Worthing Visit To Wessex

Worthing and District BKKS travelled back in time to visit Wessex and Southern Koi Keepers. On the 13th September 33 members met for the 1 3/4 hr journey. It was a typical early September morning, a slight touch of autumn in the air.

When we arrived at the first pond in Salisbury we found we had travelled a 1000 hrs back in time,flowers that had given their all weeks ago at home were still at their best. Throughout the day the sun was shining as if summer had returned.We visited 6 ponds. The first was originally an out door pond that had recently had a fabulous brick and block extension from the house built over it.

The pond had some very nice fish, but the koi that caught my eye was an extremely good shiro utsuri bought from Omosako by the owner on a trip to Japan.This koi keepers other passion was standard fushias, some being very large with trunks not stems.

A short drive to the next pond saw another beautiful garden and some very nice koi. The garden had been cleverly designed to cope with the steep slope the plot was on.

On to the next treat another great pond with a strong Japanese influence in the garden design. Amongst the koi collection was a very good example of a Koromo Showa, very rarely seen.

The lunch stop was at pond 4 where we were made very welcome with the owner providing us with many extra treats. One of the stunning plants in this garden a large trumpet vine in full bloom, I have one at home that gave up flowering weeks ago.

Pond 5 another good pond and very nice koi.

Finally pond 6 which belongs to friends of ours a beautiful setting on the edge of the new forest. Originally it was one pond that has been extended by building a second pond and cleverly linking them with a swim stream, all set in a stunning cottage garden.For the final treat of the day we enjoyed a great B.B.Q provided by our hosts.

Roger & Heather Worthing PRO