Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Sunday Reflections, Sunrises, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: 2023, 2023 Events List, Beach, Beach Life, Beach Therapy, Beautiful Sunset, Carters Nursery, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Family Business, Garden Planning, Garden Tour, Happy 2023, Maintenance Workshop, Photography, photos, Planning, plants, Pond Tour, Sunday, Sunday Breakfast, Sunday Brunch, Sunday Gardening, Sunday in the Garden, Sunday Inspiration, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Sunday Mornings, Sunday Naps, Sunday Poem, Sunday Quote, Sunday Reflections, Sunday Songs, Sunday Sunrises, Sunday with Family, Sundays, Sunrises, Sunsets
A new year and I have been busy planning for it! Business plan, events, pond tours, workshops, jobs, early buys, plant orders and more… I haven’t missed a sunrise or sunset in 2023 yet! No it’s not a resolution… But I do really enjoy watching both 🌞🌅 Here’s a little collage of some of 2023’s best from the Beach!

Now is when the real work begins…
“Sunrise looks spectacular in nature; sunrise looks spectacular in the photos; sunrise looks spectacular in our dreams; sunrise looks spectacular in the paintings, because it really is spectacular!”
~ Mehmet Murat Ildan
Mark C.
Filed under: Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: A picture is worth a thousand words, Beauty, Blog, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Everyone wants a waterfall they just don’t know it yet, facebook, Instagram, Jackson Tennessee, Koi Ponds, Koi Video, Magical, Photography, Pics, Ponds, The Magic of Water Gardening, The Underwater World, Through the Glass, Through the looking glass, Underwater Photography, Underwater Video, Video, Vlog, Water Garden, Waterfall Video, YouTube, Zen Video
I ❤️ My Pond! I love everything about it! The sound, the plants, the Koi, the dogs drinking from it, the cooling effect of sitting by it, how it makes me feel! The last couple of days Ive had a friend out who is a YouTube Vlogger. We have gone around to different projects that I have designed and built and video’d them… Including the underwater aspect, all I can say is WOW! There is a whole other world down there looking back at us that is really never seen. The world that our Koi live in. It’s literally the other side of the looking glass… Here are a few super cool images that I know you are gonna Love ❤️








The underwater world of an Eco-System Water Garden is pretty magical huh 😊
Y’all have a great afternoon!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
YouTube pg. –
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dPkQiE04jcr385SOL0gkw
Facebook pg. – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
Pinterest pg. – https://www.pinterest.com/cartersnursery/
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunsets, Waterfalls | Tags: Beautiful Sunset, Colorful Sunset, Enjoy a Sunset, I ❤️ Sunsets, Landscape Photos, Love, Nature Photo's, Opacarophile, Perfect Sunset, Photography, Sky Watching, Sunset, Sunsets
Hello everyone, my name is Mark Carter and I am an ‘Opacarophile’… Good news, it hasn’t become a problem, yet! 😊 Your probably thinking, what the H@#!! Is a Opacarophile?!
Simply put – An Opacarophile, is a lover of sunsets 🌅

An Opacarophile’ is one who LOVES watching the sunset. The feeling you get watching the sunset over the water is a Zen feeling. There is a bit of magic in it…
“A lover of sunsets is called an ‘opacarophile’. To understand its roots, the word opacarophile can be broken down into two parts: ‘opacare’ which is Latin for dusk or sunset, and ‘phile’ which is Greek for love.“
If you follow my blog you already knew that I post sunset pictures all the time. 😊
I think enjoying a beautiful sunset enriches your spirit! Those few minutes before and after the sunset are fleeting… You have to be completely present to enjoy and experience it fully. And when you do, you carry that feeling and beauty with you for quite a while. It can set the tone for a wonderful night almost every time. 😉
With that in mind I recently started a new Facebook page called Tennessee River Sunsets. Please feel free to like the page and share Tennessee River Sunsets of your own!👇🏻
https://www.facebook.com/Tennessee-River-Sunsets-111398900634105
I hope you will enjoy the sunset as well! And if you realize you are also a ‘Opacarophile’ – your welcome to come to the support group every Friday evening at Birdsong! 😊
Have a great evening! 🌅
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
YouTube pg. –
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dPkQiE04jcr385SOL0gkw
Facebook pg. – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
Pinterest pg. – https://www.pinterest.com/cartersnursery/
Filed under: Family time, Food, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Beach Therapy, Beautiful Sunset, Colorful Sunset, Coronavirus, Easter, Easter Weekend, Fun From Home, Garden Photography, Holy Saturday, I ❤️ Sunsets, Landscape Photos, Nature Photo's, Photography, photos, Saturday Fun, Self Quarantine, Stay At Home, There’s No Place Like Home, Virtual Travel, Virtual Travel Pic
Well, if you haven’t already seen it, a LOT of us have been posting pictures we snapped of places we have traveled over the years. The idea is to share some beauty during this quarantine and “virtually travel”… It starts with a header like this one below followed by a photo 👇🏻
“Join the challenge of posting a picture of some landscape from a place where you’ve been, where the main requirement is that you NOT appear in it. Just a picture, no description. The goal is to flood profiles with landscape photos to give a twist on the situation we’re going through.
Copy the text to your status, post a photo and let’s travel virtually!!”
I hope you and your family enjoy a Blessed Easter Weekend!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dPkQiE04jcr385SOL0gkw
Facebook pg. – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
Pinterest pg. – https://www.pinterest.com/cartersnursery/
Filed under: Family time, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: #Staycations, A picture is worth a thousand words, Blog, Blogging, Carters Nursery, Carters Nursery Pond & Patio, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Coronavirus, Daily Blog, Family Fun, Family Pictures, Family time, Fun, Fun From Home, Garden Blog, Garden Photography, Health Policy, Healthy Lifestyle, Jackson Tennessee, Jackson Tennessee 38305, Landscape Photos, Nature Photo's, Personal Blog, Photo Contest, Photography, Pictures, Stay At Home, Stay Safe, Staycation, Underwater Photography, Virtual Travel, Virtual Travel Pic
Nothing to do? Join me in posting a picture! Yes, there are rules… check them out below 👇🏻Would you like to play?
Join the challenge of posting a picture of some landscape from a place where you’ve been, where the main requirement is that you NOT appear in it. Just a picture, no description. The goal is to flood profiles with landscape photos to give a twist on the situation we’re going through.
Copy the text to your status, post a photo and let’s travel virtually!!
I’ve been doing this on my Facebook page everyday. Your welcome to see – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
It’s not as good as the real thing, but… What else is there to do??
Have a good weekend 😊
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dPkQiE04jcr385SOL0gkw
Facebook pg. – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
Pinterest pg. – https://www.pinterest.com/cartersnursery/
Filed under: Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Disappearing Waterfall, Garden Photography, I ❤️ Waterfalls, Instagram, Naturalistic Waterfall, Photography, Pond Photo's, Pondless Waterfall, Waterfalls
This rainy weather has had me looking at photos & trying to prepare for Spring. Now, Its no secret – I ❤️ Waterfalls! I Love Designing them! & I Love Building them! I have learned to Love photographing them too. I have been posting some of my Landscape & Waterfall photos on Instagram. Please check em out at the link below. If you like em, click Follow & you will see new photos as they are posted.

Lots of beautiful photos of landscapes and waterfalls on my Instagram page. Click the link below to see more…
https://www.instagram.com/cartercountry1/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6dPkQiE04jcr385SOL0gkw
Facebook pg. – https://www.facebook.com/mark.carter.775
Pinterest pg. – https://www.pinterest.com/cartersnursery/
Filed under: Fountains, General Blog Entry's, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, water garden | Tags: Aquatic Plant Design, Aquatic Plants, Aquatic Pottery, Butterfly Koi, Comets, Container Water Gardens, Disappearing fountain, Disappearing Waterfall, Fish, Garden Photography, Garden Ponds, Koi, Koi Ponds, Pagoda Stone Fountain, Photography, Pond Photo's, Pondless Waterfall, Ponds, Recreational Ponds, Shubunkins, Spillway Bowl Fountain, Stacked Slate Urn, Stone, Underwater Lighting, Underwater Photography, Water Feature, Water Features, Water Garden, Water Garden Design
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio Presents The 20th. Annual “Parade of Ponds”
Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio’s ‘Parade of Ponds’ benefits our own Jackson Animal Care & Adoption Center. 100% of ticket sales goes to support their Mission in our community!
https://www.facebook.com/JacksonAnimalCareCenter/

This is the 20th. year for our Annual Summer Pond Tour! The Pond Tour supports JACAAC – The Pond Tour Date is June 23rd. (Saturday). Tickets are $20 and 100% goes to support the cause! Please help get the word out! | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
This years Summer Pond Tour will showcase many unique, custom Water Gardens, Koi Ponds, Pondless Waterfalls, Disappearing Fountains and of course LOTS of gorgeous Landscaping! This Self Guided Tour is located in Jackson, TN. (Madison County) and is easy to follow. The Summer Pond Tour is a fundraiser for the Jackson Animal Care & Adoption Center. 100% of ticket sales go to help them, so tell all your friends!
Carter’s Nursery is “Pond Central” for this Garden/Pond Tour and we invite you to come by throughout the day to sit a spell, have a drink, something to eat and look at the BEAUTIFUL Gardens and Water Features.

Stop by “Pond Central” at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio during the Pond Tour and say “Hi”! Get a drink and a snack and regroup throughout the day.
Don’t miss the “Moonlight Luau”! We always have a GREAT time at the after party at the Nursery! The party has an informal “Luau” theme – AND it’s included in your ticket price! We decorate the Nursery with a Sandy Beach, LOTS of Landscape Lights, Tiki torches, Hawaiian leis AND we cook “Kalua Pork” with all the fixings! WHAT is Kalua Pork, you ask??? Kalua Pork is cooked SLOW, wrapped in Banana leafs, rubbed with spices & infused with tropical fruit juices – Kalua is “Hawaiian Luau style”! 🙂
- We invite everyone to wear your favorite Hawaiian Shirt, skirt, hat, WHATEVER – and come on out for a Cool Evening. I’m giving an award (& PRIZES) this year for ‘Best Luau outfit’ 🙂 – so have some fun.
Summer Pond Tour Tickets are $20 ea. (kids 12 and under are FREE!). Tickets can be purchased at Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio, PH# 731-424-2206. Each group receives a Map Booklet with detailed descriptions and directions. “A number of this year’s Summer Pond Tour stops are new water gardens, along with favorites featured in our prior Pond Tours” says Mark Carter, Owner & Landscape Designer at Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio. “We hope lots of folks will come out and be Amazed by the wonderful effect these Ponds, Waterfalls, Streams and Fish make. It’s always a Fun day and a Beautiful night at our Moonlight Luau. The Moonlight Luau is an appreciation dinner for all those who put their houses on the tour and for the folks who purchase tickets to attend the tour. It’s our way of saying “Thank You!” says Carter.

Both of my dogs are rescued puppy’s & now both live the Pond Lifestyle! Say hi to them on the Pond Tour 🙂
What: Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio’s 20th. Annual Pond Tour & Moonlight Luau.
When: Saturday, June 23rd. 9am. till 4pm. – Gates will re-open for the Moonlight Luau – 8pm. till 10pm.
Where can I get Tickets? Call or come by Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio at 2846 Old Medina Rd. Jackson, Tn. 38305 or call Jo or Sandra at 731-424-2206
How much are tickets? Tickets are $20 ea. (kids 12 and under are FREE!). 100% of ticket sales goes to the Jackson Animal Care & Adoption Center.
Thank You! I Hope to see y’all around the ponds 🙂
PS: Please share this and help us spread the word! Thanks again.
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
Filed under: General Blog Entry's | Tags: Photo Contest, Photography, Pond Tour
2012 Pond Tour Photo Contest!
It’s Summer Pond Tour time again and I am ready!!! Our Annual Photo Contest has gotten to be a popular hit so we are doing it again this year! Bring your camera and let the FUN begin! Last year we had photos of pets, wildlife, flowers, insects, frogs, children playing, people relaxing and of course Waterfalls, Ponds and Streams. It is awesome to see what catches peoples eye. I know this year you will have tons of great photo opportunities to capture in these beautiful Gardens. Children, parents and grandparents can all enter this contest. There are so many beautiful settings to capture. Bring your family and friends along and get some great shots taken together.
I hope you enjoy this Summer Pond Tour! Remember, each ticket purchased is for Charity, but ticket holders hold more than just a ticket. They hold the chance to spend the day with the beauty of Nature…
There are 3 Contest Catagories
1 – BEST NATURE
2 – BEST PEOPLE and PONDS
3 – BEST WATER FEATURE
There will be a 1st. , 2nd. & 3rd. place prize in each category! 9 Prizes in Total!
3rd. place will receive $15 Gift Certificate
2nd. place a $25 Gift Certificate
& Our 1st. place Photo Contest winner will receive a $ 50.00 Carter’s Nursery Gift Certificate. Don’t miss out on this folks!!!
RULES and REGULATIONS for CONTEST
1. All photos must be taken without causing any damage or stress to the subject or the homeowners property.
2. All entries must be labeled with the applicants – name, address, phone number and the site # of the Parade of Ponds entry.
3. All entries must be identified with the correct category to be judged. The same Photo can not be submitted in more than ONE category. The contestant may however enter more than one photo per category if he or she would like to do so.
4. All entries must be received by July 31st., 2012.
Winners names along with their photos, will be posted on our web site http://www.cartercountry.com and/or our facebook page.
5. All entries shall become the exclusive property of Carter’s Nursery, Pond and Patio, Inc., which reserves the right to publish or reprint any entry for Carter’s Nursery Pond & Patio purposes.
PHOTO QUALITY GUIDELINES, FOR ALL PHOTOS
Please use the highest resolution possible.
Digital Photos (7 mega pixel or better)
35 MM prints & 35 MM slides
Email digital photos to: cartercountry@charter.net
Mail slides and 35 MM photos to:
Photo Contest
2846 Old Medina Road
Jackson, TN. 38305
Thanks and I hope to see you there!
– Mark Carter
Filed under: General Blog Entry's | Tags: Garden Photography, Photo Contest, Photography
Well, last years photo contest was AWESOME! In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we are doing it again this year! Last year we had photos of pets, wildlife, flowers, insects, frogs, children playing, people relaxing and of course Waterfalls, Ponds and Streams. It was awesome to see what catches peoples eye. I know this year you will have tons of great photo opportunities to capture with the click of your shutter or the push of a button. Children, parents and grandparents can all enter this contest. There are so many beautiful settings to capture. Bring your family and friends along and get some great shots taken together.
What better way to preserve the beauty of nature than to capture it on film. With settings like these, it is nearly impossible not to create breath taking pictures.
I take photos regularly, then I can look back year to year and see how much the gardens have matured. I have literally watched trees and even fish grow thru captured photographs.
I hope you enjoy this Summer Pond Tour! Remember, each ticket purchased is for Charity, but ticket holders hold more than just a ticket. They hold the chance to spend the day with the beauty of Nature…
There are 3 Contest Catagories
1 – BEST NATURE
2 – BEST PEOPLE and PONDS
3 – BEST WATER FEATURE
A $ 50.00 Carter’s Nursery Gift Certificates will be awarded to each contest winner
RULES and REGULATIONS for CONTEST
1. All photos must be taken without causing any damage or stress to the subject or the homeowners property.
2. All entries must be labeled with the applicants – name, address, phone number and the site # of the Parade of Ponds entry.
3. All entries must be identified with the correct category to be judged. The same Photo can not be submitted in more than ONE category. The contestant may however enter more than one photo per category if he or she would like to do so.
4. All entries must be received by June 30th, 2010.
Winners names along with their photos, will be posted on our web site http://www.cartercountry.com
5. All entries shall become the exclusive property of Carter’s Nursery, Pond and Patio, Inc., which reserves the right to publish or reprint any entry for Carter’s Nursery Pond & Patio purposes.
PHOTO QUALITY GUIDELINES, FOR ALL PHOTOS
Please use the highest resolution possible.
Digital Photos (7 mega pixel or better)
35 MM prints & 35 MM slides
Email digital photos to: jocarter@charter.net
mail slides and 35 MM photos to:
Photo Contest
2846 Old Medina Road
Jackson, TN. 38305
Thanks and I hope to see you there!
– Mark Carter