This Total Habitat Natural Swimming Pool/Pond (NSP) was built in 2008 in Wichita, Kansas. This NSP is nearly 8 feet deep, with two low-profile waterfalls, a pebble beach entry, and lots of beautiful geology! Unlike our Essentials Plus model, this pool/pond's biological filtration system is not built behind a bio-filter retaining wall (an underwater wall surrounding the swimming area). Instead, the biological filtration system in this pool/pond is completely hidden from view in the walls and floor!

View this video on youtube instead:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwpFLEuj8DA&feature=youtu.be

The challenge: Move these carefully selected, one-of-a-kind holey boulders into place without damaging them or anything else! The catch: The boulder mountain's final site is the tiny space between the garden wall and the gazebo. The solution: A tele handler and some very sturdy straps. That's right, we need to strap and lift these boulders over the garden wall (without nicking the gazebo or any of the precious trees) and gently set them down onto their poured concrete slab. No problem!

After months of scouring Western Kansas fields and quarries for gnarly, character-filled, holey boulders for our Holey Boulder Mountain at the Chinese Garden, here are the beautiful specimens we have found! Next challenge: Placing these beauties, without damaging them (or anything else), into the cramped space inside the Chinese Garden, between the gazebo and the garden wall…. Stay tuned!

Update: The Total Habitat crew is busy working on the new Chinese Garden addition to the Botanica Gardens of Wichita, KS. Our part of the project includes a winding holey boulder stream, pond, and holey boulder mountain. Though this project may look quite different from our Natural Swimming Pool/Ponds (NSP's), the biological filtration system we've built into this stream is exactly the same as in our NSP's! 

Update: The Total Habitat crew is busy working on the new Chinese Garden addition to the Botanica Gardens of Wichita, KS. Our part of the project includes a winding holey boulder stream, pond, and holey boulder mountain. Though this project may look quite different from our Natural Swimming Pool/Ponds (NSP's), the biological filtration system we've built into this stream is exactly the same as in our NSP's! 

SeaWorld and Disney World are hosting this year's AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) Conference in sunny Orlando! We're catching up with old friends and checking out what's new in zoo/aquarium exhibit and product design. We heard about this important conservation initiative this morning, among others-- be sure to check this out: http://www.96elephants.org

Check out these photos of a stunning new Natural Swimming Pool/Pond (NSP) in Texas! This NSP was built using our How-To eBook, Natural Swimming Pools/Ponds: The Total Guide, 2nd Edition, and a little hands-on help from us. Thanks to the homeowner for sending us these awesome pics: keep em' coming folks! 

We have been busy busy busy working onsite at a zoo exhibit build in Baltimore, MD for the past two weeks. After rain delays, bad luck at every turn, and several 13 hour days on the construction site, we have finally returned to the office. We were welcomed back this week by a mountain of emails and an unprecedented number of requests for our Natural Swimming Pool/Ponds (we feel the love)! Thank you all for your patience as we catch up this week! 

Hi all! Now introducing the brand new Natural Swimming Pool & Pond Photo Gallery! It's packed with photos of Total Habitat pools and ponds from around the country, including two of our 2013 NSP's.

Call for Photos: Hey there Natural Swimming Pool & Pond owners! We are calling on you to share your NSP photos with us and the rest of the Total Habitat Blog Community. We want it all: Whether it's a pic of you/your family enjoying the pool, a snapshot of visiting wildlife, or simply your view of the pool from your kitchen window. Just send your photographs (with a caption if you want one) to [email protected].

Here are some photos of one of our 2013 NSP's that features our newly developed, more economical building plan. This smarter building strategy allows for a beautiful, naturalistic pool using only one big load of boulders. Though economical, the pool has plenty of swimming space and is packed with features, such as a walk-in beach, small waterfall, a pier, and a deep end for diving.