Koi in California

My daughter, Meghan, took these beautiful photos of a Koi pond in a Japanese Garden near San Francisco.

These fish are astonishingly gorgeous!  They are also incredibly huge!

Koi are actually domesticated carp that are bred specifically for their spectacular colors. Koi ponds are more prevalent in warmer climates than they are in places with long, cold winters such as we have here in New England. If you want a Koi pond around here, it has to be much deeper than the one pictured here.

These lovely fish are easy prey for herons and egrets, so no matter where you live, your Koi pond will be koi-less unless you find a way to keep herons away!