July 15, 2004

Local Koi and water garden club to hold annual pond tour

Five out of seven ponds are located in San Jose

By Shari Kaplan
Editor

The Santa Clara Valley Koi and Water Garden Club, a San Jose-based group whose members raise Japanese Koi, maintain water gardens, or both, will hold its annual pond tour fundraiser July 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Seven members’ ponds will be open to the public, and all ponds feature colorful Koi along with landscaping elements such as waterfalls, Japanese-style gardens, exotic water plants and dramatic settings. Docents will be on hand at each pond to talk about its attributes and give general information on the care of Koi and water gardens.

The first pond is on Meadowlands Lane in Silver Creek and features a large Koi pond of sculptured concrete fed by two waterfalls. The pond is framed by 30 tons of river rock, crossed by a double bridge and surrounded by sequoias, birches, Japanese maples and colorful plants.

The second pond, on Rosencrans Way in Santa Teresa, contains 5,500 gallons with three waterfalls and 19 Koi—ranging in length from 12 to 25 inches—along with a 16-year-old turtle. A smaller, 700-gallon pond houses goldfish. The garden also includes stone walkways, a bonsai display and various ornamental trees, plants and flowers.

South 16th Street in downtown San Jose is the venue for the third pond, which appeared in Sunset Magazine in July 2003. Besides its Koi pond, it also has exotic plants, dramatic lighting, a firepit and a large dining patio.

Willow Glen’s Minnesota Avenue is home to the fourth pond, which features Koi, waterfalls, a waterwheel and a bog complete with water plants. Six mini patios intertwine with the multi-level gardens.

The fifth pond is on Starling Ridge Court in Almaden Valley. The centerpiece is a 4,000-gallon pond in which more than 30 Koi and goldfish live in harmony. Unusual plants surround the pond, and a waterfall, built against a hillside, feeds it.

The sixth pond is on Peach Hill Road in Saratoga. The waterfall and pond, filled with mature Koi, are lined with rocks, large ferns and other plants to create a natural, wooded setting. The garden also includes rhododendrons, camellias and roses.

Menlo Park offers the seventh pond on Siskiyou Drive. Making it worth the trip are three ponds, home to both Koi and goldfish, joined by a system of streams and waterfalls that circulate more than 10,000 gallons of water. The ponds divide the manicured yard from a grove of redwood trees.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for teenagers. Children under 12 are free. Visitors may visit the ponds in any order; maps and tickets are available at each. Those who visit all seven ponds can enter a drawing for a one-year membership to the Santa Clara Valley Koi and Water Garden Club. The club’s activities include monthly meetings, pond socials, participation in garden shows and Japanese cultural events, information on Koi and plant health, tips on where to buy pond supplies and fish and competitive Koi shows.

For more information, call John Hughes at (408) 227-4388, Barbara Snarr at (650) 969-0715, or visit www.scKoi.com on the Internet.