[quote author="bkshopr" date=1227079561][quote author="caycifish" date=1227078871][quote author="SoCal78" date=1227074110]- Pergola with swing under it.
- <em>Gazebo! </em>
- Putting green or miniature golf
- Badminton court
- Large, beautiful fountain (the sound of trickling water is very nice outside)
- Koi pond</blockquote>
I really like the koi pond idea. My grandparents had one and I have many childhood memories of feeding and watching the fish.</blockquote>
Parrots, squirrels and several strayed cats frequent the yard often. Would they eat or hurt the fish in the pond? I hate to have a nice Koi pond but having a netting over it. The rear of the yard is currently a Zen garden with bamboos and Japanese Maple. A koi Pond will be a good addition. Stray cats and Nancy's cat think the zen garden is a giant litter box!! Our Wiener dog loves to wear cat poops.
Any other ideas?</blockquote>
My parents used to have koi until, one by one, they were taken by predators. Based on tracks, the main culprits appeared to be racoons who were able to remove protective features in the pond (racoon paws have dextrous fingers) . One of the most majestic things I have ever seen in the suburbs is a hawk silently gliding down across my parents' backyard and then, almost in slow motion, lowering its legs like landing gear just as it skimmed the top of the koi pond than then in a flash of water, taking off at a high angle wtih a koi hanging in its its talons.