Adam’s Nursery & Water Gardens

all pictures in this post taken at Adam’s Nursery & Water Gardens

multiple waterfalls greet newcomers
Who do you call if suddenly you find yourself the owner of a professionally constructed koi pond? That’s the question a friend of mine recently faced after she bought a home in Gulfport, Florida.

interconnecting ponds
In her new backyard was a lined pond about 4 feet wide, 3 feet deep, and 7 feet long, built up around its edges with rocks and sporting a waterfall at least 2 feet high at its head.

greenery and statues gracing a quiet pond
Although it was obviously professionally designed and created, it had fallen into disrepair and had not been maintained. So, we set out to find a place in St. Pete that specialized in ponds. She found one and it is a jewel of a place. I enjoy going there to soak up the quiet, restful ambiance of the ponds scattered around their property.

waterfalls into rock garden instead of pond
Sounds of trickling, splashing water are everywhere in this unexpected haven of restfulness. It’s Adam’s Nursery & Water Gardens (www.adamswatergardens.com), 7510 46th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33709; 727-547-2063.

bridge of weathered wood
All of the pictures in this post are of ponds, fish, accessories, and plants on their property. Of course, the ponds and plants are there for utilitarian reasons (to provide for the propagation of the water plants they sell and to demonstrate the different kinds of ponds and layouts they can design and construct) but that doesn’t keep the nursery’s grounds from being a pleasurable experience in their own right.

many varieties of koi
For sure, it’ll make you consider adding a pond to your own garden. The koi, of course, are a big part of the attraction of these ponds and Adam’s Nursery sells koi as well.

more koi in a small pond
Here’s a Wikipedia posting on koi that includes notes on their history and breeding as well as a link to this wonderful poster picturing some of the many varieties.

water lilies for sale
Another treat at Adam’s Nursery is how low-key, non-”salesman” their approach is. They obviously love koi ponds and they really know their stuff. Every time I’ve been there, they willingly shared much information, gradually giving me an education in the care and feeding of ponds. That kind of generosity makes a customer want to return.

floating pads that protect young plants from being eaten by koi
Here’s their hours: 9am-5pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; 10am-2pm Sunday; closed Wednesdays. The street on which they’re located, 49th Ave. N., is undergoing extensive renovation and is currently limited to one-way, west-bound, so contrive to arrive at 49th Avenue well to the east of the 7500 block. At some point in the future, that traffic flow will be reversed to be one-way, east-bound while they work on the other lane, so it’s best to call to see which direction is blocked. It’s definitely worth the trip and bit of inconvenience dealing with the construction!