Pond-life
One of the greatest joys of having a water garden is being able to observe the aquatic life that naturally populates a healthy water body. Whether it is a garden pond or a stream, there will be creatures that arrive completely unexpectedly and unannounced. They often live quietly and unseen to all but the most observant. These creatures are all part of the rich tapestry of life in a pond and perform invaluable roles in maintaining a healthy and viable ecosystem.
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 The creatures in the pond are part of a rich tapestry of life.
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 The water gardener needs to do little to manage the natural aspect of pond-life.
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For the most part the water gardener needs to do little to manage this aspect of pond-life, for the richest diversity of creatures is to be found in a water body that is in good health. This only arises when there has been proper management and a sensible choice of plants during establishment. Water clarity is important, but water quality is the key to encouraging a rich aquatic flora and fauna.
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| Water quality achieved naturally through a balanced stocking of plants and fish, rather than mechanically or chemically through a filtration system.
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Much of the pond-life that lives in the water metamorphoses into adult creatures that emerge and add great pleasure to the general garden scene. Dragonflies and damselflies are a great joy with their darting avian antics. The brief glimpse of adult mayflies swarming on a summer evening, or the streaking flight of a diving beetle as it crash lands into the pond, are all wonderful experiences for the water gardener. Within the pond there is myriad life as well as the larvae and nymphs of these wonderful creatures.
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 Dragonflies and damselflies are a great joy with their avian antics.
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| These tiny creatures make a fascinating study and are an invaluable sustenance for fish, and often other aquatic life as well.Some of this pond life can be a problem as well, such as leeches that will prey on fish and snails. Then there are caddisfly larvae which chew pieces out of aquatic plant foliage, and mosquito larvae that will turn into troublesome adults to afflict the gardener.
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 Caddisfly larvae chew pieces out of aquatic plant foliage.
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However, all can be managed to some degree and should be accepted as a very minor downside of viable aquatic ecosystem. The benefits of a buoyant natural ecosystem to the pond itself, as well the untold pleasure to the gardener and his or her children or grandchildren, cannot be underestimated.
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