Pioneer Valley Water Garden and Koi Club's annual pond tour features specially landscaped water gardens with ornamental fish

Some 16 ponds in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut will be included on the club’s 20th annual Pond Tour on July 13 and 14.

SPRINGFIELD –Eileen A. Richard enjoys “moodling” near the 22-by-32-foot water garden and koi pond at her Springfield home.

She quotes author Brenda Ueland when she explains what "moodling" is: long, inefficient happy idling, dawdling and puttering.

“It’s a time for you to let your mind wander. That’s what I do at the pond--and read my Kindle,” said Richard, the president of the Pioneer Valley Water Garden and Koi Club.

Her yard will be one of 16 in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut on the club’s 20th annual Pond Tour on July 13 and 14. The self-guided tour, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days, will be held rain or shine. Richard and her husband, Ronald A. Richard, built their water garden and koi pond over 14 years. “It’s my country in the city,” she said. The pond features a Goshen stone wall, a waterfall, a 5-foot working waterwheel and two decks. There is a 6-foot mahogany bridge over the pond, and none of the supporting structures, like filters, are visible.

The pond is 4 1/2 feet deep in the center.

In addition to koi, the pond has shubunkins, goldfish and comets that swim among the water lilies. Ferns, miniature cattails and four varieties of ornamental grasses grow along the edge.

“Most people who have ponds are landscapers. We love our gardens and our plants,” said Eileen Richard, a retired service writer.

Tour participants will see various sizes and shapes of ponds, bog gardens and even some dry streambeds. Some ponds are professionally built; others were created by homeowners.

“Some people build ponds from retaining walls, rocks found from digging the hole for their pond, while others pay and have rocks delivered,” said Cindy L. Patnode, pond tour co-chairperson and an adviser to the club.

Ponds and gardens are landscaped with a variety of trees, bushes, perennial plants, herb gardens, shade and sunny gardens, grasses, bridges, unusual stones, sculptures, waterwheels and stepping stones.

In the ponds are various types of tropical and native water plants, statues and various types of koi fish and goldfish.

“Some homeowners have a fire pit near their pond, so on a cool night they can still enjoy watching their fish and the sound of the waterfalls,” Patnode said.

Other homeowners have their pond and surrounding areas lit up for nighttime enjoyment. Most have a sitting area by the pond — a patio, gazebo or deck.

At her home in Westfield, Patnode has two ponds; one is 25 by 29 feet with a Japanese theme including bamboo, Japanese red maple and different varieties of Japanese grasses.

There is a tall Japanese pagoda, Japanese fisherman, Japanese seasons stepping stones, Japanese bridge and bamboo fencing. Four 16-inch koi live in this pond.

The rock used for it and waterfall came from the hole dug for the pond.

The 3 1/2-by-12-foot pond has a contemporary style, made from retaining wall blocks. It contains 25 goldfish of various sizes and colors.

“My husband and I love to sit out by the ponds and listen to the waterfalls, watch the koi and goldfish swim around and watch the fish as we feed them,” said Patnode of the setting that has been on previous tours, but is not this year.

“Friends and family love to sit and relax by the ponds, and the grandkids love to feed the fish.”

Tickets for the pond tour are $15 per family/car.

They can be purchased at Agway Westfield Home and Garden Center in Westfield, Anson Flower & Nursery in Southwick, A.W. Brown in East Longmeadow, Butterfly Koi in Ludlow, Chapley Gardens in Deerfield, Class Grass Garden in Granby, Dave's Soda and Pet City in Springfield and Agawam, Emmons Tropical Fish in Simsbury, Conn., Exotic Fish and Pet World in Southampton, Field of Flowers in Westfield, Five Star Garden in Palmer, Graziano Gardens in East Longmeadow, Kosinki Farms in Westfield, Ondrick Natural Earth in Chicope, Picture Perfect Ponds in Westfield, Randall’s Farm and Greenhouse in Ludlow, Renew Calm in West Springfield, and Sixteen Acres Garden in Springfield,Tarnow Nursery in Enfield and Westfield Home and Garden.

Funds from the event will be used for club speakers and activities.

For more information about the tour or membership in the club, call Cindy (413) 214-8488 or email her at rickxoclndy@gmail.com or call Syd at (413) 527-1852 or email her at sydb46@hotmail.com.

Information can also be found on the club's web site; http://www.pioneervalleypondclub.com/