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" VIEW MORE PHOTOS     Athens | Pennsylvania A backyard pool added to the summertime pleasures of Melanie and John Kocsis&amp;#039; two children. But when the kids grew up and moved out of the house, it no longer held the same appeal for the Athens, Pennsylvania, couple. They longed for an oasis that could be enjoyed throughout the year, entice wildlife, and present an engaging view from their 29-year-old Tudor-style home. Inspiration came from an ornamental pond they had sited in front of the 2,400-square-foot residence two years earlier: A backyard water feature nestled within a tapestry of garden plants seemed like it&amp;#039;d be a perfect fit. The plan gained momentum when a local couple offered to buy and remove the old inground pool\u2014fiberglass siding, diving board, and all\u2014for their own use. The excavated area was expanded to include two free-form ponds that Melanie, an artist, and John, a lawyer, built themselves over three years and linked with a stream. Naturalistic landscaping blanketed with ornamental grasses and colorful perennials was added, along with a gazebo. The water draws birds, dragonflies, and other critters. &amp;quot;We&amp;#039;re always pulling something out of the ponds to show our granddaughter,&amp;quot; says Melanie. &amp;quot;Our yard is like a nature lesson, but still a place for the family to enjoy.&amp;quot; Garden Plan An inground pool once stood near what is now the locale of the larger (9-by-14-foot) pond, which is connected to a smaller (8-by-11-foot) pond by a 3-by-13-foot stream. Both basins offer refuge for goldfish and aquatic plants and are designed to be viewed from a glass-enclosed porch at the back of the house as well as from outdoor sitting areas\u2014a sheltered gazebo across from the stream, an open fieldstone plaza to the right of the large pond, and a wooded area beyond that (not shown). A variety of trees, shrubs, and perennial beds help to unify the surrounding landscape. Two man-made bogs near the large pond create a wetland habitat for moisture-loving plants such as iris and lysimachia. Marsh marigolds (not shown) are among the first aquatic plants to bloom each season, followed by iris and water lilies. Pondside plantings, including ornamental grasses, iris, gaura, sedum, and lavender (not shown), bring an extra dimension to the placid water.  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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