A Koi Pond story

Inspiration is just outside your door.  When we moved into our new home, we were excited that the side yard had a small pond at the side of the house.  It needed a bit of fixing up and my husband was up to the task.  Once it was done and filled with water, we had to find new inhabitants for it.  So, we sought out to buy some fish and plants.

We went in search for Koi fish at a pet fish store, and found 3 little ones, as well as a Water Lily plant.   We placed these new members to our family in their new home.  The fish a bit shy at first grew accustomed to their new surroundings, and eventually began to swim with glee at all the space their new home provided.

A friendship ensued with fish and man as my husband became the sole feeder of the fish.  They shyly came to the surface of the water to eat, but if we lingered too long, they quickly returned to the depth of the pond.  In spite of their shyness, we began to notice distinct personalities of each fish, and of course with their coloring they earned their names.

The dark orange with black and white specks is named Blaze, not only because of its bright color, but because it has a fiery personality due to being the most aggressive one of the bunch, the fastest swimmer, and it is always first to the food.

Otto has a light orange head with a black and white body who likes eating, and lingers the longest with the food. It got its name from a kid’s story “A Fish Out of Water” where the fish “Otto” ate so much it grew and grew and grew.

The third one was called Moon due to its white coloring spatter with black specs.  Moon was the slowest, shyest, and we think it was the most sensitive.  Always the first to run away, and last to come to the food, and it stayed in the depth of the pond must of the time.  Unfortunately being slow was its demised, we think a critter got it.  Sad but true, we miss our little Moon.

Two of the Koi and the Lily are flourishing in their little pond which we now protect with a screen. The Water Lily has bloomed and given us a beautiful pinkish white flower.  I couldn’t help but create “Little Koi Pond”  inspired by the beauty that nature provides even in our own side yard.