the backyard. The pond is surrounded by colorful blooming perennials, lacy ferns, crispleafed hostas and cool evergreens. Goldfish swim among the floating water lilies and water hyacinth. First-time gardeners, the couple have come to admire the plants that make up this kaleidoscope of color. For example, an old lilac bush that&amp;#039;s as big as a tree stands guard at the top of the pond and has become their springtime favorite. They also like the blush-pink, softyellow and blue irises that poke out of the water and add subtle color against the evergreens. Growing near the patio are cannas that, when backlit by the sun, lend a tropical tone to the area. The hydrangeas, a Connecticut classic, remind them that they&amp;#039;re in New England. They like them so much they want to plant more. Future plans include adding shrubs around the foundation of the house and connecting the barn out back to the structure by installing a pathway and plants to better tie the property together. The couple are becoming more interested in gardening, and while their plan is still coming together, they are taking a practical approach to finding ideas. &amp;quot;We&amp;#039;re looking at what others have done in the area,&amp;quot; one says. Good advice for any gardener just starting out.  Diving Into Pond Life A man-made fish pond is a great way to attract wildlife to your yard, add a focal point to your garden or drown out noise from the street. Keep in mind that if you build a pond, you&amp;#039;ll be creating an environment that, while artificial, should mimic nature. Unless you have experience in this area, it&amp;#039;s best to hire a pro to do the job. Here are some points to ponder:  Larger ponds need to be excavated, and stone edging should be installed to hold the liner in place. To create a proper and stable ecosystem, you&amp;#039;ll need mechanicals, like electricity to run the pump and a biological filtration system, as well as beneficial bacteria, fish, plants, rocks and gravel. Up to 70 percent of the surface of the pond should be covered by aquatic plant material to shade the fish from sun and reduce algae growth. The depth of the pond should be no less than 3 feet. Fish need this space for hibernation over the winter. Hardy water lilies, lotus and other plants can be dropped to bottom of a 3-foot deep pond so they successfully winter over until spring. Try to situate the pond away from trees to keep falling leaves from clogging the pump. If leaves are a problem, put a net over the water during fall to help prevent clogs. Check the water in the pond weekly for evaporation, and add water if the level diminishes. Also check and clean the skimmer box and pump every week. Install a water heater and an aerator in winter to keep the pond from freezing over completely. Thoroughly clean the pond in the spring once the fish start moving. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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