Where a natural pond is subject to a sudden increase in water volume, a water gate connected with an open ditch or culvert of sufficient size to divert the additional column of water must be built to obviate damage from floods. This sort of construction work is often complicated and had best be left to professionals, as in the end it will most generally be found a good deal cheaper, and will save much annoyance and disappointment.
If more than one pond is projected, connect them with each other by drains, making each a little lower than the preceding. With such an arrangement, water can be supplied from a fountain in the first pond, which may be entirely ornamental. This has the advantage that the sun’s rays heat the water drops in falling. Further, since it is chiefly the surface water which is carried off, the water in the last pond will have the highest temperature. This pond can then be selected for the growing of tender or heat-loving tropical nymphaeas, etc. Even the giant Victoria Cruziana does well in such an unheated pond in St. Louis, for example, but in more Northern regions, some means of artificial heating would have to be installed to help out.
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