If spring and fall are the seasons when most pond lovers are actively working on or playing in their ponds, then the long cold winter months of winter are the time of year when many of us sit back and think about the kinds of things we can do next season to transform our beautiful aquatic paradise into an even more special place.

Winter is the season for dreaming                                                                                                                                       
So sit back, close your eyes, put your feet up, take a deep breath and picture those places you’ve experienced that come closest to perfection.  Have these experiences taken place along side a raging river or thunderous waterfall in Colorado, Montana or the Adirondacks of New York?  Do you picture a more tropical locale like Jamaica, Bermuda or Key West?  
Most importantly, what can you glean from these images that you can now take and duplicate in your own back yard, in order to create the paradise of your dreams?  

Size Matters
The possibilities are endless, but the first thought for many pond owners is increasing the size of their pond.  The most common pond owners complaint about their existing pond is that it’s too small  As a matter of fact, industry statistics show that, on average, water gardening lovers have three different ponds in their lifetime, each larger than the last.  If this sounds like you and your pond, the initial question has to be: “Is there enough room in my yard to expand?”  Other points to ponder when thinking of enlarging your pond are the size of your biological filter and the volume of water your existing  pump can move. 

More Splash in Your Life
What if your pond is as big as the yard allows?  The part of the pond that always gets the most attention is the waterfall and stream.  Will reworking the current waterfalls and streams give you a more dramatic or more natural feature?  Would you prefer to add another waterfall or stream to make things more interesting, more exotic and just a little closer to perfection?
Another possibility is to rework the pond edges.  Do you picture larger character boulders or a “sitting rock” where you can relax while enjoying your fish and plants?
As your koi grow, are their fish caves large enough to provide shelter from herons and other hungry predators?

Light Up Your World
Most of us are well aware of the importance of landscape and pond lighting in making a great pond even more intriguing.  Will additional lighting provide you with an even more dramatic experience?  Consider the use of low voltage, LED or fiber optic lighting as a way to upgrade your landscape.

The Missing Ingredient
Maybe your quite content with your current feature, but would like to see and hear moving water in another portion of your yard or from another window in your home.  A second pond or a pondless waterfall may be the answer.  Now is the time to plan for this new project.  Make a list of everything you love about your pond and also include things you would do differently the second time around.
If your pond is perfect just the way it is, what is the missing ingredient?  Do you envision a stone patio contoured along pond’s edge as a place to spend quality time?  Would a bridge or decorative bench complete the picture?  Is a gazebo or pergola the answer for a cool spot out of the searing summer sun?  Would a new landscape featuring plants that attract song birds and butterflies or  plants that create a more private, quiet spot for you and your family to escape the demands of our modern world be the answer?

Remember, you have to dream it before you can build it, and winter is for dreaming!