Master Gardeners are part of a network of not-for-profit associations throughout North America. Members share a common interest – a passion for gardening and a willingness to share (at no cost) environmentally responsible gardening knowledge within their communities. Operating under the umbrella of the British Columbia Master Gardeners, the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners chapter was established in 2010 and its members have volunteered 10,000 plus hours throughout the Thompson-Shuswap region.

As I stood on my deck looking out at the front lawn the wheels in my head started turning. Why do we have so much lawn? What could we have instead? The apple trees, the junipers, the pines, and the assortment of other trees and shrubs seemed fine. I was looking at that big piece of lawn. What could we have instead?

A wildlife pond! It seemed like the perfect solution.

When living in a hot dry climate we have the luxury of going inside to get a glass of water. Not so for the birds, reptiles, and beneficial insects. Having a water feature that is easily accessible to the nature that we are trying to encourage to visit and to live in our yards will go a long way to helping them to survive and to thrive.

It could be a large or small inground pond surrounded by shrubs and flowers. Or perhaps a half wooden barrel with a solar fountain and a few water plants. A well-placed rock will provide a landing pad for butterflies, bees and birds. Having a solar fountain lets birds know that water is near. The sound of water is also an affordable way to help us unwind after a long day.

We decided to go with an inground wildlife pond. Our neighbours were working on a driveway project last summer and when they were finished they had a large pile of rocks left over. A quick phone call and we had permission to take as many rocks as we wanted.

Quite a few tractor bucketfuls later we had our large pile of rocks ready and waiting. Now it was time to create the pond shape. I walked around the space several times last fall and came to no conclusion on the size or the shape. Maybe it was better to think about it over the winter. 

This spring I was ready to take another kick at the can. It didn’t take long and I was able to put the marker flags into the ground. Now all we need to do is dig the hole about three feet deep with a one-foot-deep ledge around the inside of the pond. We have a good supply of sand which we will use to line the pond before we put down the pond underlay and then the pond liner.

If you are digging into clay you could attempt to create your small pond without a man made liner. We are digging into sand and gravel, so this is not an option for us. After the pond liner is in place we will use the supply of rocks to create a natural looking edge around the pond. The rocks will also hold the underlay and the pond liner in place.

We will also be using an underlay material under the rocks to avoid punctures.  Filling the pond with water and watching to ensure that there are no leaks will be an exciting day. If you are adding rocks into your pond, use an underlay material under these rocks as well.

This will be followed by adding a few water plants to float in the pond and water plants in pots on the ledge around the inside of the pond. These plants will be purchased from a local nursery. Native plants will be our first choice. A floating piece of wood will also be a nice addition.

Finally, adding shrubs and flowers near or around your pond can not only provide protection from predators but, if they are well chosen plants, they will also provide food and homes for your visitors, not only in the spring and summer but also into the fall and winter.

Some native plants that you may see in the spring which are beneficial for pollinators are Oregon Grape (Berberis (mahonia) aquifolium), Pussytoes (Antennaria dioica ‘Rubra’), and Saskatoons (Amelanchier alnifolia). Summer brings Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata).

Not to be outdone, fall has Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), Western Aster (Symphyotrichum ascendens), and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). Winter is the time of year when leaving plants with seed heads and plant structure will not only feed birds but provide homes for beneficial insects. I will remember to add a small solar fountain to the center of the pond.

When a cactus grows in your garden without any help, listen to what it has to say.

Submitted by Valerie Boyda. She is a Master Gardener with the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners. She lives west of Kamloops with her husband and two cats on the north shore of the Thompson River. She loves gardening, photography and fishing and has a keen interest in regenerative landscaping with native plants and trees