Category: Garden Bay

Wildlife Pond

I have just started this summer’s project, which is the creation of a wildlife pond especially for frogs

When I bought the property there was a circular area of paving stones in the middle of the front lawn surrounded by lavenders. I wanted a goldfish pond and bought the circular stock tank shown in the photo (2022) for that purpose. I figured out a way of adding plants and received a bounty of free mature goldfish one summer. However, the fish did not survive the winter and this summer the plants were struggling as well.

So I’ve given up on having goldfish and on using the stock tank as a pond feature. I looks more natural already. Next step is to design the build details and start digging. I am having fun!

Progress Photos

26/06/25 rough hole dug
10/07/25 – layers: sand, liner, sand, center stepping stone
15/07/25 gravel over sand, water added, liner cut, folded over edge, reused paving stones
16/07/25 construction done, soil backfill, gravel edges

Mistakes, I’ve made a few

So I have a sterile, muddy puddle that is waiting for a wildlife invasion. I dream of the pond filled with healthy water plants, interesting aquatic insects, and of course frogs and tadpoles.

Very Busy

We have been very busy since returning to Garden Bay. I had two weeks of gardening before Aimeé returned, after which we went to the cabin, attended the Vancouver marathon to support a Mexican runner daughter of a friend, and then just getting back into the routine here.

There is a lot going on in the garden in May, as I tried to illustrate in the photo. I find spring here thrilling but it comes with a lot of work. I don’t have lawn but grass does grow beteen the planting areas along with select weeds and self-sown flowering plants. I cut the grass twice a season, in May and in September. From experience I know that if I don’t cut back the grass around now then the yard quickly becomes a jungle. So that’s what I started after taking this photo.

In 2023 while in Guanajuato I developed the DGA TODO App to help manage my activities and it works really well. However, lately the app has made it obvious that there is too much to do and some activities are not getting done. Unfortunately, one of those activities is playing the piano.

In Guanajuato early this year I resolved to restart my piano studies. I did a lot of YouTube searching for instruction and motivation, and ended up buying a three month subscription to jazzskills.com. With lots of free time in Gto I practiced for hours every day and made a ton of progress. I am not going to renew the subscription because I can’t put in the practice time here in Garden Bay, but will rejoin when we return to Mexico. Until then I have lots ot practice (when I can) from what I have learned so far.

Aimeé will be employed again at John Henry’s this summer and starts tomorrow. She wants to take the driver’s road test soon and is working hard on that goal.