America's search for tranquility turns to pricey ponds

By Maria Montoya
USA TODAY

Supersize it, please. My pond, that is.

Supersize ponds? Yup. Americans are spending megabucks building mammoth backyard ponds in their search for tranquility.

What used to be a weekend project that involved a mere trip to the local Lowe's has turned into something approaching a major home renovation for many. In 1999, a Gallup study for the National Gardening Association found Americans spent $806 million on water gardening ponds and supplies.

Henry David Thoreau would have been proud.

These ponds aren't anything like Walden, though. Most being built today are 8 by 10 feet or larger and have an overflow of accessories, such as gazebos, waterfalls, exotic fish, man-made or rare stones, and caves. Prices start at about $2,800 and go up to $30,000 when built by a landscaper -- as much as a small underground swimming pool. That's mighty high, considering a smaller do-it-yourself kit with no whistles or bells will cost only $200 to $500.

The ponds -- also known as water gardens when they incorporate plants -- are an expensive extension of the trend toward products to help consumers relax, such as indoor table-top fountains.

Nursery owner John Shelley of Felton, Pa., has built about 130 of the larger ponds, with demand rising in the past two years.

''Before the economy was so robust, we had a finite number of (landscaping customers) coming in to get a pond. Only about two out of 10,'' Shelley says. ''But we've seen an increase of about 300% in the number of customers who want the larger ponds.''

Shelley says the ponds often become a gathering place in the home.

That's been the case for Mario and Carol DeAngelo of Freeland, Md., who installed a gazebo overlooking a large pond on their property last spring. Now, they enjoy inviting guests to relax by their pond on a regular basis.

''It is so peaceful and serene. We wanted something really different, and this certainly beautifies the property. People are always flabbergasted when they see it,'' Carol DeAngelo says. ''Yes, it was quite expensive, but we have no regrets. We love it.''

Many who build big ponds are caught unaware of the costly maintenance and supplies that may be required. In cold climates, for instance, ponds need to be closed for the season and reopened in warmer weather, which can run $700 to $2,000 per visit.

But for those who aren't concerned about money, the possibilities are endless. Keiko Macaire of Environmental Aesthetics in North Hollywood, Calif., says she has heard of prices in the $100,000 range.

''We get a lot of young people retiring early who want the really nice ponds. Just like they like to have flashy cars, now they want to have big flashy ponds,'' she says.

And more and more people will want them, says Dianne Evenson, president of the Greater Phoenix Pond Society.

''Once you build one pond, you want to turn your whole backyard into water,'' she says. ''They are really just kind of addictive.''