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You know, I was going to launch into one of my rambles but instead I will take an entirely different tact:
I think that it is not unfair or unreasonable to say that koi are a single major focus for the koi keeper. This is different than when a homeowner focuses on the pond as a water feature or a place to build a mini-ecosystem or wildlife refuge. There, the associated species are often an after thought or a thing to provide movement or color. They can be a random collection of circumstance and impluse or maybe looked at as a community of living things- from dragon flies to fish. The point being that they are all parts of the pond or water feature.
But I think from that singular focus on only koi, there is a desire to build the right kind of environment for that particular pet. And so it has been and evolved since the first wave of keepers in the 1960s. And now, in 2007, we have a real handle on what the environment should be and how it should best be maintained. Experience IS the best teacher. In 1976, Ed Fujimoto wrote the first editoral page in the brand new KOI USA. He said in his mission statement;
KOI USA is dedicated to all koi lovers and is published in hopes that it will be looked upon as a focal point, the sounding board , and bible for the much needed communication concerning koi activities in the USA.
KOI USA attempts to upgrade the knowledge level of USA koi fanciers so that some day, we can proclaim to the world that US koi ( knowledge) is competitive with the best.
From this mind set came proper koi keeping techniques, koi appreciation and modern koi ponds.
The giant water garden industry has produced the water garden pond. But it is the tiny koi community and the dedicated koi hobbyists that created the modern koi pond.
JR
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