Wow, Albert. I hope you weren't expecting an answer in just twenty minutes. I just logged in at 4pm and your post is at the top of the list so I would guess that by 6pm my time you will be getting some answers. Maybe I just read you wrong. I'm in a really bad mood today. I logged in to cheer myself up. The thing is that there are so very many sources and they all appeal to different ponders. There are so-o-o-o many ponds and so many personal preferences. No two ponds are alike. I must have looked at a hundred sources in the many years I was just dreaming. Most of them had some good ideas, some were obviously written by someone who had no real experience at all. You catch on to those in a hurry. There are some basics that should be followed and I will list a few. I'm sure others will have additional advice. Your area may have zoning restrictions. Check it out. I can't imagine having to fill in my pond for lack of a permit. The next thing to consider is location. A higher spot is preferable to a low spot. This prevents runoff containing chemicals from getting into the pond. It also prevents ground water from interfering with the liner. Drainage can be critical in some cases. Accidentally flooding a neighbors driveway due to an icing problem is not a good thing especially if it could have been avoided. It is better to site the pond away from deciduous trees to reduce maintenance and possible intrusion from roots. Leaves mess up everything to do with the pond but sometimes it is unavoidable. The pond should be located where it is in good viewing range for pleasure and safety. It needs to be accessible for safety and maintenance and access to electricity and water. The size of the pond is determined by many factors. If you want to have fish as permanent residents they need a particular amount of oxygen rich water for good health. A lot of fish mean larger pond size and fish grow and reproduce. Koi need more space than the comet family. They need a depth of at least three feet somewhere for exercise, protection from predators, winter cold(ice cover)and summer heat. Many if not most ponders discover they wish their pond was larger. This can get out of hand if you don't have enough experience before you dig your final pond. Starting small and cheap is no disgrace. Too small and you may be starting over. My 10 year old pond is 1000 gallons, approximately 10 feet by 10 feet. Yes, I wish it was larger, but I am too old to indulge. I will play with details. Pond shape is personal preference. Some people like geometric shapes, some prefer more natural shapes. If there is a ponding community that has a tour near you, take it. You may find your own preference is different from what you expect and may get some great ideas for your area. Digging the hole...Well, if you have a spouse like mine, you can dig it yourself by hand if it is only a moderate size. It took me most of a summer, but then I am 5 feet tall and had flaming fibromyalgia and could only do it a little bit at a time. It does make the hole very personal. Those who have access to more hands or motorized equipment can do it over a weekend. Liners are expensive and going cheap can create problems. There are all sorts of possibilities but a majority on this forum seem to go with .45mill EPDM, which is rubber sheeting made almost exclusively by Goodyear. There is no proven difference between that sold for ponds and that sold for roofing material although some are leery of the roofing stuff. Some roofing material is treated for resistance to moss and algae. It is not appropriate for ponds. Check the prices and availability in your area. Sizes vary and larger sizes must be special ordered. I got mine half price at an end of season sale. Liner underlayment depends on the soil. I have clay with no intrusions except a couple of smooth tree roots so I skipped the underlayment after the carpet scrap I tried rotted and stank to heaven because of the slow drainage rate of heavy clay even on a rise. Rocky soil or sandy debris would be a different story. Filtration and aeration is crucial. You can go with high-tech solutions or DIY such as the Skippy filter with poly quilt batting. I have a 100 gallon Skippy that I am quite content with. I clean it once in the spring and once in the fall. Others here will insist that high-tech is better. I do know it is much more expensive. You can always change to high-tech when more money is available. I think it is a personal choice. An over sized pump is better than one that is just barely adequate for the gallons. There are many factors that reduce efficiency. More gallons per hour going through the filter are better than less. I wouldn't use less than 2100 gph for my 1000 gallon pond and sometimes use a supplemental pump for various reasons. Expect someone else to add to this info. I don't buy or sell a lot of pumps so I have no way to compare. A backup pump can be a good idea for emergencies. I use a large aquarium bubbler in addition to the waterfall for aeration. Enclosed in a waterproof container it lasts about 3 to 4 years which is how long the diaphragm rubber holds out. That is what I would expect from indoor usage. I used to be able to find new diaphragms at pet supply shops but I guess no one carries them anymore. Aerators made exclusively for ponds are available. Electricity is essential and safe installation with a GFCI circuit is very, very important for safety. An extension cord is not a good idea. Sorry, I gotta go feed the critters and fix dinner. Hope this is helpful.

Renee, I agree with most people on here, especially about Roses Unlimited and Antique Rose Emporium. I had a 50+ rose garden in a limited space in Florida (high humidity), and grew a few Austins. They took a lot of care: regular spraying, well spaced apart, and lots of air flow. The blackspot battle during the worst of the humidity was a pain, but the scent of those roses was so well worth it. Belinda's Dream bought from Roses Unlimited was the spectacular show off in the garden, yielding over 300+ blooms for months and months in a row. It had a 10 month season, and smelled like cotton candy. I also recommend Outta the Blue, which had a black pepper/rose scent that I planted right at the edge of the walkway at the driveway. Tamora, Sharifa Asma, Fair Bianca, and other Austins whose names escape me now, were amazing! Pat at Roses Unlimited knew exactly which roses to recommend to me for my microclimate, so make sure to speak with her if you want the best and most successful roses. The Austins were NOT carefree, but I knew that before I bought them. I also had hybrid teas; lots of them, and again, Pat helped me select the least fussy ones. I mixed herbs, veggies, perennials and a few annuals among the garden, and lots of glass oddities. It was beautiful! Remember: did a million dollar hole, and that's half the battle.

Oh kygirl...why not come and join in the fun this season, and meet several of the more local GWers at the swap? The more, the merrier...and I'm sure you will go home with some goodies. I have some things to just 'share' as well as for trading....so long as I know what folks would like for me to bring them. If you don't feel you have anything of value to contribute, there are plenty of other 'useful' gardening things that gardeners welcome receiving. Here is a brief list of some thing that were brought in past years that were not plants, bulbs, rhizomes, cuttings, etc....I copied it from another post... I might add here too that though some of the newer gardeners may not have much to bring to trade/share, that there are always other things welcome for swapping/bringing to contribute in some way. Brownies! Flower pots of all kinds/hanging baskets. Seed stashes Seed Baggies Garden junk Garden Art/Signs Plants, bulbs, cuttings, of course Winter sown babies Bird Houses Bird feeders Garden books/others And I even passed off a dozen extra jelly jars I had taking up room that I would never use. The ideas are endless. Additionally, in walking around your property, you may even notice things that you could bring cuttings of....like shrubs or something. Think about it...please Sue...swap ringleader

Just as I've said all over this forum, take a little trip to Boise and pick up your 5 gallon Austins at Edwards Greenhouse. These are in Austin pots and with Austin tags. For $46. Hurry. I should get a bonus of free roses from Edwards for this. Tantau still owes me. Diane