By Kathy McGrath
We asked Centennial residents to share their backyard ponds with us, and we weren’t disappointed. Three local homeowners invited us into their yards, revealing the lush beauty and Zen-like atmosphere created by their ponds. We learned these water features create an oasis of calm in a big city.
Boxhill Drive
Sandra Itenson and her husband Angelo Bernardo built their pond as a Covid project. As with many hobbies, the pond grows every year. Sandra said the water feature adds a peaceful element to the yard. “I’ll come out here with my cup of tea or a glass of wine after work, and just decompress. The sound of the running water is really nice.” Frogs have taken up residence and they sing a croaking chorus. “We’ve had frogs for three years now,” she said. “I don’t know where they came from – they just arrived one day.” Sandra and Angelo use solar panels to run the pumps. They only use natural enzymes to keep the pond clear, steering away from chemicals if possible. Sandra belongs to a Facebook group where she meets other pond owners who share plants and maintenance tips.
Rockport Drive
When Nancy Green and her husband moved into Centennial 30 years ago, Nancy took one look at the backyard and knew she wanted to add a pond. “There was a corner with a depression, so I dug the first one myself.” After starting a second career as a landscape designer 18 years ago, Nancy had a larger pond professionally installed. The couple has never looked back. “We sit here by the water in our Muskoka chairs with a glass of wine and a fire going; it’s like being at a cottage,” she said. “It’s so peaceful.” The pond contains goldfish that don’t need feeding because the natural ecosystem of moss and water lilies provides for them. Once in a while, minks come from the lake and clean out the fish, which is why the Greens don’t buy expensive koi.
Bonacres Avenue
Sue Thorne and her husband Frank DeLeo inherited their large pond when they moved to their Centennial home almost five years ago. What was originally a swimming pool had been converted by the previous owners into a backyard paradise. “When we looked at the house I thought ‘I don’t really want a pond,’” recalled Sue. “But it was so beautiful. The perennials they put in were outstanding.” Sue and Frank quickly became pond converts, and have since installed their own small pool. Over the years a variety of wildlife has made use of the pond including ducks, frogs and a great blue heron. Recently, Sue spotted turkey vultures weighing down the branch of a nearby tree. She said the pond looks best at night when the waterfall and surrounding rocks glow from artfully-placed lighting.
