What to do with a disused swimming pool?

Our pond is a constant source of interest for us, as there is always something new to see. Dragonflies, red, green and blue ones, darting and hovering over the water, or resting, like little old fashioned bi-planes, on the bullrushes or water irises, or sleek, gold striped skinks who soon moved in, attracted by the increase in insect life around the pool. These shiny lizards have increased the size of their family since coming to our place, and the food supply must be good, as they have all grown considerably in recent months.

We started with seven or eight brightly coloured little fish a year ago. It seems no time since we were able to count our little school, now we would have no hope, as they have multiplied incredibly. Presently they number in the hundreds. They are now so plentiful that we approached our local aquarium shop to see if they would like to buy some. They breed their own, so weren't interested, but some of our neighbours have taken a few for their own fish tanks or ponds.

After the fish, the second most numerous group of creatures that call our pond home, are the dainty little sedge frogs, sometimes called dwarf tree frogs. They have a high pitched chirp, rather like crickets, and they show their pleasure at being here by chirping all night at the top of their lungs. At first we noticed one or two, then a dozen or more as the word spread around the neighbourhood about our new pond. They must like the place as they decided to increase their families here, and day by day, more and more tiny little emerald green, or gold toned, finger tip sized froglets, could be seen sunning themselves on our lily pads.

A summer storm, one evening, with heavy rain, and lots of thunder and lightning, was some kind of a signal for the sedgies, as there were little green frogs leaping in all directions. Most seem to have found their way into other parts of the garden, where they shelter during the day. However, they return to the pond each night for choir practice!!

Another significant amphibian group that has taken up residence is a small collection of rocket frogs. They are small brown striped frogs that are seldom seen and are very quick to leap away and hide when you go near. However we know they are in residence because their single note call sounds much like a tennis ball being belted across the court.. They sound like they are having a game of doubles every night. It's like having the Hopman Cup being played just outside our bedroom window!

Finally, the water lilies themselves, are a constant delight. We have rich blue tropicals and pretty pink hardies, as well as a variety of pinks that come out at night. The five we started with have more than trebled and most days we have six to nine beautiful lily blooms in our pond, as well as the charming and unusual flowers on some of the other water plants.

All things considered, we vote our pool to pond conversion a great success. We enjoy breakfast or morning tea beside the pond nearly every day, and we never tire of observing the little communities that live in and around our pond. It is far more interesting than our old pool ever was.

We live in Brisbane (Australia), so if you are thinking of a swimming pool to pond conversion, you are welcome to come and have a look at our lily pond. Don't forget to bring a bucket or two if you would like to buy some fish or plants to get you started.

Finally, the water lilies themselves, are a constant delight. We have rich blue tropicals and pretty pink hardies, as well as a pink variety that comes out late in the afternoon and stays open for the night. Just today a new lily opened - given to us recently by a friend - and it's a beautiful ivory shade. The five we started with have more than trebled and most days we have six to nine beautiful lily blooms in our pond, as well as the charming and unusual flowers on some of the other water plants.

All things considered, we vote our pool to pond conversion a great success. We enjoy breakfast or morning tea beside the pond nearly every day, and we never tire of observing the little communities that live in and around our pond. It is far more interesting than our old pool ever was.

We live in Brisbane (Australia), so if you are thinking of a swimming pool to pond conversion, you are welcome to come and have a look at our lily pond. Don't forget to bring a bucket or two if you would like to buy some fish or plants to get you started.

Our Lily Pond is starting to come alive again after the semi-dormant winter months. The conversion of our seldom used swimming pool into a living eco-system rates as one of the best things we've done. It never ceases to be a place of amazing discoveries and continuing interest.

We started out with four or five waterlilies and seven little fish. We now have more than twenty or thirty waterlily plants and hundreds of fish. As well as this, our pond has become the habitat of a variety of creatures. Red, blue and green dragonflies, skink lizards, striped marsh frogs and little green eastern sedge frogs have made our garden and pond their home.

We have grown accustomed, almost, to the racket the frogs kick up next to our bedroom window each night. Just as well the other pool residents are silent!

The water lilies are just so beautiful. Gorgeous blue. pink, white and yellow lilies now decorate our pond. As well, we have blue irises and several other flowering water plants adding to the show, with white, yellow and pink flowers in the shallows. The emerald and gold sedge froglets sit around on the lilypads all day, or, as they get older, head up on to the bulrushes or irises to get a better view of the world that surrounds them.

Last year, we were surprised to see their reaction to the first thunder storm of the season. Little sedgies took off in all directions. Some instinct, I guess, warned them that the storm might herald a flood. Some went up the walls of the house and clung to the outside of windows; some went up the fence and hid in crevices; others disappeared into shrubs and trees around the garden. I wonder if a summer storm will produce the same reaction this year.

Each morning we count our little sedgie froglets - we've long since run out of fingers and toes - and now have over 500 of these tiny little green inhabitants. They are only the size of a small fingernail and oh, so cute. The colours vary from a beautiful emerald green to a brownish gold.
It will be interesting to see how many of these 'babies' will grow to full size to be part of our lily pond choir next year.