The event Saturday drew hundreds of people and raised funds for the Pennsylvania Arts Experience.
A pair of koi fish swim alongside lily pads in The Pond Experience’s Portrait of Paradise stop on Barshinger Avenue in York Township on Saturday. Nine different properties, from Hellam to Jacobus, opened up for The Pond Experience, a self-guided tour event featuring various backyard ponds and water features. (Chris Dunn — Daily Record/Sunday News)
Harrisburg artist Steve Wetzel uses oil paints to depict a scene at The Pond Experience’s Monarch’s Resort stop on Ironstone Hill Road in York Township on Saturday. (Chris Dunn — Daily Record/Sunday News)
Last year, Jeri Barnes’ Dover Township home was part of The Pond Experience — a self-guided tour of local ponds. This year, she said she wanted to visit other ponds.
Her first stop during the event Saturday was the courtyard next to York’s Central Market. She admired the new water feature — a small spring flowing between rocks, pebbles and plants.
Splash Supply Co. hosted the tour, which is in its second year. Sales associate James Pontz said about 300 people participated in 2013, and he expected a larger crowd Saturday.
Last year, he received lots of positive feedback, but some people couldn’t finish the tour. This year, he made it smaller, with nine stops centralized in York and along Route 83. Most offered samples from local businesses, live music and artists in action.
Jack Gettys and his wife, Linda, recently expanded their backyard oasis, tucked a few hundred yards from South Queen Street in York Township.
Gettys sold his Harley to finance recent projects, including a bog, waterfall, native plant area and bee hives. The couple’s koi pond now holds 4,500 gallons.
He started the pond eight years ago and has since joined the staff at Slash Supply Co.
On Saturday, several dozen folks filtered through the Gettys’ backyard area, which is shaded by a large Norway maple tree. Two local artists set up easels to paint the scene. An Aloha Snow truck served cool treats in the driveway.
Over in Spring Garden Township, York College business professors Chris and Mary Meisenhelter welcomed guests along the tour. The two began plotting their pond about a decade ago. It started as a flower bed and plastic tub. It now takes up most of their backyard. This year, they made the pond deeper and added another waterfall.
Mary noticed a survey on the National Wildlife Federation website and completed questions about the pond’s features. It’s now a Certified Wildlife Habitat.
Peggy Grossi of Springettsbury Township gets ready to take a picture of the water feature in Marketview Arts in York as part of the The Pond Experience on Saturday. (Chris Dunn — Daily Record/Sunday News)
Herons, deer, foxes and owls have visited the yard, Chris said. As of 1 p.m. Saturday, he said about 150 Pond Experience participants had stopped by.
Singer and guitarist Jef Woodall performed classic rock hits. Artists Robert Patierno and Janette Toth-Musser painted the pond scape. Both are members of the Pennsylvania Arts Experience, an organization that promotes visual art in the region. Proceeds from The Pond Experience will go to the PAE.
Toth-Musser spritzed her acrylic paint to keep it from hardening in the hot sun.
Patierno detailed his watercolors with ink, which dries quickly. He said he drew inspiration from the foot traffic, bubbling water and darting fish.
Locals explore York County water features, music, art during Pond Experience
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