The ever-changing surface of the dam

21 May '06 2:20 am

Perhaps the most significant part of my garden is the expanse of water, because of what light, wind and rain do to it. It is seldom the same for more than an hour at a time. Come winter the cold water will be greener than anything surrounding it. In high summer there is a coolness to the lush green reflections. In autumn it doubles-up the impact of the fiery colours.

In fact I am at my happiest at my dining table which is in the centre of my 3m x 3m bay window, reading - probably a garden book - and looking out every now and then over the water. That is how I came to take the four photos below over a period of less than half an hour this morning.

22 May '06 8:25 am

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22 May '06 8:27 am

Jack! Once again special photos , having as a model this adorable ....dam with the romantic bridge!

Tell me; do you find this word, "dam", a little badly and ...unromanticly sounding for this serene, magestic spot of Mother Nature?

I discovered what "dam" means in my Dictionary. I thought it might mean "small lake" or something. But it is a special construction to accumulate water! For me , having Greek as a mother language -- therefore freer to English language attachments, the musical word "pond" would be more suitable for this watery adorable corner of Nature, that you have the immense luck to live close by....Because, this is what I see in these exceptional pictures : a lovely , shining , mirrory, colorfoul pond!! A blessed little corner of Earth...

22 May '06 6:45 pm

Interesting question, Liza!

I guess in South Africa pond is only used for a small, 'unimportant' body of water. 'Lake' is natural (of which we have few, not being a glacial geology.) Perhaps dam is used more freely because of the influence of Afrikaans (similar to Dutch/Flemish) in which the word 'dam' is used for both 'dam' and 'pond' - and I first got to know the farm in Afrikaans, with Afrikaans names for the two dams...

I quite agree pond is more romantic - but it would be pretensious in this context. But you make me think how strange I found the name of that wonderful film "On Golden Pond" starring Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn - one of my all-time favourites!

I do have a waterlily pond though: it is about 4 by 7m and - quite important perhaps - not set in an actual watercourse, but a little above it...

22 May '06 11:04 pm

I loved the whole explanation , Jack! Etymology, and generally learning about the words and their roots and uses, is one of my favorite subjects.

And that film! A hymn of tenderness , true love, and affection , within family relations!! And what unforgetable, really special stars, all of them! And the fact that the story was taking place by a lake/pond, in such a magically beautiful forest, made my heart sing! I had lovely dreams afterwards, all taking place there! So much I was identified with that exceptional film!

28 Jun '06 4:07 am

Such breathtaking captures! I especially love the first shot with its beautiful colours and perfect reflections and the third one, so mystical. You're very blessed. Thanks for sharing them, Jack!

28 Jun '06 7:11 am

Wonderful pix of your pond, Jack. Here in the land-o-lakes, we would call your dam a pond. A large pond, but too small to be a lake, really. A small lake would be correct as well, but most definitely a pond.

To us the dam is the obstruction in the river or stream that makes the pond.

The beaver builds a dam to create a pond where he can build his lodge and raise little beavers. Most beaver ponds are close to the size of your body of water you have there. Beavers look cute and fuzzy, but the reality is that they cause a lot of damage, cutting down all trees around their pond and building dams that can rob you of your water and interrupt fish stocks from reaching their spawning grounds. Almost hunted to extinction in the later parts of the 1800's, they are making a strong come back these days.

It's interesting to note that there has never been glacial erosion in Africa. I never thought of that. The evidence of the mighty glaciers is everywhere around here. The rocks I just lined my flowerbeds with are all from glacial deposits. Some of the rocks tell a very interesting story.

I, too, was enraptured with the film "On Golden Pond". I think it is Henry's best performance. Funny thing is, that when it first came out, it was mocked by me and my friends because the lake they live at is far too large to be called a pond. But now I realize it is an endearing term, as when we here in Canada refer to Europe as being "across the pond". The great Atlantic certainly is a rather large pond indeed! Rolling Eyes

Christopher

The ever-changing surface of the dam

The ever-changing surface of the dam

Your adorable "Dam"...

Dam or pond?

The Pond/Dam

A pond it be.