Koi fish have long been cherished symbols of perseverance, strength, and harmony. In Japanese culture, they represent resilience against the current, beauty in motion, and the balance of opposing forces. With their graceful circling and shimmering colors, koi invite us to pause, breathe, and find calm in the flow of life.
Our newest design, two koi circling in a lily pond, is a little different from the rest. Not only does it capture that timeless serenity, but it also comes from the heart of our own Lemonwood family. This design was created by our office manager, Nina. You may know her baby Mira, who is featured in some of our posts and ads and comes into the office everyday to make us all smile and laugh.
For Nina, koi carry a very personal meaning. Growing up in Helena, Montana, she much of her childhood at a beloved local spot, the General Mercantile coffee shop. In the middle of the shop was a koi pond, and visiting with her father to feed the fish became a treasured tradition. Nina even helped out around the store as a child, stocking shelves, adding price tags, and learning the rhythms of a place filled with community and care.
As she grew older, she worked at the General Mercantile for six years, carrying those memories into adulthood. Today, the shop is still thriving under the guidance of its dedicated owners, one of whom was Nina’s high school World Cultures teacher. Recently, even little Mira visited the Merc to carry on the tradition, enjoying her very first taste of whipped cream, a rite of passage for every “Merc baby.”
(Current owner, Nina's former teacher, holding Mira)
This koi pond design is more than art, it’s a tribute. A tribute to the General Mercantile and the joy it brought to generations of Helena locals. A tribute to the simple rituals of family, community, and tradition. And a tribute to the way beauty flows through memory, finding new life in every circle.
We’re honored to share Nina’s piece with you. A reminder that, like koi, we are always moving, always circling back to what grounds us.