A Colorado Springs organization dedicated to water gardening and koi keeping is once again opening its members' backyards to the public this summer. For nearly four decades, the Pikes Peak Koi and Water Garden Society has hosted an annual tour, inviting the public to visit a select number of their members' carefully constructed and thoughtfully curated backyard oases.

The PPKWGS consists of approximately 250 members in and around Colorado Springs, with a few members residing further afield, and is dedicated to all things pond-related. The group is largely focused on educating members and non-members alike on the best practices for starting and operating a pond, though there is also a social element to the Society, with regular cookouts and get-togethers on the monthly calendar.

The largest of the group's events, the annual Pond Tour, is scheduled for the first weekend of August, with eight members scattered across Colorado Springs — and one in Castle Rock — inviting any and all visitors to tour the ponds they have worked hard to create.

The tour is free and self-guided and runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The club's stated mission is to cultivate a friendly and welcoming environment dedicated to the promotion, development, and expansion of water gardening, and the care, admiration, exhibition, and responsible ownership of koi, aiming to disseminate knowledge on these subjects by engaging in educational and supportive activities while fostering a sense of community.

A detailed breakdown of what visitors can expect, along with a map to all participating locations, is available on the PPKWGS website.

Whether this year's tour draws record attendance amid growing local interest in backyard water features remains to be seen after the event concludes on August 2.