| Spent today out in the sun working on my japanese garden. As I pondered the question of this thread , I remembered all the time I put in helping to start and nurture two koi clubs and an association of koi clubs. I did learn a lot, made lots of friends...But
the biggest joy today was just weeding around the pond and watching my asagi's turn in tight circles always with an expectant eye on me.... waiting for the hapless worm uncovered in my weeding!
My quince are in full bloom and I 'd hear the hummingbirds racing back and forth across the pond with their metalic buzzing
as they flitted from flower to flower. Would have liked to be able to ask which was sweeter, the toyo nishiki or the red chojubai...It frosted and froze last night. Made me grimmace as i checked on my bonsai early in the morning...No wonder ther japanese beech hasn't bothered to break buds yet. cracy korean hornbeam, it did break bud and probably wished it hadn't!
I think the most important thing for a newbee is to really be willing to put in the time and care and attention it takes to nurture a pond. For example there are those folks who have an animal and they feed and house them but do they spend time with them creating a bond. I think this is vital to develop the love and dedication that has you pouring over every book or koi chat line you can find on a topic of interest to better help your koi. I'm sure for those who don't have koi the thought of creating a bond with a fish would be delightfully hilarious. But i swear even tho I try and sneak up to the pond in the morning to serve her breakfast, Kimiko my magoi blooded asagi is there waiting and looking for me. She rushes over to me as if to say " where have you been Dad, I'm starved" ! She makes me happy when i see her....she has me well trained! LOL!
There were many times over the decades that when my koi got sick, I did some fool thing like let the pond over run with chlorinaded water, or walked out to the pond in the morning to find a blue herron flying off with my favoite tosai that i was ready to give it all up, totally crushed and heart broken. Like any love, when it's bad....it's bad....when it's good...it's fantastic! My wish for all newbees is to hang in there, each learning curve thru painful lessons is to spur you on... not defeat you...and after you've learned enough to keep all your koi well, I wish you time to spend with them...and maybe just a few weeds around the pond that need pulling! |