Of Ponds and pond scum...

I've always wanted a pond, which of course won't be possible in the yard of our house unless it's more like a small fish pond/water garden but even one that small would need some type of pond aerators to keep the pond scum to a minimum and if you wanted to have fish, keep them healthy. That would be the one downside to a smaller water garden, it would be very hard to keep the fish alive during the winter. So, I'd have to opt for water lilies or other water plants, or I could settle for a rain garden since they are also good for the environment, or perhaps both...I've been dreaming about an Asian themed garden area for the back yard, a small water garden with a fountain would be the perfect place to relax and unwind.