(above) this shows the brick patio in between the ponds where we sit and relax. on the left you can see iris plants that are in the "veggie filter" where the water starts flowing down into Lotus Pond. in the middle is the nice japanese maple i transplanted last summer surrounded by a ring of hosta lillies. there is a bigger plant on the other side of the maple that is the christmas rose i dug up in decatur and brought down here last summer. oh by the way, my "clucking" frog left a few weeks ago, but now we have another kind of frog that lives in the rocks right by the patio. he doesn't wait until night to call, and will start croaking just about anytime during the day. what a nice way to relax, with the sound of water running, baby birds cheeping and a frog croaking every now and again for good measure.