2025 MWGS Water Garden Tour Sites
Site A: Lane and Kathy
Step into our backyard oasis and enjoy the soothing sights and sounds of multiple waterfalls flowing between two peaceful ponds filled with over 150 vibrant koi. Surrounded by blooming water plants and a colorful wildflower garden, there are plenty of cozy spots to sit, relax, and take it all in. The back of our property borders a cattail wetland slough connected to the western shore of Lake Sarah, attracting a wide variety of ducks, geese, pheasants, turkeys, and deer. Whether you are listening to the falls or watching the koi swim, we know you will enjoy it as much as we do.
Site B: Jeff and Becky
We have a mini swim pond that our girls and their friends absolutely love. It features straight sides built with wall stone and has steps leading into the lower section. We added two bubbling rocks, which create a wonderful sound that we can even enjoy from the house. We also have a 6’ pondless waterfall that welcomes our visitors. The surrounding perennial flowers change with the seasons, giving the waterfall a different look throughout the year. You can visit the behind the scenes growing location for aquatic plants from Minnesota Waterscapes. Two greenhouses and our koi kennels will also be open for touring.
Site C: Gary and Bonnie
Bonnie and Gary’s ponds and streams have been a constantly expanding work in progress which started after Gary was awestruck by his first parade of ponds tour approximately 25 years ago. The property is on a one-half acre lot on Schmidt Lake in Plymouth. Several water features, gardens, and whimsical art pieces are scattered throughout the property. The main water feature is a multi-level pond with two small koi ponds, a bog, and waterfalls that appear to cascade into a meandering 150-foot stream that flows peacefully down a large hill into the lake. There are several places to sit and relax along the stream’s path. Another 20-foot pond less water structure has four individual water features contained within it and surrounding perennial gardens. Several other smaller water features will hopefully make a trip to Plymouth worth your while.
Site D: Joe and Karen
Our two backyard ponds, built in 2007, are connected by a 20′ stream and feature a walking bridge, 2 bogs, and an adjacent patio. Both ponds are approximately 8′ x 16′ x 2′ and the volume is approximately 3000 gallons. Gravel and flagstone paths connect the water features, patio, back yard, and front yard. Bog plants are mostly Minnesota natives because they can endure the heavy shade. The various gardens are a mix of perennials and annuals.
Site E: Steve and Peggy
Our pond was put in during a remodel and is next to the side of the house. There are two streams that flow into the pond to create the soothing sights and sounds of waterfalls. Along the side is a small wetland area. It was designed to be seen from the lower level of the house. About 30 feet from there is a large one acre pond full of wildlife that we enjoy year round. There are gardens throughout the property with easy walking access for all. There is a path in the very back of the property with cattails, wetland perennials and trees. There is so much beauty to see and we enjoy it every day.
Site F: Gary and Regina
We have two ponds, one in front of the home in the entry, another larger pond located on our lower deck to the south side of the home. Both ponds are capable of sustaining KOI over the winter which we have been doing for over 20 years.
Our priorities in pond design are to have low pond maintenance & upkeep, to support fish and wildlife, and to sustain beautiful flowering plants.
Site G: John
As you drive up Emerald Trail, on your left you see what started as a water collection pond for the neighborhood. The pond was carved out of the front yard and was a weedy, algae infested mess. The 900 square feet of pond has been pumped out, a stream with 3 mini-waterfalls were added along with a fountain. The approximately 3000 square feet of area surrounding the pond has been landscaped with perennials and ground retaining evergreens. The sound of the moving water and flowering perennials brings joy to the neighborhood.
Site H: Tom and Betty
Wooded backyard oasis with flagstone walkways, fire pit area, waterfall, streams, bogs, and a 4-foot-deep Koi Pond. The 80 foot long 8000-gallon system uses natural filtration with no bio falls or skimmers. Energy efficient 8200 gph above ground pump uses only 420 watts to provide the relaxing sounds of flowing water. The flagstone walkways with two bridges provide many viewing opportunities of the many flowers, Hosta gardens, waterfall, and Koi. Our inspiration to create a water feature in our back yard was provided by the water garden tour 3 years ago and by joining MWGS.
Site I: Amanda
This site depicts a 25′ series of cascading waterfalls in the front yard, starting with a 4’x6′ pond, a 3’x8′ rock stream that flows into a 5’x7′ pond and ends with a 3′ waterfall into a small pond facing the road. The larger pond is home to 5 goldfish, several frogs, and pond plants. The main water feature was installed in 2022 by the homeowner within an existing timber sleeper retaining wall and planter that edged the old paved driveway, now converted to gardens/lawn. This yard, nestled into a maple-basswood woodland, also features several perennial gardens, a rain garden and other smaller water features placed in sunny spots. Follow the pathways through the yard to explore the gardens.
Site J: Craig and Cathy
When we moved in, our yard was a barren, sunny, hot landscape of only grass. It is now a wonderland of trees, flowers, and wildlife. My pond is a U shape and starts with a stream that leads to a small pond, followed up by another stream leading to a larger pond, about 10′ by 3′. I made a Japanese Garden inspired path of boulders along the edge of the pond. About 2/3 of the rainwater from my roof gets diverted into the pond. During heavy rain, the excess water gets pumped into a large storage cube for dryer weather.
Site K: Scott and Lisa
A small 20-gallon basalt stone pondless water feature greets our visitors at the front door. It has a smaller bubbler to create a birdbath with a slow cascading waterfall. The entry way landscape includes an 8’ Hindu Pan topiary tree, Winnipeg Parks rose bushes, perennials, and annuals. Our bee pond is a small 100-gallon pond with a 10’ long meandering stream and plenty of landing spots for our honey bees. The main water feature is the koi pond. It was influenced by our family’s love for the great outdoors and favorite camping spot, Temperance River State Park. The 2,000-gallon pond has a 4’ wide waterfall stream with a 4’ elevation drop that ends in the 8’x10’ pond area, which has a max depth of 4’ to hold our Koi. Its main construction stone is 13 tons of Mossy Weathered Limestone outcroppings from Missouri. The pond has an Aquascape BioFalls filter system and variable speed pump that runs 5,000-9,574 gph. The pond was built in 2022 as part of our third landscaping revamp, which also included an outdoor fireplace, the addition of berms in the gardens, 20+ new trees, and perennials. The pond is surrounded by small weeping evergreens, a 4’ Hindu Pan tree, perennials, and annuals. In addition to our water features, we have a 60-panel solar array, two beehives, chickens, and a two-story garden shed. All construction and landscaping was completed by us, except for the solar.
