Time to be ‘koi:’ annual pond tour is Saturday

Fourteen koi glide through the water of Greg and Susan Roaldson’s pond as water trickles just feet away.

The Roaldson’s pond is featured in the Northern Nevada Pond Club’s annual pond tour 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

The tour will highlight some of the techniques used to construct a pond, and the various attributes a pond can bring to a backyard area.

“We want to be able to share how amazing a backyard can be with a pond,” Susan Roaldson said.

The tour features many ponds in the surrounding areas, and it allows people to experience the beauty and serenity of a private pond.

“It’s very enjoyable to build a pond, especially one with a waterfall to be able to listen to the soothing sounds,” said Melanie Miller, vice president of the pond club. “ We live quite a ways from the ocean so it’s a nice substitute.”

The Roaldsons of Minden have been members of the pond club for nine years. “We always wanted fish in our pond so we joined to learn and also took classes,” Roaldson said. “Now people come to us for advice.”

Their pond allows the couple to spend time together caring for and enjoying their creation. “It is a huge de-stresser. We sit outside everyday after work,” Roaldson said.

The Roaldson’s son, Ryan, knew his parents’ desire for a pond and grabbed a shovel one Father’s Day to give his parents their dream. “We all grabbed shovels and started digging,” Roaldson said.

Since the spontaneous building of their pond they have created a natural wildlife habitat in their backyard. The pond attracts frogs, toads, hawks and warblers.

Being a feature on the pond tour allows Roaldson and other members of the club to educate and share with members of the community how ponds can enhance any backyard. “People have lots of questions,” Roaldson said. “If someone is afraid of starting a pond like we were, we can give them advice and answer their questions.”

Ponds allow people to take part in aqua gardening and raising koi, which can be difficult in Nevada.

The Northern Nevada Pond Club started in 1998 as a social, educational event. The club meets once a month and has members from Reno, Carson City, Minden, Dayton and Gardnerville. Members gather to swap gardening and fish care techniques, as well as enjoying other members’ ponds.

“We go out and look at the different ponds and the husbands gather to talk about the technical aspect of the ponds,” Miller said.

Roaldson’s husband recently completed the plumbing for their pond’s expansion which can be seen on the tour.

“There are so many other ponds in the area to showcase,” club member, Sharon Duck said. “We want people to see what you can do with any kind of backyard.”

Some of the homes on the tour have ponds alongside their mule corrals as well as smaller form-built ponds.

The tour will include 11 ponds in Gardnerville, Minden and Carson City. Exact addresses and a map will be provided with purchase of tickets. Tickets cost $10 a person, or $15 a couple and are available at the Greenhouse Garden Center on Curry Street in Carson City, Plant It Nursery on Centerville Road in Gardnerville (across from St. Gall Catholic Church) and Bridger Mountain Boutique in the Carson Mall.

For further information contact Dunk at 267-0336 or Miller at 775-901-3508.